NCEMI eTools
Opioid Potency Comparison
Analgesic potency of opioids
Oral-parenteral ratio: for example, morphine is 6 times more potent parenterally than orally.
Potency relative to morphine: for example, hydromorphone is 6 times more potent than an equal dose of morphine when given parenterally.
Mitchell JP: General Care of the Patient, in Manual of Medical Therapeutics, 26th ed by Claiborne D and Ridner M (eds). Little, Brown and Co. 1989. p5.
Search PubMed
DRUG
ORAL-PARENTERAL POTENCY RATIO
PARENTERAL POTENCY RELATIVE TO MORPHINE (for equal doses)
Morphine
1:6
1.0
Codeine
2:3
0.1
Hydromorphone
1:5
6.0
Meperidine
1:4
0.15
Methadone
1:2
1.0
Oxycodone
1:2
1.0
Copyright 1995-2004 by National Center for Emergency Medicine Informatics. All Rights Reserved.