This site is intended for healthcare professionals

CPD
CPD
Pro
Pro
Sign in
Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Go to /pro/cpd-dashboard page

This page is worth 0.05 CPD credits. CPD dashboard

Go to /account/subscription-details page

This page is worth 0.05 CPD credits. Upgrade to Pro

Morphine to oxycodone equivalence in chronic usage

Authoring team

Oxycodone

Oral oxycodone is 1.5 x as strong as oral morphine:

  • e.g. oral oxycodone 5mg is equivalent to oral morphine 7.5mg

SC oxycodone is 2x as strong as oral oxycodone:

  • e.g. SC oxycodone 5mg is equivalent to oral oxycodone 10mg

Oxycodone has good oral bioavailability.

Oxycodone is an alternative option if morphine is not tolerated.

Care should be taken to ensure clarity when prescribing immediate release capsules or modified release tablets. The modified release tablets also deliver a small dose which is immediate release.

Reference:

  • 1) West Midlands Palliative Care Physicians (2025). Palliative care - guidelines for the use of drugs in symptoms control.

Related pages

Create an account to add page annotations

Create a free account

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2025 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.