Author: Charles Frank

Morphine: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Warnings

Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take. Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of morphine in the elderly. Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of morphine in the pediatric population. Because you will receive morphine in a hospital or with a controlled infusion pump, you are not likely to miss a dose. Morphine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide. Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so.

How to use morphine oral

Morphine is used to treat pain severe enough to require daily, around-the-clock, long-term opioid treatment and when other pain medicines did not work well enough or cannot be tolerated. Morphine belongs to the group of medicines called narcotic analgesics (pain medicines). It acts on the central nervous system (CNS) to relieve pain. Morphine is an opioid agonist used for the relief of moderate to severe acute and chronic pain. The drug interactions listed above are not all of the possible interactions or adverse effects.

Serious morphine side effects

Central nervous system side effects may be either depressant or excitatory. Excitatory symptoms are sometimes ignored as possible side effects of morphine. Severe adverse effects such as respiratory depression can be treated with the opioid antagonist naloxone. This list is not complete and many other drugs may affect morphine. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Morphine is used to treat moderate to severe pain when alternative pain relief medicines are not effective or not tolerated.

  1. This medicine is available only under a restricted distribution program called the Opioid Analgesic REMS (Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy) program.
  2. You may report side effects to FDA at FDA-1088 or at /medwatch.
  3. They have to be understood and managed so patients can get the full benefits with fewer risks.
  4. Abuse may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.

Serious allergic reaction

Opioids, like morphine, can create very strong, feel-good feelings. Some people may misuse morphine, like taking more than their prescribed dose, to increase these desired effects. They have to be understood and managed so patients can get the full benefits with fewer risks. Never share opioid medicine with another person, especially someone with a history of drug addiction. Selling or giving away this medicine is against the law. Morphine belongs to a class of medications called opiate (narcotic) analgesics.

You should not take morphine if you have severe asthma or breathing problems, a blockage in your stomach or intestines, or a bowel obstruction called paralytic ileus. Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter OTC) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

What should I avoid while taking morphine?

A person caring for you can give the naloxone if you stop breathing or don’t wake up. Your caregiver must still get emergency medical help and may need to perform CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) on you while waiting for help to arrive. An interaction with morphine could cause a serious condition called serotonin syndrome. Fatal side effects may occur if you also drink alcohol or use other drugs that cause drowsiness or slow breathing.

When this medication is used for a long time, it may not work as well. Talk with your doctor if this medication stops working well. Visit the Yellow Card website for more information about reporting side effects. The person you speak to at 999 will give you advice about what to do. You or the person who’s unwell may also have a rash that’s swollen, raised, itchy, blistered or peeling.

For more information on drug interactions, visit the RxList Drug Interaction Checker. Morphine is a pain reliever (analgesic) derived from the opium plant, used to manage moderate-to-severe acute and chronic pain caused by many conditions. Morphine has effects on both the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and the central nervous system (CNS), changing the perception of pain as well as the body’s response to it. Morphine inhibits the transmission of pain signals from the PNS and activates the descending inhibitory pathways in the CNS. For a full list see the leaflet inside your medicines packet.

Make sure any person caring for you knows where you keep naloxone and how to use it. Do not breastfeed when using morphine, as morphine in breast milk can cause life-threatening side effects in a nursing baby. Serious breathing problems may be more likely in older adults and people who are debilitated or have wasting syndrome or chronic breathing disorders.

Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting may occur when you get up suddenly from a lying or sitting position. Also, lying down for a while may relieve the dizziness or lightheadedness. If you feel that the medicine is not working as well, do not use more than your prescribed dose. If you miss a dose of this medicine, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule.

The risks of dependence and overdose are a serious concern. According to the CDC, 1 in 4 patients who are treated with opioids long term develop opioid use disorder. This medicine may cause a serious allergic reaction called anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention.

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional. It is very important that you understand the rules of the Opioid Analgesic REMS program to prevent addiction, abuse, and misuse of morphine. This medicine should also come with a Medication Guide and patient instructions. Read it again each time you refill your prescription in case there is new information. Do not crush, chew, or dissolve this medication or the contents of the capsules.