Equianalgesic doses may differ from oral and parenteral doses because of pharmacokinetic differences. A short-acting opioid should normally be used for initial therapy of moderate to severe pain. Transdermal fentanyl dosage is not calculated as equianalgesic to a single morphine dosage. See the package insert for dosing calculations. Doses above 25 mcg should not be used in opioid-naive patients.
Doses listed are for brief therapy.
Switch to another opioid for long-term therapy. Because there is not complete cross-tolerance among these drugs, it is usually necessary to use a lower than equianalgesic dose when changing drugs and to retitrate to response. Used extensively both Mechanical problems temporary catheter intraoperative and include catheter postoperatively. Subcutaneous Increased stability, less Implantation more implanted risk of dislodgment. Subcutaneous Potentially, reduced Difficult to access, and reservoir infection in comparison to fibrosis may occur after external system.