Table 1 Common opioid analgesics for ICU patients
Drug | Mechanism of action | Equivalent dose | Onset | Duration of analgesia | Common adverse reactions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Morphine | μ-opioid agonist (also with κ-opioid and δ-opioid agonist effects) | 10 mg | 15–60 min | 4–5 h | Respiration depression, Nausea, Vomiting, Drowsiness, Constipation, Hypotension, Urinary retention, Itching |
Fentanyl | μ-opioid agonist (also with κ-opioid agonist effects) | 0.1 mg |  < 1–2 min | 1–1.5 h | Respiration depression, Nausea, Constipation, Skeletal-muscle rigidity |
Sufentanil | μ-opioid agonist (also with κ-opioid agonist effects) | 0.02 mg | within a few minutes | 1–1.5 h | Respiratory depression, Nausea, Dizziness, Vomiting, Itching, Skeletal-muscle rigidity |
Nalbuphine | μ-opioid antagonist (also with κ-opioid agonist effect) | 10 mg | 2–3 min | 3–6 h | Nausea, Drowsiness, Sweating, Dry mouth, Dizziness. (nearly no psychotomimetic side effects) |