This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Go to /pro/cpd-dashboard page

This page is worth 0.05 CPD credits. CPD dashboard

Go to /account/subscription-details page

This page is worth 0.05 CPD credits. Upgrade to Pro

Oral opiate analgesia

Authoring team

Morphine is the preferred strong oral opiate.

Two formulations of morphine are sufficient:

  • immediate release e.g. oromorph
  • controlled release e.g. MST Continus

The required dose of analgesia is determined by the following method:

  • decide on an appropriate dose of immediate release morphine (5-10 mg) which is given four-hourly
  • break-through pain is controlled with the same dose which may be given as frequently as once hourly
  • each day the four-hourly dose is adjusted according to the total morphine requirement of the previous day
  • once pain is controlled with immediate release morphine, the same dose is prescribed in two divided doses as a controlled release preparation

Create an account to add page annotations

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.