Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: NUMORPHAN versus OPANA ER.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: NUMORPHAN versus OPANA ER.
NUMORPHAN vs OPANA ER
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.
Opana ER (oxymorphone hydrochloride) is a full opioid agonist with relative selectivity for the mu-opioid receptor, although it can interact with other opioid receptors at higher doses. The principal therapeutic action is analgesia via activation of mu-opioid receptors in the central nervous system, leading to altered perception and response to pain.
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.
Initial: 5 mg orally every 12 hours; titrate by 5-10 mg every 12 hours every 3-7 days; maximum 40 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: 11.1–13.8 hours; clinically relevant as steady-state achieved in 2–3 days
Primarily renal (approximately 70% as unchanged drug, <5% as noroxymorphone and other conjugates); biliary/fecal excretion accounts for ~20%.
Renal (primarily as glucuronide conjugates and unchanged drug): 85-90%; Fecal: <10%
Category C
Category C
Opioid Analgesic
Opioid Analgesic