What is oMEDD (Oral Morphine Equivalent Daily Dose)?

Posted on February 14, 2023 by - Medication

Did You Know That Pain Specialists Can Calculate Any Opioid Dose Back to the Daily Oral Morphine Equivalent Dose?

Many people who suffer from chronic pain often find themselves taking opioids to help manage their pain. While opioids can be effective at managing pain, they can also be very dangerous. That’s why it’s important for clinicians to be able to compare different opioid management regimes between patients to ensure safety and determine risk. One way they can do this is by calculating the oral morphine equivalent dose (oMEDD).

What is oMEDD (Oral Morphine Equivalent Daily Dose)?

The oMEDD is essentially a way to standardize the conversion of different opioids into a consistent unit of measurement and allow clinicians to compare different oral opioids. It’s calculated by converting the total daily dose of an opioid into an equivalent dose of oral morphine.

This conversion is necessary because different opioids have different potencies. This means that a certain dose of one opioid may not have the same effect as the same dose of another opioid. The oMEDD is a way to account for these differences and make sure that patients are receiving the correct dose of medication.

Why is oMEDD important?

Calculating the oMEDD enables clinicians to compare different opioid management regimes between patients to ensure safety and determine risk when opioids are needed as part of acute/ chronic/ cancer pain management or in palliative patients.

By understanding the oMEDD, clinicians can make more informed decisions about which opioids are appropriate for each individual patient and what dosages are safe.

How is oMEDD calculated?

There are a few different formulas that can be used to calculate the oMEDD. However, the most commonly used formula is:

oMEDD (in mg) = Dose (in mg) x Opioid Conversion Factor

The opioid conversion factor is a number that corresponds to the potency of the opioid. For example, the conversion factor for oral morphine is 1.

For example, 10mg of oral Oxycodone is equivalent to 15mg of oral Morphine. This is because Oxycodone is a more potent opioid than Morphine. Similarly, 30mg of Codeine is equivalent to 4mg of oral Morphine because Codeine is less potent than Morphine.

The oMEDD is essentially a way to standardize the conversion of different opioids into a consistent unit of measurement.

Conclusion:

If you suffer from chronic pain, it’s important that your clinician understands the oMEDD so that they can make informed decisions about your care. The oMEDD allows clinicians to compare different opioids and determine which ones are safe for you at what dosages. This information is critical in ensuring that you receive the best possible care and treatment for your chronic pain.

Disclosure: The information in this article is not intended to replace your doctor’s medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you require more information, or have any questions, please speak to your doctor/ specialist.

References:

  1. Svendsen K, Borchgrevink P, Fredheim O, Hamunen K, Mellbye A, Dale O. Choosing the unit of measurement counts: the use of oral morphine equivalents in studies of opioid consumption is a useful addition to defined daily doses. Palliat Med. 2011 Oct;25(7):725-32. doi: 10.1177/0269216311398300. Epub 2011 Mar 4. PMID: 21378066.
  2. Opioid Dose Equivalence Calculation Table. https://www.anzca.edu.au/getattachment/6892fb13-47fc-446b-a7a2-11cdfe1c9902/PS01(PM)-(Appendix)-Opioid-Dose-Equivalence-Calculation-Table
  3. Armstrong F, Arunogiri S, Frei MY, Lubman DI. The six Rs of managing high-risk opioid prescribing. Aust J Gen Pract. 2020 Mar;49(3):116-120. doi: 10.31128/AJGP-06-19-4967. PMID: 32113200.
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