Table 4.

Common opioids used in the emergency setting. A variety of opioids are available to address moderate to severe pain. There is no evidence that one opioid is more effective than the others at equianalgesic doses and it is prudent to titrate one drug to desired effect prior to using multiple agents.

Opioid	Dose (oral)	Dose (IV)	Onset IV (oral)	Duration
Morphine (MSIR)	10–15 mg	0.1 mg/kg (5–10 mg)	5–10 min (15–30 min)	3–6 h (IV, oral)
Hydromorphone (Dilaudid)	2 mg	0.25–0.5 mg	5–10 min (15–30 min)	3–6 h (IV, oral)
Oxycodone (Percocet)	5–10 mg	–	(15–20 min)	3–6 h (PO)
Hydrocodone (Lorcet, Norco)	5–10 mg	–	(15–20 min)	3–6 h (PO)
Fentanyl	–	0.5 mcg/kg (25–50 mcg)	1–2 min	0.5–1 h (IV)