
How do you calculate morphine equivalents?
- Calculate the 24 hour current dose: 90mg q 12 = 180 mg Morphine/24 hours
- Use the oral to parenteral equianalgesic ratio: 30 mg PO Morphine = 10 mg IV Morphine
- Calculate new dose using ratios: 180/30 x 10 = 60 mg IV Morphine/24 hours or 2.5 mg/hour infusion
How much morphine is considered a safe dose?
The recommended dosage amount for IV morphine varies depending on the patient’s needs. The average starting dose is between 2.5 and 5mg every 4 hours, but patients with previous opioid exposure may require higher doses.
How much morphine would be a toxic dose?
Morphine doses over 200 mg are considered to be lethal to an average person. However, opiate sensitive people can react to doses of 60 mg. We review the signs of a morphine overdose and treatment protocols here.
Is morphine stronger than hydrocodone?
Morphine, when given as injection, is a much stronger medication than hydrocodone. However, when taken by mouth, morphine’s strength is greatly reduced, and 20mg of oral morphine has the same pain relieving power as 20mg of hydrocodone — they’re equivalent in strength.

How is MME determined?
MME is determined by using an equivalency factor to calculate a dose of morphine that is equivalent to the ordered opioid. According to the CDC guidelines, opioids should be prescribed at the lowest effective dose and calculations re-checked.
Should opioids be prescribed at the lowest effective dose?
According to the CDC guidelines, opioids should be prescribed at the lowest effective dose and calculations re-checked. Also, concurrent opioid and benzodiazepine prescribing should be avoided as it increases overdose risk. Do not use in pediatric patients, to avoid unpredictable rates of absorption and risk of overdose.
Why is it important to calculate the daily dose of opioids?
Calculation of the total daily dose of opioids also helps identify patients who may be at risk for opiate-related complications, especially with potential to overdose.
How many MME do you get for a patient who died of overdose?
A study of Veterans Health Administration patients found that patients who died of overdose were prescribed an average of 98 MME per day, while other patients were prescribed an average of 48.
What is a medd?
The morphine equivalent daily dose (MEDD) translates the dose and route of each opioid a patient has received over the previous 24 hours to a morphine equivalent using a standard conversion table. The MEDD should be used anytime an opiate is prescribed.
Can you prescribe opioids for pain?
Different agencies and medical boards have different guidelines for prescribing opioids. These organizations agree that physicians should not prescribe opiates as a primary or sole treatment for chronic pain.
How long does a 5 mg epidural last?
Epidural Administration: -Initial dose: 5 mg in the lumbar region may provide satisfactory pain relief for up to 24 hours. -If adequate pain relief is not achieved within 1-hour, doses of 1 to 2 mg may be given at intervals sufficient to assess effectiveness. Maximum dose: 10 mg per 24 hours.
What is a patient controlled analgesia?
PATIENT CONTROLLED ANALGESIA (PCA): -Children should demonstrate the ability to use PCA; most 7-year olds are able to use the PCA device correctly. -For use in a compatible infusion device; patient must be closely monitored because of the considerable variability in both dose requirements and patient response.
Can you swallow morphine whole?
Instruct patients to swallow extended-release tablets whole; crushing, chewing, or dissolving tablets can cause rapid release and absorption of a potentially fatal dose of morphine . ACCIDENTAL INGESTION: Accidental ingestion of just 1 dose, especially by children, can result in a fatal overdose of morphine.
Is duramorp used in continuous microinfusion?
-DURAMORPH (R) is NOT for use in continuous microinfusion devices.
Why is buprenorphine not included in the calculator?
Buprenorphine is not included in the calculator because it is a partial agonist and morphine equivalent doses are uncertain. Please refer to the label for dosing parameters.
Can a patient be co-prescribed with benzodiazepines?
Is the patient co-prescribed benzodiazepines? Yes No
