MME Calculator – Morphine Milligram Equivalent per Day | OmniCalculator.Space

  • Adam
  • January 4, 2026

Calculate total daily MME (Morphine Milligram Equivalent) from your opioid regimen. Educational tool with conversion factors, special handling for methadone & fentanyl, breakdown table, and CSV export. Free MME calculator.

MME Calculator (Morphine Milligram Equivalent)

Estimate total daily MME from an opioid regimen. Educational use only.

Medication Regimen

Some opioids and routes require special handling. These settings change only the calculation, not clinical decisions.

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Total MME/day

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MME contributors

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Highest contributor

Understand your regimen (educational)

  • See which medication contributes most
  • Export a breakdown for discussion with a clinician
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Educational only — not medical advice. Do not change medications based on this estimate. Consult a licensed clinician.

MME Calculator: Morphine Milligram Equivalent per Day

The MME Calculator estimates the total daily morphine milligram equivalent (MME) from an opioid regimen [web:1][web:2]. This educational tool helps students, patients, caregivers, and clinicians understand opioid potency relative to morphine, but it does not provide medical advice or dosing recommendations [web:9].

How It Works

MME calculation converts different opioids to a common reference (morphine) using established conversion factors [page:1]. The basic formula for each medication line is:

\[ DailyDose = Strength \cdot Units \cdot DosesPerDay \]

\[ MME_{line} = DailyDose \cdot Factor \]

\[ TotalMME = \sum MME_{line} \]

Example: A patient takes oxycodone 10 mg tablets, 2 tablets every 6 hours (4 times daily). Daily dose = 10 mg × 2 × 4 = 80 mg oxycodone. Using a conversion factor of 1.5 [page:1], the MME = 80 × 1.5 = 120 MME/day.

Special Handling

  • Methadone: Conversion factors are nonlinear and dose-dependent, ranging from 3:1 to 12:1 or higher [web:6][web:9]. The calculator applies tiered factors based on daily methadone dose [page:1].
  • Fentanyl patches: Dosed in mcg/hr, converted using a factor of 2.4 per mcg/hr (assumes 72-hour patch duration) [page:1][web:5]. Example: A 50 mcg/hr patch = 50 × 2.4 = 120 MME/day.
  • PRN medications: For "as-needed" opioids, enter expected doses per day or compute a range (min–max) [web:8].

Why MME Has Limits

MME conversions are approximations and do not account for patient variability, incomplete cross-tolerance, genetics, pharmacokinetics, or route-specific absorption [page:1][web:1]. Equianalgesic tables are derived from limited clinical data and may not apply to all patients [web:6]. Methadone and transdermal fentanyl require particular caution due to their complex pharmacology [web:6][web:7]. Buprenorphine, as a partial agonist, is not standardized for MME and is not included in most calculations [page:1].

Safety Notes

The CDC recommends caution when considering opioid dosages ≥50 MME/day and advises avoiding ≥90 MME/day unless clinically justified [web:9][page:1]. Higher MME levels are associated with increased overdose risk, especially when combined with CNS depressants (benzodiazepines, alcohol, sedatives) [web:8]. This calculator is for educational purposes only and should never replace clinical judgment or consultation with a licensed healthcare provider [web:1].

Frequently Asked Questions

What is MME in opioids?
Morphine milligram equivalent (MME) represents the potency of an opioid dose relative to morphine [web:9]. It allows different opioids to be compared on a common scale [web:1].
How do I calculate MME per day?
Multiply the daily dose of each opioid by its conversion factor, then sum all values [web:8][page:1]. For example, 60 mg hydrocodone/day × 1.0 = 60 MME/day.
What are standard MME conversion factors?
Common factors include: morphine (1.0), oxycodone (1.5), hydrocodone (1.0), hydromorphone (5.0), codeine (0.15), tramadol (0.2), tapentadol (0.4), and fentanyl transdermal (2.4 per mcg/hr) [page:1][web:5].
Why is methadone MME different?
Methadone has nonlinear pharmacokinetics with a long, variable half-life (5–130 hours) and dose-dependent conversion factors [web:6]. Higher methadone doses require lower conversion ratios (e.g., 8:1 or 12:1) [web:9].
How do I calculate fentanyl patch MME?
Multiply the patch strength (mcg/hr) by 2.4 [page:1][web:5]. For example, a 25 mcg/hr patch = 25 × 2.4 = 60 MME/day. This assumes a 72-hour patch duration [web:10].
What is a safe MME level?
There is no universally "safe" level, as risk varies by patient. The CDC recommends caution at ≥50 MME/day and avoiding ≥90 MME/day unless justified [web:9][page:1]. All opioid use carries risk.
What are the 50 and 90 MME thresholds?
These are CDC guideline reference points: 50 MME/day warrants increased caution and monitoring; 90 MME/day is a threshold to avoid exceeding without clear clinical justification [web:9].
How do I handle PRN opioids in MME calculation?
Estimate the expected doses per day the patient actually uses, or calculate a range (minimum to maximum expected use) [web:8]. PRN use varies widely and requires clinical judgment.
What is equianalgesic opioid conversion?
Equianalgesic conversion refers to finding equivalent doses of different opioids that produce similar analgesic effects [web:6][page:1]. These conversions are estimates and must account for incomplete cross-tolerance.
Can I export the MME breakdown as CSV?
Yes, click "Export as CSV" in the breakdown section to download a file containing your regimen inputs, conversion factors, and MME calculations for discussion with a clinician.

About OmniCalculator.Space

This MME Calculator is provided by OmniCalculator.Space, a resource for educational calculators across health, finance, and science. For questions or feedback, visit our contact page. Explore more tools on our health calculators page or learn about our mission on the about page.

Disclaimer: This tool is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Do not start, stop, adjust, or substitute opioid medications without consulting a licensed clinician. MME conversions are approximations and do not replace clinical judgment. For authoritative clinical guidance, consult resources such as the CDC Opioid Resources and medical pharmacology references.

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