Morphine Equivalent Dose for 30 mg OxyContin
30 mg of OxyContin (oxycodone) is equivalent to 45-60 mg of oral morphine, with most guidelines using a 1:1.5 conversion ratio. 1, 2
Conversion Calculation
The conversion from oxycodone to morphine follows these principles:
- According to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines, the conversion ratio for oral oxycodone to oral morphine is 1:1.5-2 1, 3
- Using this established conversion factor:
- 30 mg oxycodone × 1.5 = 45 mg oral morphine
- 30 mg oxycodone × 2 = 60 mg oral morphine
Evidence-Based Conversion Factors
The evidence supporting this conversion ratio is robust:
- Clinical guidelines consistently report oxycodone being approximately 1.5-2 times more potent than oral morphine 1, 3
- Research studies confirm this potency ratio, with a comprehensive review indicating that oxycodone has an equivalence ratio of 1:2 with regard to morphine 2
- Pharmacological studies have demonstrated a relative potency ratio of approximately 1:3 (oxycodone:morphine) in experimental pain models 4
Clinical Implications
Understanding this equivalence is critical for:
- Proper pain management when switching between opioids
- Calculating total daily morphine equivalent doses for risk assessment
- Determining appropriate breakthrough medication dosing
Important Considerations
- Individual patient variability may affect the exact equivalence ratio
- Oxycodone metabolism is more predictable than morphine, making dose titration potentially easier 2
- Oxycodone has a higher oral bioavailability (60-87%) compared to morphine (approximately 30%), which contributes to its higher potency 5
Pharmacological Differences
While the morphine equivalent dose is important, there are notable differences between these medications:
- Oxycodone has activity on mu, kappa, and delta receptors, while morphine primarily affects mu receptors 2
- Oxycodone is metabolized by cytochrome P450 enzymes, whereas morphine undergoes glucuronidation 5
- Some studies suggest oxycodone may have superior analgesic effects for visceral pain compared to morphine at equianalgesic doses 6
The conversion ratio of 1:1.5-2 (oxycodone:morphine) is well-established and should be used when calculating morphine equivalent doses for clinical decision-making related to pain management.