Opioid Dose Calculator

Based on Canadian Guideline for Safe and Effective Use of Opioids for Chronic Non-Cancer Pain found at:

http://nationalpaincentre.mcmaster.ca/opioid/cgop_b_app_b08.html

Notes from McMaster National Pain Centre site:

• Conversions are based on oral dosing for chronic non-cancer pain.
• The figures are based on the Compendium of Pharmaceutical & Specialties (Canadian Pharmacists Association 2008) and a systematic review by Pereira (2001). Wide ranges have been reported in the literature.
• These equivalences refer to analgesic strength of oral opioids, and not psychoactive effects or effectiveness in relieving withdrawal symptoms.

Please see linked McMaster site above for details.

Equivalence between oral morphine and transdermal fentanyl:

Transdermal fentanyl* :

• 60–134 mg morphine = 25mcg/h
• 135–179 mg = 37 mcg/h
• 180–224 mg = 50 mcg/h
• 225–269 mg = 62 mcg/h
• 270–314 mg = 75 mcg/h
• 315–359 mg = 87 mcg/h
• 360–404 mg = 100 mcg/h

* Formulations include 12, 25, 50, 75 and 100 ucg/hour patches, but the 12 ucg/hour patch is generally used for dose adjustment rather than initiation of fentanyl treatment.