-
Morphine
- Relatively low potency
- Active Metabolite, morphine-6-glucuronide has analgesic properties and is renally extreted.
- Can cause histamine release (Pruritis and Vasodilation)
-
Hydromorphone (Dilaudid)
- 8x more potent than morphine.
- No active metabolites, no histamine release.
-
Fentanyl
- 100x more potent than morphine.
- Fast onset and short duration of action.
- Unlike morphine, no histamine release, so does not cause vasodilation and hypotension.
- Causes more intense respiratory depression compared to morphine.
- Causes less nausea compared to moprhine.
-
Remifentanil
- 200x more potent than morphine
- Extremely rapid offset (~90 sec) as it is metabolized by plasma esterases (as opposed to the liver).
