Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: NUMORPHAN versus OPANA.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: NUMORPHAN versus OPANA.
NUMORPHAN vs OPANA
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
Opioid agonist; binds to mu-opioid receptors in the CNS, inhibiting ascending pain pathways and altering pain perception.
Mu-opioid receptor agonist; produces analgesia by binding to opioid receptors in the CNS, inhibiting ascending pain pathways and altering pain perception.
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.
5-20 mg orally every 4-6 hours as needed for pain; extended-release tablets: 5 mg orally every 12 hours, titrated up to 20 mg every 12 hours.
None Documented
None Documented
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.
Terminal elimination half-life is 11-16 hours (mean 14 hours) in adults; prolonged in hepatic impairment (up to 30 hours) and elderly.
Primarily renal (approximately 70% as unchanged drug, <5% as noroxymorphone and other conjugates); biliary/fecal excretion accounts for ~20%.
Primarily renal (approximately 90% as conjugated metabolites, 10% unchanged); biliary/fecal elimination accounts for <10%.
Category C
Category C
Opioid Analgesic
Opioid Analgesic