Table 1. Categorisation of patients by opioid strength based on a hierarchy of analgesic potency arising from a consensus study of UK GPs23
WeakIntermediateStrong
Co-codamol 8 mg/500 mgCodeine 30 mgMorphine
Co-codamol 15 mg/500 mgCo-codamol 30 mg/500 mgOxycodone
Codeine 15 mgDihydrocodeine 30 mgFentanyl
Codeine 20 mgBuprenorphine patch ≥15 mcg/hourTapentadol
Co-dydramol 10 mg/500 mgBuprenorphine sublingual 400 mcgDiamorphine
Co-dydramol 20 mg/500 mgTramadol >37.5 mgHydromorphone
Dihydrocodeine 20 mgPethidineDipipanone
Co-proxamol 32.5 mg/325 mgPentazocineDextromoramide
Tramadol 37.5 mg/500 mgMeptazinol
Buprenorphine patch 5 or 10 mcg/hour
Buprenorphine sublingual 200 mcg