Morphine is a highly effective opiate analgesic drug. It is the principal and active agent in opium and the prototypical opioid. It is also a natural endocrine product found in humans and other animals. Like other opioids drugs such as diacetylmorphine (heroin), morphine also acts directly on the central nervous system (CNS) to relieve pain. Researches done on the efficacy of various opioids have proved that, in the treatment of severe pain, no other narcotic analgesic is more effective or superior than morphine. Morphine is a highly addictive drug in all aspects like tolerance, physical and psychological dependences when compared to other substances.

Morphine comes under a group of drugs known as the narcotic pain relievers. The drug works by affecting the pain perception center in the brain. The short-acting formulations are taken as needed for getting instant relief from pain. The extended release formulations are used when pain relief is needed round the clock.

Brief History of Morphine

Morphine was first discovered in the year 1804 in Paderborn, Germany, by the German pharmacist Friedrich Wilhelm Adam Sertürner. Friedrich called it morphium after Morpheus, the Greek God of Dreams. However, it was not until the development of the hypodermic needle in the year 1853 that its application spread. The drug was originally only used for pain relief and as a “cure” for opium and alcohol addiction. However, later it was found out that morphine was even more addictive than either alcohol or opium. Morphine, heroin and cocaine have now become restricted substances in the U.S. according to the Harrison Narcotics Tax Act. However, ownership of the drug without a prescription in the U.S. is illegal.

Why is Morphine prescribed by Doctors

Morphine drug is used to relieve mild to severe pain. The long acting Morphine tablets and capsules are only used by patients who need medication to relieve moderate to severe pain longer than a few days. Morphine falls under the category of medications called opiate (narcotic) analgesics. This drug works by altering the way the body reacts to pain.

How should Morphine be used

ü Morphine comes in various forms like a tablet, a solution, a controlled or extended-release (long-acting) tablet, and a controlled or sustained-release (long-acting) capsule. All these forms of drugs are to be taken orally.

ü The regular tablet and liquid form are usually are taken after every 4 hours.

ü The extended-release tablets are usually taken every 8-12 hours. However it is recommended that you always follow the prescription.

ü If you are taking morphine liquid solution then you can use the spoon or dropper that comes with the medication to assess your dose. Measure the dose cautiously so that you know how many milliliters of the solution you take.

ü Your doctor may start your treatment by giving you a low dose of Morphine drugs and then gradually increase your dose until you are relieved of the pain. Your doctor may regulate your dose at any time during your treatment if your pain is not relieved. If you feel the pain even after taking the Morphine drug then call your doctor.

ü Morphine can become a habit if taken regularly. You must take morphine exactly as directed by the physician.

ü You also should not ever take a larger dose of the medicine or take it for a longer period of time. You should also not take it in a different way than what is prescribed by your doctor.

ü You should not open, crush or chew an extended-release tablet. The pills must be swallowed as a whole. After it is swallowed, the tablet will release the medicine gradually in the body. Breaking up the tablet would cause too much of the drug to be released at once.

ü To effortlessly swallow the Morphine tablet, you may open the extended-release capsule and dust the medicine into a spoonful of pudding. Swallow this mix right away without chewing. Do not keep the mix for later use. Dispose the empty capsule.

ü If at any time you happen to miss a Morphine dose while you are using the medication regularly, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose then you can skip the missed dose and wait until you can have your next regularly scheduled dose. Don’t take additional medicine to make up the missed dose.

Warning

Morphine is a very strong drug. You must not stop taking the drug by yourself without consulting a doctor. If you feel that you do not need the medicine anymore then consult your doctor and ask him to slowly decrease your dose. If you abruptly stop taking morphine, then you may experience complication and withdrawal symptoms like sweating; upset stomach; anxiety; chills; diarrhea; running nose, sneezing or coughing; or hallucinations.

Side effects caused by Morphine

Morphine may cause many types of side effects. In most of the cases, these side effects are normal, however you must tell your doctor if any of the following symptoms become severe or do not go away. The symptoms are:

ü Drowsiness

ü Upset stomach

ü Vomiting

ü Constipation

ü Dizziness

ü Headache

ü Agitation

ü Nervousness

ü Nausea

ü Diarrhea

ü Loss of appetite

ü Weight loss

ü Dry mouth

ü Excessive sweating

ü Weakness

ü Temper changes

ü Confusion

ü Difficulty in sleeping

ü Stiff muscles

ü Involuntary shaking of a part of your body

ü Double vision

ü Reddishness of eyes

ü Contraction of the pupils

ü Uncontrollable eye movements

ü Chills

ü Symptoms of flu

ü Change in sexual ability

ü Difficulty while urinating

Some of the side effects caused by the intake of Morphine can be serious. If you experience any of the following symptoms then you must call your doctor immediately:

ü Seizures

ü Hallucinations

ü Blurred vision

ü Fainting

ü Skin complaints

ü Severe skin rash

ü Slow or irregular breathing

ü Color of the skin becoming blue or purple

ü Heartbeat becoming fast or slow

ü Itching problems

ü Tightness in the throat

ü Difficulty while swallowing

ü Swelling of the different parts of the body
In case you happen to take an overdose of Morphine then call a doctor immediately. Remember that an overdose of morphine at any time can prove to be serious. Some of the side effects caused due to overdose are:
ü Severe drowsiness
ü Pinpoint pupil
ü Perplexity
ü Chilly and damp skin
ü Weak pulse
ü Shallow breathing
ü Fainting or irregular breathing
What you should avoid while using morphine:
ü You should not drink alcohol while you are taking Morphine regularly. Combination of the drug with alcohol can lead to dangerous consequences
ü Check the food items and medicine labels to ensure that these products are free from alcohol.
What you must remember:

Remember to keep all appointments with your doctor. The prescriptions are not refillable. If you are taking morphine to control your pain on a long term basis then you must constantly consult your doctor.

If you are taking the morphine drug on a short term basis then you can call your doctor if you continue to experience pain after a particular period of time.

Always keep the medicines away from the reach of children. You must always store the medicine in room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture.

Always keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription medicines that you are taking. You should bring this list with you every time you visit a doctor or when you are admitted to a hospital. This is especially very important in case of emergencies.