Which medication is considered more potent than morphine and has a shorter duration of action?

Fentanyl is recognized as a highly potent opioid that is significantly stronger than morphine, often estimated to be 50 to 100 times more potent. This high level of potency means that only a small dose of fentanyl is required to achieve analgesic effects, making it particularly useful in treating severe pain, such as that experienced in surgical settings or for individuals with chronic pain who may have developed tolerance to other opioids.

In addition to its potency, fentanyl is known for its shorter duration of action compared to morphine. The pharmacokinetics of fentanyl result in a rapid onset of action, which is advantageous for acute pain management, but also necessitates careful monitoring due to the potential for rapid onset of respiratory depression. This short duration requires frequent dosing or the use of formulations such as transdermal patches for consistent pain control over extended periods.

In contrast, other options like meperidine, methadone, and hydromorphone, while they each have their own specific uses and effects in pain management, do not match fentanyl's combination of high potency and short duration of action. For instance, methadone is a long-acting opioid that is often used in the treatment of opioid addiction and chronic pain but does not