Morphine Side Effects

Morphine bottle for injection and syringe

Serious Side Effects of Morphine

difficulty breathing
abnormally decreased heart rate
seizure
passing out
feeling cold
severe dizziness
feeling confused
addiction or dependency

Common Side Effects of Morphine

constipation or diarrhea
feeling a warm sensation beneath the skin accompanied by redness
upset stomach, vomiting
trouble sleeping
headache
nervousness
minor memory loss

Symptoms of Morphine Withdrawal

Patients may develop a dependency for morphine. If treatment is suddenly ended, patients may be subject to withdrawal. If you have any of these symptoms after stopping your use of morphine you may be experiencing morphine withdrawal and should call your doctor at once:

runny nose
watering eyes
fever
sweating
trouble sleeping
anxiety
dilated pupils
abdominal, leg or back aches
diarrhea
raised heart rate
upset stomach or throwing up
high blood pressure

Warnings & Recalls for Morphine

Euphoric properties of morphine may cause this medication to be very addictive. If you have a history of addiction, avoid taking morphine. Do not take morphine if you have a history of drug or alcohol abuse. If you are using morphine, store medicine away from others and keep track of the amount of morphine in the container regularly. For safety, let your doctor know if you have:

allergies to morphine or any other narcotics
taken opioids and may have become opioid resistant
asthma or any other respiratory disorders
epilepsy or a history of seizures
taken an monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor in the past two weeks
a brain tumor
stomach or intestinal clogging
low blood pressure
heart disease or disorders
liver disease
kidney disease
diabetes
disease of the gallbladder
any adrenal gland disorders
trouble urinating
any mental illness
a history of drug or alcohol abuse or addiction
been taking any other prescription or nonprescription medicines

Morphine and Alcohol Interactions

Patients should not drink alcohol while taking morphine , this combination may be fatal. Morphine and alcohol may cause extreme drowsiness and increased effects of alcohol.

Pregnancy and Morphine

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has listed morphine as a pregnancy Category C drug. It is unknown if morphine will harm the fetus in a pregnant woman. Morphine should not be taken while pregnant or breastfeeding; morphine could cause addiction or a withdrawal in a newborn. Morphine can be transferred through breast-milk and cause harm to a nursing baby. Consult your doctor before taking morphine if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or planning on becoming pregnant.

Morphine Treatment and Use

Morphine| MS Contin, Kadian is a generic opioid (narcotic) medication used to treat moderate to severe pain. Morphine is used for off-label purposes such as:

inducing sleepiness (treating insomnia)
treating shortness of breath
relieving symptoms of a cough
reducing pain from cancer or chemotherapy

Morphine should not be used to treat pain directly after surgery.

How does Morphine Work?

Morphine attaches to opioid receptors in the central nervous system, which send signals to the brain of pain or relief. Morphine alters the body’s perception of and response to pain into a more positive reaction.

Morphine Dosage Information

Morphine may be taken in short-acting forms and taken when needed to relieve pain, or extended-release which reduces pain continually. Morphine comes in tablets, capsules, oral suspension (liquid), suppository or as an intravenous (IV) injection. Ask your doctor which form is right for you. Doses vary in accordance to patient medical condition. Take morphine as recommended by your doctor. Do not take different amounts than prescribed. Use of morphine should not be ended abruptly. See “Side Effects” tab for withdrawal information.

If you are no longer taking morphine, the remaining doses of morphine should be flushed down the toilet to decrease risk of accidental overdose.

Other Names for Morphine

Brand name:

MS Contin

Kadian

Generic name:

Morphine