Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: MS CONTIN versus NUMORPHAN.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: MS CONTIN versus NUMORPHAN.
MS CONTIN vs NUMORPHAN
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
Mu-opioid receptor agonist; binds to mu-opioid receptors in the CNS, modulating pain perception and emotional response to pain.
Opioid agonist; binds to mu-opioid receptors in the CNS, inhibiting ascending pain pathways and altering pain perception.
Oral: 15-30 mg every 8-12 hours; adjust based on pain severity and prior opioid use. Extended-release tablets must be swallowed whole; do not crush or chew. For opioid-naïve patients, start at 15 mg every 12 hours.
Intravenous or subcutaneous: 0.5-2 mg (0.1-0.2 mg/kg for severe pain) every 2-3 hours as needed; not to exceed 20 mg/day.
None Documented
None Documented
Terminal elimination half-life: 11-13 hours (range 8-24 hours). In elderly or hepatic impairment, half-life may be prolonged; acute dosing half-life ~2-4 hours.
Terminal elimination half-life is 2–3 hours in adults; prolonged to 3–4 hours in elderly and up to 15 hours in patients with severe hepatic impairment.
Renal: ~90% (mostly as morphine-3-glucuronide and morphine-6-glucuronide, with ~10% as unchanged morphine); Fecal: <10%
Primarily renal (approximately 70% as unchanged drug, <5% as noroxymorphone and other conjugates); biliary/fecal excretion accounts for ~20%.
Category C
Category C
Opioid Analgesic
Opioid Analgesic