Table 5.
Examples of recommended doses for orally administered morphine for pain therapy in children and adults (immediate release forms)
| Age group (body weight (kg)) | Single dose Morphine hydrochloride trihydrate dosage (equivalent morphine dosage) | Total daily dose Morphine hydrochloride trihydrate dosage (equivalent morphine dosage) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dose (mg) (Merck, 2016) | Dose (mg/kg bw)a | Dose (mg) (Merck, 2016) | Dose (mg/kg bw per day)a | |
| Children up to 2 years (up to 12.5 kg) | Up to 2.5 (Up to 1.9) | Up to 0.20 (Up to 0.15) | Up to 22.5 (Up to 17.1) | Up to 1.80 (Up to 1.37) |
| Children 2–6 years (12.5–20 kg) | 2.5–5 (1.9–3.8) | 0.20–0.40 (0.15–0.30) | 15–30 (11.4–22.8) | 1.20–2.40 (0.91–1.82) |
| Children 6–12 years (20–40 kg) | 5–10 (3.8–7.6) | 0.25–0.50 (0.19–0.38) | 30–60 (22.8–45.6) | 1.50–3.00 (1.14–2.28) |
| Adolescents 12–16 years (40–50 kg) | 10–20 (7.6–15.2) | 0.25–0.50 (0.19–0.38) | 60–120 (45.6–91.1) | 1.50–3.00 (1.14–2.28) |
| Adolescents > 16 years and adults (70 kg) | 10–60 (7.6–45.6) | 0.14–0.86 (0.11–0.65) | Up to 360 (Up to 273.3) | Up to 5.14 (Up to 3.90) |
bw: body weight.
a
Where dose ranges are shown, the dosage in mg/kg bw or mg/kg bw per day has been calculated using the lower body weight shown in the first column.