Table 1.
CONSORT(CONsortium to Study Opioid Risks and Therapeutics) classification of opioid medications and morphine equivalent conversion factors per milligram of opioid.1
| Major Group | Type of Opioid | Morphine equivalent conversion factor per mg of opioid |
|---|---|---|
| Short-acting Less potent (Schedule III/IV) | Propoxyphene (with or without aspirin/acetaminophen/ibuprofen) | 0.23 |
| Codeine + (acetaminophen, ibuprofen or aspirin) | 0.15 | |
| Hydrocodone + (acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or aspirin) Hydrocodone and homatropine | 1.0 | |
| Tramadol with or without aspirin | 0.10 | |
| Butalbital and codeine (with or without aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen) | 0.15 | |
| Dihydrocodeine (with or without aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen) | 0.25 | |
| Pentazocine (with or without aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen) | 0.37 | |
| Short-acting, More Potent (Schedule II) | Morphine sulfate | 1.0 |
| Codeine sulfate | 0.15 | |
| Oxycodone (with or without aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen) | 1.5 | |
| Hydromorphone | 4.0 | |
| Meperidine hydrochloride | 0.1 | |
| Fentanyl citrate transmucosal2 | 0.125 | |
| Oxymorphone | 3.0 | |
| Long-acting (Schedule II) | Morphine sulfate sustained release | 1.0 |
| Fentanyl transdermal3 | 2.4 | |
| Levorphanol tartrate | 11.0 | |
| Oxycodone HCL controlled release | 1.5 | |
| Methadone | 3.0 |
Opioids delivered by pill, capsule, liquid, transdermal patch, and transmucosal administration were included in CONSORT data. Opioids formulated for administration by injection or suppository were not included.
Transmucosal fentanyl conversion to morphine equivalents assumes 50% bioavailability of transmucosal fentanyl and 100 micrograms transmucosal fentanyl is equivalent to 12.5 to 15 mg of oral morphine.
Transdermal fentanyl conversion to morphine equivalents is based on the assumption that one patch delivers the dispensed micrograms per hour over a 24 hour day and remains in place for 3 days.