<<< Opioid Dosage Guide for Beginners >>>
It seems that people are always asking what doses to start at or "what dose should I take" and "how should I take it", so I've compiled a list of opioids that you are likely to find in your possession and the ideal starting dose and method of administration.
If anyone disagrees please post and I'll update information accordingly. This is for educational use only and I don't advise anybody consuming opioids in any amount at all. They are highly addictive and powerful substances and because everybody responds differently to them it is very hard to gage an appropriate starting dose. Nevertheless, here we go.
Codeine (Tylenol with codeine, co-codamol, codeine phosphate hemihydrate)
For an individual with no opioid tolerance,
60 - 120mg should be sufficient to safely sample the euphoric effects of this drug.
The only viable method of consumption is
oral, as codeine requires hepatic metabolisation to become significantly active. (In the liver it is converted to morphine via the CYP2D6 enzyme).
Morphine (MS Contin, MST Continus, Morphgesic SR, MXL, Zomorph, MST, MXL, Sevredol, Oramorph)
For an individual with no opioid tolerance,
5 - 30mg should be sufficient to safely experience the pleasant effects of this drug.
The viable methods of consumption are
oral (20-30mg),
intravenous (2-10mg),
intramuscular (10-15mg),
intrarectal (plugged) (5-20mg).
Insufflation is (arguably) a poor method for administration as is provides a very low bioavailability. It should be noted that so does the oral route, but I have included it nevertheless.
Oxycodone (OxyContin, OxyFast, OxyNorm, Percocet)
For an individual with no opioid tolerance,
15 - 20mg should be sufficient to safely experience the pleasant effects of this drug.
The viable methods of consumption are
oral (10-15mg),
intravenous (5-10mg),
intrarectal (plugged) (5-10mg),
insufflated (snorted) (5-10mg).
Hydrocodone (Vicodin, HydroTussin)
For an individual with no opioid tolerance,
10 - 15mg should be sufficient to safely experience the pleasant effects of this drug.
The viable methods of consumption are
oral (10-20mg),
intrarectal (plugged) (5-10mg),
insufflated (snorted) (5-10mg). It should be noted that hydrocodone is most usually combined with acetaminophen/paracetamol and consequently an extraction method should be used to separate the hydrocodone from its counterpart, otherwise fatal overdoses of APAP could be consumed.
Dihydrocodeine (DF 118, DHC Continus, Paramol)
For an individual with no opioid tolerance,
~60mg should be sufficient to safely experience the pleasant effects of this drug.
The viable methods of consumption are
oral (~60-80mg),
intrarectal (plugged) (~60-80mg). It should be noted that dihydrocodeine is sometimes combined with acetaminophen/paracetamol and consequently an extraction method should be used to separate the dihydrocodeine from its counterpart, otherwise fatal overdoses of APAP could be consumed. Effects between ORAL and INTRARECTAL are going to be slightly different for this drug, as hepatic metabolism converts the some of the DHC into dihydromorphine which is a potent opioid, however, it should be noted that DHC is active without metabolisation. It is NOT safe for intravenous injection. Intramuscular may be safe but I cannot specify.
Hydromorphone (Palladone, Dilaudid)
For an individual with no opioid tolerance,
4 - 8mg should be sufficient to safely experience the pleasant effects of this drug.
The viable methods of consumption are
oral (4 - 8mg),
intrarectal (plugged) (4 - 8mg),
insufflated (snorted) (2 - 4mg),
intravenous (1-2mg).
Oxymorphone (Opana, Numorphan, Numorphone)
For an individual with no opioid tolerance,
5mg should be sufficient to safely experience the pleasant effects of this drug.
The viable methods of consumption are
oral (5mg),
intrarectal (plugged) (5mg),
insufflated (snorted) (5mg),
intravenous (1-2mg).
Buprenorphine (Subutex, Suboxone (with naloxone), Temgesic)
This is a mixed agonist/antagonist and
WILL precipitate withdrawals in an individual currently dependent on full agonist opioids. It should only be used for recreational if the user is NOT on opioids or has not been for at least 24 hours.
For an individual with no opioid tolerance,
0.5 - 1mg should be sufficient to safely experience the pleasant effects of this drug.
The viable methods of consumption are
sublingual (0.5 - 1mg) or
insufflated (snorted) (0.5- 1mg),
intrarectal (plugged) (0.5 - 1mg).
Methadone (Methadose)
For an individual with no opioid tolerance,
~5 mg should be sufficient to safely experience the pleasant effects of this drug.
The viable methods of consumption are
oral (~5mg),
intravenous (not recommended) (~5mg). This is a drug typically used in opioid maintenance programs to aid people in weaning off opioids. It is a VERY potent opioid and it has a very long duration of action. Consequently it is associated with many accidental deaths and overdose. DO NOT REDOSE for 24 hours.
Diamorphine (Heroin)
For an individual with no opioid tolerance,
5 - 10 mg should be sufficient to safely experience the pleasant effects of this drug.
The viable methods of consumption are
oral (poor bioavailability ~20mg),
intravenous (5 - 10mg),
insufflated (snorted) (5 - 15mg). It should be considered that unless you are using pure medical diamorphine tabs/ampoules, it is almost certainly impure and cut with something. Remember that all heroin is of different purities.
Fentanyl (Actiq, Durogesic, Duragesic, Fentora, Onsolis, Instanyl)
For an individual with no opioid tolerance,
0.1mg / 100 mcg should be sufficient to safely experience the pleasant effects of this drug.
The viable methods of consumption are
sublingual/buccal 100 - 200 mcg).
Highly POTENT opioid. Please note MCG = micrograms not milligrams
Pethidine/Meperidine (Demerol)
For an individual with no opioid tolerance,
50mg should be sufficient to safely experience the pleasant effects of this drug.
The viable methods of consumption are
oral 50-100mg),
intramuscular 25-50mg).
Dextropropoxyphene (Distalgesic, Co-proxamol)
For an individual with no opioid tolerance,
120-160mg should be sufficient to safely experience the pleasant effects of this drug.
The viable methods of consumption are
oral 120mg - 160mg).
Toxic in high doses. Banned in UK due to high level of deaths.
Tramadol (Ultram, Zydol)
For an individual with no opioid tolerance,
100mg should be sufficient to safely experience the pleasant effects of this drug.
The viable methods of consumption are
oral 100mg). Tramadol requires the oral route as it is metabolised into o-desmethyltramadol, a potent mu-agonist. Some people dispute tramadol as an opioid, but they are mistaken. Tramadol IS an opioid, it is proven, as it has mu-opioid activity alongside SSRI and dopamine reuptake inhibition qualities. It should also be noted that Tramadol causes seizures in SOME people at high doses. Tramadol's max 24 hour dosage is therefore 400mg.
If anyone disagrees with my doses or advice, please let me know and I'll adjust accordingly if I think you're right
Please remember, as with all drugs, always err on the side of caution. It's safer to take less and slowly work up than overdose and die right there.