Table 1.
Conversion factor for calculating oral morphine equivalence (OMEQ)
| Opioid | Conversion factor |
|---|---|
| Morphine | 1.0 |
| Hydromorphone | 5.0 |
| Nicomorphine | 1.0 |
| Oxycodone | 1.5 |
| Ketobemidone (Ketogan) | 2.0 |
| Pethidine | 0.1 |
| Fentanyl | 7.2 (transdermal)a |
| Dextropropoxypheneb | 0.2 |
| Codeine | 0.15 |
| Tradolan | 0.2 |
| Tapentadol | 0.4 |
| Buprenorphine c | 12.6 (transdermal)c |
a
Transdermal fentanyl has a daily conversion factor of 2.4 and is normally applied for 3 days. Therefore, OMEQ was calculated as number of patches x 2.4 x 3 = 7.2.
b
Dextropropoxyphene discontinued in 2010 due to increased risk of fatal poisoning.
c
Buprenorphine has a daily conversion factor of 1.8 and is normally applied for 7 days. Therefore, OMEQ was calculated as number of patches x 1.8 x 7.