Immediate-release preparation | Starting dose for opioid-naïve adult | Half-life |
Hydromorphone | 2 to 4 mg (tablets or oral solution) orally every 4 to 6 hours as needed | 2 to 3 hours |
Morphine | 10 to 30 mg orally every 4 hours as needed¶ | 2 to 3 hours |
Oxycodone | 5 to 10 mg mg orally every 4 to 6 hours as needed | 2 to 3 hours |
Oxymorphone | 2.5 to 5 mg orally every 4 to 6 hours as needed | 7 to 9 hours |
Tapentadol | 50 mg orally every six hours as needed | 4 hours |
Tramadol | 25 to 50 mg orally every 6 hours as needed | 6 to 9 hours (includes active metabolite) |