Which opioids are available to Chinese physicians today?
HZ – Among the Step II (weak) opioids: codeine in 10 mg tablets and two formulations of codeine plus acetaminophen are widely used for pain control. Among the Step III (strong) opioids: oral morphine in 5 mg tablets, pethidine (injectable), and since 1994 sustained release morphine is manufactured domestically and imported from various manufacturers. How does the government restrict the use of morphine and is this changing? HZ – Special triplicate prescriptions are required by law and Chinese physicians can only prescribe a maximum daily dose of oral morphine of 100 mg (60 mg IM). For many years, the annual consumption of morphine in mainland China was around 10 kg, which is insignificant given ChinaUs population. Since 1993 however, outpatients can obtain a supply of opioids for a week instead of 3 days. Do you have any data about how pain is managed in China? HZ – A pain severity study conducted in 1992 by the Beijing Municipal Health Bureau in collaboration with the Pain Research Gr
