2. Class members

Opioid (or opioid combination)

Oral formulations

Other formulations

Alfentanil

Injection

Buprenorphine

Sublingual tablets

Injection
Transdermal patches

Buprenorphine + naloxone

Sublingual tablets

Codeine

Tablets
Syrup

Injection

Codeine + aspirin (co-codaprin)

Dispersible tablets

Codeine + paracetamol (co-codamol)

Tablets
Effervescent tablets
Capsules

Diamorphine

Tablets

Injection

Dihydrocodeine

Tablets
Modified-release tablets
Oral solution

Injection

Dihydrocodeine + paracetamol (including co-dydramol)

Tablets

Dipipanone + cyclizine

Tablets

Fentanyl

Buccal tablets
Sublingual tablets
Lozenges

Injection
Nasal spray
Transdermal patches

Hydromorphone

Capsules
Modified-release capsules

Meptazinol

Tablets

Injection

Methadone

Tablets
Oral solution

Injection

Morphine

Tablets
Modified-release tablets
Modified-release capsules
Oral solution
Modified-release suspension

Injection
Suppositories

Morphine + cyclizine

Injection

Oxycodone

Modified-release tablets
Capsules
Oral solution

Injection

Oxycodone + naloxone

Tablets

Papaveretum

Injection

Papaveretum + hyoscine hydrobromide

Injection

Pentazocine

Tablets
Capsules

Injection

Pethidine

Tablets

Injection

Pethidine + promethazine

Injection

Remifentanil

Injection

Tapentadol

Tablets
Modified-release tablets

Tramadol

Capsules
Orodispersible tablets
Oral drops
Soluble tablets
Modified-release tablets
Modified-release capsules

Injection

Tramadol + paracetamol

Tablets
Effervescent tablets

Did you know …

In England, more than one in every ten primary care prescriptions for opioids is for transdermal patches?

Buprenorphine and fentanyl transdermal patches are not suitable for acute pain—they should be used for chronic pain only.

Activity 1

Some formulations of opioid medicines include an opioid antagonist1. Which antagonist is used? Give two reasons for including the antagonist in the formulation.


  1. A substance that binds to a receptor but produces no effect and inhibits an agonist from binding to the receptor