| Morphine |
| Trade Names: Astramorph, Duramorph, Infumorph, Kadian Morphine Sulfate Sustained Release, MS Contin, MSIR, Oramorph, Roxanol |
| Type of Drug: Morphine is an opioid analgesic used to relieve moderate to severe pain. |
| How Drug Works: Morphine binds to opioid receptors in the brain and central nervous system (CNS), altering the perception of pain as well as the emotional response to pain. |
| How Drug Is Given: Morphine comes in a number of preparations. It is usually taken as a pill by mouth. It comes in a short-acting form (3 to 4 hours) or a long-acting form (12 to 24 hours). Take the pill or liquid with a full glass of water, with or without food. Make sure to shake the liquid before pouring the dose. Try to drink an 8 oz glass of water or fluid every hour to help prevent constipation. It can also be given by an injection in a vein or the spinal cord, in a pump connected to a vein, as a liquid, or as a rectal suppository. When taking a suppository, open the package and dip the tip in water. If you are right-handed, lie down on your left side, bring your knees up near your chest, and insert the suppository in your rectum about an inch. Stay in this position for about 15 minutes, then get up and wash your hands well. The dose depends on how much is needed to control your pain. Keep the medicine in a tightly closed container away from heat and moisture and out of the reach of children and pets. |
| How Should I Take This Drug? Take this drug exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand the instructions, ask your doctor or nurse to explain them to you. |
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Read the following information. If you do not understand it or if any of it causes you special concern, check with your doctor. |
| Before taking this drug, tell your doctor if you are taking any other
prescription or over-the-counter drugs, including vitamins and
herbals. |
| Should I avoid any other medicines, foods, alcohol,
and/or activities? Your prescription and nonprescription medicines may interact with other drugs, causing harm. Certain foods or alcohol can also interact with drug products. Never begin taking a new medicine"prescription or nonprescription"without asking your doctor or nurse if it will interact with alcohol, food, or other medicines. Some drug products can cause drowsiness and affect activities such as driving. |
| Precautions: Take the smallest effective dose to prevent development of tolerance (larger doses needed to give the same effect) as well as physical dependence (body goes into withdrawal if drug is suddenly stopped). This is different from addiction, which is psychological dependence (take drug for psychological effect, not for relief of pain). Tell your doctor or nurse if you are still in pain even though you are taking the medicine as directed. |
| Acetaminophen or aspirin may be combined with morphine to increase
the pain relief action. |
| You should be on a bowel regimen to prevent constipation while you
are taking opioid pain relievers. Talk to your nurse or doctor about
this. |
| Since morphine affects the central nervous system (CNS), it is
important not to take other drugs or substances that are known CNS
depressants such as alcohol, sedatives, and hypnotics. |
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Tell all the doctors, dentists, and pharmacists you visit that you are taking this drug. |
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Side Effects: |
More Common Side Effects
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Less Common Side Effects
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Rare Side Effects
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| Side Effects / Symptoms of the Drug Drink fluids (8 oz every hour in sips) to prevent constipation. Also, try to eat foods high in fiber such as bran, fruits, and vegetables. You may need to take a stool softener, bulk-forming agent, and/or laxative to help keep your bowel movements regular. Call your doctor or nurse right away if you have not moved your bowels in 2 days. Abruptly stopping the drug can cause anxiety, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, and tiredness. The drug should be gradually discontinued. |
| Other side effects not listed above can also occur in some patients. Tell your doctor or nurse if you develop any problems. |
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FDA Approval: Yes |