Which drugs are considered mild opioid agonists?

Mild opioid agonists are substances that have a lesser potency compared to stronger opioids and are often used to treat moderate pain. Codeine is recognized as a mild opioid agonist because it is typically used for moderate pain relief and has a lower risk of dependence and side effects compared to stronger opioids such as morphine, fentanyl, and oxycodone.

While morphine and oxycodone are more potent and are often prescribed for severe pain, and fentanyl is a highly potent synthetic opioid used in more severe cases, codeine is specifically utilized for its milder analgesic properties. Moreover, codeine is often combined with other non-opioid medications like acetaminophen for enhanced pain relief in situations where milder intervention is appropriate. This makes it a preferred choice for managing lower levels of pain.