From the Guidelines
The Morphine Milligram Equivalent (MME) of a buprenorphine 2mg tablet is approximately 150 MME, based on the analgesic ratio of 75:1 for oral morphine to transdermal buprenorphine as reported in the 2018 ESMO clinical practice guidelines 1. This means that 2mg of buprenorphine is roughly equivalent in analgesic effect to 150mg of oral morphine.
- The conversion factor for buprenorphine is typically considered to be around 75 times the potency of morphine, as indicated in the guidelines 1.
- Buprenorphine has a unique pharmacological profile as a partial mu-opioid receptor agonist, which makes direct MME conversions less precise than with full agonist opioids.
- When prescribing or converting between opioids, clinicians should consider individual patient factors, tolerance, and the partial agonist properties of buprenorphine rather than relying solely on MME calculations.
- The ceiling effect on respiratory depression contributed by buprenorphine improves its safety profile compared to full opioid agonists, which is crucial for minimizing morbidity and mortality while maintaining quality of life.
From the Research
Morphine Milligram Equivalent (MME) of Buprenorphine
- The Morphine Milligram Equivalent (MME) is a measure used to compare the potency of different opioid medications.
- Unfortunately, the provided studies do not directly address the MME of a buprenorphine 2mg tablet 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- However, it is known that buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist with a high affinity for the mu-opioid receptor, which contributes to its potency and efficacy in treating opioid use disorder 2, 4.
- The studies provided focus on the efficacy and safety of buprenorphine compared to other opioid substitution therapies, such as methadone and slow-release oral morphine 3, 5.
- To determine the MME of a buprenorphine 2mg tablet, one would need to consult a reliable source, such as a clinical guideline or a pharmacology reference, that provides equivalent dosing information for different opioid medications.
Available Information on Buprenorphine
- Buprenorphine is an effective treatment for opioid use disorder, with studies showing its efficacy in reducing illicit opioid use and improving quality of life 3, 5.
- Buprenorphine has a unique pharmacological profile, with a high affinity for the mu-opioid receptor and a slow dissociation rate, which contributes to its long duration of action 4.
- The available studies do not provide information on the MME of buprenorphine, but they do highlight its importance as a treatment option for opioid use disorder 2, 4, 5, 6.