1. What is MME?

MME (Milligram Morphine Equivalents) is a standardized unit used to compare the relative potency of different opioid medications to morphine. It helps healthcare providers assess opioid dosage levels and monitor for potential overdose risk.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the MME formula:

Where:

• \( Dose \) — Medication dose in milligrams (mg)
• \( Conversion Factor \) — Opioid-specific conversion multiplier
• \( MME \) — Milligram morphine equivalents (mg)

Explanation: The conversion factor represents how many times more potent the opioid is compared to morphine. For example, if a medication is twice as potent as morphine, the conversion factor would be 2.

3. Importance of MME Calculation

Details: MME calculation is crucial for opioid risk assessment, dose monitoring, and preventing opioid misuse and overdose. It helps standardize opioid dosing across different medications and supports safe prescribing practices.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the medication dose in milligrams and the appropriate conversion factor for the specific opioid medication. Both values must be positive numbers greater than zero.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What are common conversion factors for opioids?
A: Common conversion factors include: Morphine = 1, Oxycodone = 1.5, Hydrocodone = 1, Hydromorphone = 4, Fentanyl = variable based on patch strength.

Q2: Why is MME monitoring important?
A: MME monitoring helps identify patients at risk for opioid overdose, supports dose reduction when appropriate, and promotes safer opioid prescribing practices.

Q3: What is considered a high MME dose?
A: Generally, doses above 50 MME/day increase overdose risk, and doses above 90 MME/day significantly increase risk and warrant careful evaluation.

Q4: Are conversion factors the same for all patients?
A: Conversion factors are standardized but may need adjustment for individual patient factors, renal function, and specific clinical circumstances.

Q5: Can MME be used for all opioid medications?
A: MME is primarily used for common opioid analgesics. Some opioids like methadone and buprenorphine have complex conversion calculations that may differ.