WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
Opioid Prescription Drug Guide
Prescription narcotic medications, also called opioids, are the most expensive of all therapy classes in workers’
compensation. When taken as prescribed, these powerful medications can provide significant pain relief for both
acute (short-term) and chronic pain.
The Opioid Treatment Guidelines: Clinical Guidelines for the Use of Chronic Opioid Therapy in Chronic Noncancer
Pain reiterate that, “Proper patient selection is critical and requires a comprehensive benefit-to-harm evaluation
that weighs the potential positive effects of opioids on pain and function against potential risks. Thorough risk
assessment and stratification is appropriate in every case.”1
Long-Acting Opioids
Generic Name
Brand Name
Generic Available
buprenorphine patch
Butrans®
N
fentanyl patch
Duragesic®
Y
hydromorphone ER
ExalgoTM
N
methadone
Methadose®, Dolophine®
Y
morphine sulfate ER capsules
Avinza
N
morphine sulfate capsules SR
Kadian
morphine sulfate tablets ER
MS Contin , Oramorph
Y
morphine/naltrexone
Embeda
N
®
Y
®
TM
®
TM
oxycodone ER
®
OxyContin
N
oxymorphone ER
Opana ER
N
tapentadol
Nucynta ER
N
tramadol ER capsule
ConZip
N
tramadol ER tablet
Available in generic only
Y
tramadol ER tablet, osmotic drilled
Ultram ER
Y
Generic Name
Brand Name
Generic Available
buprenorphine sublingual
Subutex
Y
buprenorphine/naloxone oral dissolving film
Suboxone
codeine
Available as generic only
codeine/acetaminophen
Tylenol with codeine, Cocet plus
®
®
TM
®
Short-Acting Opioids
®
N
®
®
Y
®
Y
Continued
Short-Acting Opioids
Generic Name
Brand Name
Generic Available
codeine/acetaminophen/butalbital/caffeine
Fioricet® with codeine
Y
codeine/aspirin/butalbital/caffeine
Ascomp® with codeine, Fiorinal® with codeine
Y
fentanyl buccal soluble film
OnsolisTM
N
fentanyl buccal tablet
Fentora®
N
fentanyl oral lozenge
Actiq
Y
fentanyl nasal spray
Lazanda
fentanyl sublingual tablet
Abstral
®
N
®
N
®
hydrocodone/acetaminophen
®
Lortab , Lorcet , Vicodin , Vicodin ES, Co­Gesic,
Vicodin® HP
Y
hydrocodone/ibuprofen
Vicoprofen®, Ibudone®, Reprexain®
Y
hydromorphone
Dilaudid
Y
levorphanol
Available as generic only
Y
meperidine
Demerol
Y
morphine sulfate immediate release
MSIR (brand name, no longer marketed)
Y
oxycodone immediate release
Roxicodone
Y
oxycodone/acetaminophen tablet
Percocet , Endocet , Magnacet , Roxicet ,
Xolox®
Y
oxycodone/acetaminophen capsule
Tylox®
Y
oxycodone/aspirin
Percodan , Endodan
Y
oxycodone/ibuprofen
Combunox (brand name, no longer marketed)
Y
oxymorphone immediate release
Opana
Y
tapentadol
Nucynta
N
tramadol
Ultram
Y
tramadol orally disintegrating
Rybix
tramadol/acetaminophen
Ultracet
®
®
®
®
®
®
®
®
®
®
®
®
®
®
®
®
®
N
®
®
Y
Chou R, Fanciullo GJ, Fine PG, et.al. for the American Pain Society-American Academy of Pain Medicine Opioids Guidelines Panel. Opioid Treatment Guidelines.
Clinical Guidelines for the Use of Chronic Opioid Therapy in Chronic Noncancer Pain. J. Pain 10(2):113-130. 2009. Available at: http://www.jpain.org/article/
S1526-5900(08)00831-6/fulltext
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Learn More
Visit Express-Scripts.com/WorkersCompensation or contact your account representative today to learn how
Express Scripts can help you address and deter potential narcotic abuse among your injured worker population.
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