First line

• 15mg tablets

Second line

• 30mg tablets

The following codeine preparations are unlicensed and approved for use:

• 30 mg suppositories.
• codeine 2mg, 3mg, 6mg, 15mg;
• codeine 30mg in 1ml injection 

Modified release

• 10mg, 30mg, 60mg, 100mg, 200mg MR capsules(Zomorph^®) - 1st choice modified release preparation
• 5mg, 10mg, 15mg, 30mg, 60mg, 100mg, 200mg MR tablets (MST^®) - 2nd choice modified release preparation

Immediate release

• 1mg, 2.5mg, 5mg, 10mg, 20mg & 30mg oro-dispersible tablets (Actimorph^®) - 1st choice immediate release preparation
• 10mg in 5ml oral solution- 2nd choice immediate release preparation 

Injection

• 10mg/ml, 15mg/ml, 20mg/ml, 30mg/ml injection

Other approved formulations

• 100 micrograms/1 ml oral solution. For use in neonates  unlicensed
• morphine 5mg in 1ml injection  unlicensed 
• 10mg in 1ml preservative free injection  unlicensed
• 2mg in 5ml epidural  unlicensed
• 50mg in 50ml PCA injection 

• Palliative care use  
• 500micrograms in 1ml [ST&S], 1mg in 2ml, 5mg in 10ml & 5mg in 1ml injection ampoules - approved for initiation by specialists in palliative care  
• All non-palliative care indications 

•  Unlicensed intranasal diamorphine is approved for use in children for the relief of severe pain due to clinically suspected limb fractures, burns and significant fingertip injuries. Appropriate risk assessments are to be conducted by each organisation in order to determine formulation of choice (e.g. ampoules or intranasal spray).

• Note: intranasal diamorhine   

• 50mg capsules, 50mg dispersible tablets & 100mg/2ml injection
• Only approved for use as a second-line weak opioid analgesic for use in patients where treatment with possible alternatives such as paracetamol, NSAIDs, and codeine is insufficiently effective, not tolerated or considered unsuitable for other reasons.
• Note: modified release tramadol is not approved or recommended. 

• 200microgram sublingual tablets
• 300microgram in 1ml injection
• Buprenorphine patches (Preferred brand - Butec®) are approved for use in palliative care when fentanyl 12 microgram/hr transdermal patches exceed the patient’s analgesic requirements.

• 12, 25, 37.5, 50, 75 & 100 microgram/hour transdermal patches
  • Prescribe by brand. Mezolar® has replaced Matrifen® as the first choice brand. Patients who currently use Matrifen® can continue to do so if managing well.
• Fentanyl sublingual tablets (Abstral®) NoTGhdNC  only for patients experiencing incident pain during radiotherapy, restricted to palliative care use only 
• Fentanyl sublingual tablets (Abstral®) CD&TV  for breakthrough / rescue pain relief in palliative care
• nasal spray 
  • approved for use in children during diamorphine shortage with appropriate local governance arrangements

The following preparations are approved:

• 5mg tablets;
• 5mg in 5ml mixture DTF & 5mg in 5ml sugar free solution
• 20mg in 1ml concentrated oral solution (unlicensed)
• 10mg in 1ml injection

• Approved only for use in patients who are intolerant of morphine. 

• Note: Oxycodone 50mg in 1ml injection  is also approved for use, but is restricted to controlled circumstances in palliative patients following risk assessment by individual organisations.

• Approved for use as part of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) as part of multi-modal enhanced recovery pathway following hip and knee surgery 

• The OxyPro® branded generic is preferred (most cost effective option). 

• The oral solution should be used instead of immediate release tablets. 

• Approved for use by chronic pain specialist in adults with severe pain who have been screened for a neuropathic element to their pain and are uncontrolled or experiencing GI side effects on existing therapy.

• Note: the use of dihydrocodeine 30mg tablets & 10mg in 5ml oral solution is no longer recommended for regular use. Codeine is the preferred weak opioid analgesic.
• Dihydrocodeine is only approved for use in breast feeding mothers immediately postdelivery/ c-section where adequate pain relief has not been achieved using paracetamol and NSAIDs. Patients requiring continuation of dihydrocodeine following discharge (post delivery/c-section) can have dihydrocodeine prescribed in primary care (for short-term use only).