Medical Encyclopedia:
Analgesics, Opioid: Recommended dosage
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More about Analgesics, Opioid:
Definition Purpose Recommended dosage Precautions Side effects Interactions |
Recommended doses vary, depending on the type of opioid analgesic and the form in which it is being used. Doses may be different for different patients. Check with the physician who prescribed the drug or the pharmacist
| Opioid analgesics | ||||
| Drug | Route of administration | Onset of action (min) | Time to peak effect (min) | Duration of action (h) |
| Strong agonists | ||||
| Fentanyl (Sublimaze) | IM | 7–15 | 20–30 | 1–2 |
| IV | 1–2 | 3–5 | 0.5–1 | |
| Hydromorphone (Dilaudid) | Oral | 30 | 90–120 | 4 |
| IM | 15 | |||
| IV | 10–15 | 30–60 | 2–3 | |
| Sub-Q | 30 | 15–30 | ||
| Levorphanol (Levo-Dromoran) | Oral | 10–60 | 90–120 | 4–5 |
| IM | ||||
| IV | — | 60 | 4–5 | |
| Sub-Q | 10–60 | within 20 | ||
| Meperidine (Demerol) | Oral | 15 | 60–90 | 2–4 |
| IM | 10–15 | |||
| IV | 30–50 | 2–4 | ||
| Sub-Q | 1 | |||
| Methadone (Dolophine) | Oral | 30–60 | 90–120 | 4–6 |
| IM | ||||
| IV | 10–20 | 60–120 | 4–5 | |
| Morphine (many trade names) | Oral | — | 60–120 | 4–5 |
| IM | 10–30 | |||
| IV | 30–60 | 4–5 | ||
| Sub-Q | — | |||
| Epidural | 10–30 | 20 | 4–5 | |
| Oxymorphone (Numorphan) | IM | 10–15 | 30–90 | 3–6 |
| IV | ||||
| Sub-Q | 5–10 | 15–30 | 3–4 | |
| Rectal | ||||
| Mild-to-moderate agonists | ||||
| Codiene (many trade names) | Oral | 30–40 | 60–120 | 4 |
| Im | 10–30 | 30–60 | 4 | |
| Sub-Q | 10–30 | 4 | ||
| Hydrocodone (Hycodan) | Oral | 10–30 | 30–60 | 4–6 |
| Oxycodone (Percodan) | Oral | — | 60 | 3–4 |
| Propoxyphene (Darvon, Dolene) | Oral | 15–60 | 120 | 4–6 |
| Butophanol (Stadol) | IM | 10–30 | 30–60 | 3–4 |
| IV | 2–3 | 30 | 2–4 | |
| Nalbuphine (Nubian) | IM | within 15 | 60 | 3–6 |
| IV | 2–3 | 30 | 3–4 | |
| Sub-Q | within 15 | — | 3–6 | |
| Pentazocine (Talwin) | Oral | 15–30 | 60–90 | 3 |
| IM | 15–20 | 30–60 | 2–3 | |
| IV | 2–3 | 15–30 | 2–3 | |
| Sub-Q | 15–20 | 30–60 | 2–3 | |
who filled the prescription for correct dosages, and make sure to understand how to take the drug.
Always take opioid analgesics exactly as directed. Never take larger or more frequent doses, and do not take the drug for longer than directed. Do not stop taking the drug suddenly without checking with the physician or dentist who prescribed it. Gradually tapering the dose may the chance of withdrawal symptoms.
— Nancy Ross-Flanigan
