Opioid preparation (US brand name) | Available preparations | Usual dosing interval |
Buprenorphine transdermal patch (Butrans) | 5, 7.5, 10, 15, 20 mcg/hour transdermal patches | Seven days |
Buprenorphine buccal film (Belbuca)* | 75, 150, 300, 450, 600, 750, 900 mcg buccal films | 12 or 24 hours |
Fentanyl transdermal patch (Duragesic) | 12, 25, 50, 75, 87.5, 100 mcg/hour | Three days |
Hydrocodone ER 12 hour (Zohydro ER) | 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50 mg capsules | 12 hours |
Hydrocodone ER 24 hour (Hysingla ER) | 20, 30, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120 mg tablets | 24 hours |
Hydromorphone ER 24 hour (Exalgo) | 8, 12, 16, 32 mg tablets | 24 hours |
Methadone¶ | 5, 10 mg tablets | 8 to 12 hours |
Morphine sulfate ER 24 hour (Kadian) | 10, 20, 30, 45, 50, 60, 75, 80, 90, 120, 200 mg capsules | 24 hours |
Morphine sulfate ER (MS Contin) | 15, 30, 60, 100, 200 mg tablets | 8 to 12 hours |
Oxycodone ER 12 hourΔ (OxyContin) | 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 60, 80 mg tablets | 12 hours |
Oxycodone ER 12 hourΔ (Xtampza ER) | 9, 13.5, 18, 27, 36 mg capsules | 12 hours |
Oxymorphone ER 12 hour (Generic only) | 5, 7.5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40 mg tablets | 12 hours |
Tapentadol ER◊ (Nucynta ER) | 50, 100, 150, 200, 250 mg tablets | 12 hours |
Tramadol ER 24 hour (Ultram ER) | 100, 150, 200, 300 mg tablets and capsules | 24 hours |
ER: extended-release; MS: morphine sulphate; US: United States.
* Although buprenorphine buccal film is not an extended release preparation, it can be used as a long-acting opioid due to its prolonged half-life of approximately 28 hours.
¶ Due to challenges inherent in safe prescribing of methadone, it is not typically a first-line analgesic choice. Although methadone is not an ER preparation, it can be used as a long-acting opioid due to its prolonged half-life (0.5 to 7 days); guidelines for safe administration must be followed to reduce risk of unintentional overdose. Refer to UpToDate topic on cancer pain management with opioids, section on methadone.
Δ Dose of ER tablets is expressed as oxycodone hydrochloride and the dose of ER capsules is expressed as oxycodone base; 10 mg of oxycodone hydrochloride is equivalent to 9 mg oxycodone base.
◊ Patients should not consume alcoholic beverages or use prescription or nonprescription products that contain alcohol while taking tapentadol ER. The combination of alcohol with tapentadol ER may result in increased plasma tapentadol levels and a potentially fatal overdose of tapentadol.Do you want to add Medilib to your home screen?