Best Opioid Agonist for intractable pain
Top-rated pick: Methadone Hydrochloride — pharmaranks score 72/100, the highest of the 6 Opioid Agonist drugs used for intractable pain, ranked by our independent FDA recall-safety score. Compare them with all treatments for intractable pain or the full Opioid Agonist class. Not medical advice — always consult a professional.
Quick answer: Of the 6 opioid agonist drugs we rate for intractable pain, all are available as lower-cost generics, and most are injectable. Our ranking reflects each drug’s FDA recall-safety record — not clinical effectiveness for intractable pain; the right choice depends on your situation, so confirm it with your prescriber.
How opioid agonist work
Opioid agonists bind opioid receptors (mainly mu receptors) on nerves in the brain and spinal cord, dampening the release of pain-signaling chemicals so fewer pain messages reach the brain, which relieves moderate to severe pain.
Top opioid agonist for intractable pain: 1. Methadone Hydrochloride · 2. Duramorph Pf · 3. Infumorph
| # | Drug | Rating | Type | Form | Generic? | Pharmacy pays | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 72/100 | Prescription | Injectable | Generic | $0 | View → | |
| 2 | 70/100 | Prescription | Injectable | Generic | $3 | View → | |
| 3 | 70/100 | Prescription | Injectable | Generic | $3 | View → | |
| 4 | 70/100 | Prescription | Concentrate | Generic | $0 | View → | |
| 5 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Tablet | Generic | $3 | View → | |
| 6 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Tablet | Generic | $3 | View → |
Full ranking · 6 drugs
methadone hydrochloride
Boxed warningPrescriptionFDA-sourced
Methadone Hydrochloride is an opioid agonist used to treat Opioid-Related Disorders, Intractable Pain.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$0.06· 5 forms Save up to 70% in classduramorph pf
Boxed warningPrescriptionFDA-sourced
Duramorph Pf (Morphine Sulfate) is an opioid agonist used to treat Dyspnea, Intractable Pain.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$1.60· 7 forms Save up to 98% in classinfumorph
Boxed warningPrescriptionFDA-sourced
Infumorph (Morphine Sulfate) is an opioid agonist used to treat Dyspnea, Intractable Pain.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$1.60· 7 forms Save up to 98% in classmethadose
Boxed warningPrescriptionFDA-sourced
Methadose (Methadone Hydrochloride) is an opioid agonist used to treat Opioid-Related Disorders, Intractable Pain.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$0.06· 5 forms Save up to 70% in classmorphine sulfate
Boxed warningPrescriptionFDA-sourced
Morphine Sulfate is an opioid agonist used to treat Dyspnea, Intractable Pain.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$1.60· 7 forms Save up to 98% in classms contin
Boxed warningPrescriptionFDA-sourced
Ms Contin (Morphine Sulfate) is an opioid agonist used to treat Dyspnea, Intractable Pain.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$1.60· 7 forms Save up to 98% in classFrequently asked
- What is the best opioid agonist for intractable pain?
- By our independent recall-safety rating — not an efficacy measure — methadone hydrochloride ranks highest among Opioid Agonist drugs used for intractable pain. Always consult a professional.
- Which opioid agonist drugs treat intractable pain?
- pharmaranks lists 6 Opioid Agonist products used for intractable pain, per NIH RxClass drug-classification data — each independently rated and ranked above.
- How are these ranked?
- By our independent score, currently based on FDA regulatory recall-safety data (the methodology blends additional sources as they come online). See the How we rate page.