Morphine
is an opioid medication. An opioid is sometimes called a narcotic. Morphine is
used to treat moderate to severe pain. Short-acting formulations are taken as
needed for pain. The extended-release form of morphine is for around-the-clock
treatment of pain. This form of morphine is not for use on an as-needed basis
for pain.
What do you need
to know before taking morphine?
You
should not take this medicine if you have ever had an allergic reaction to
morphine or other narcotic medicines, or if you have:
- Severe
asthma or breathing problems; or - A
blockage in your stomach or intestines.
Do
not use morphine if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A
dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid,
linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline,
tranylcypromine, and others.
To
make sure morphine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:
- A head
injury, brain tumor, or seizures; - A drug
or alcohol addiction, or mental illness; - Urination
problems; - Liver
or kidney disease; or - Problems
with your gallbladder, pancreas, or thyroid.
If
you use opioid medicine while you are pregnant, your baby could become
dependent on the drug. This can cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms in
the baby after it is born. Babies born dependent on opioids may need medical
treatment for several weeks.
Do
not breast-feed while taking morphine. This medicine can pass into breast milk
and cause drowsiness, breathing problems, or death in a nursing baby.
What are the side
effects of morphine?
Get
emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to morphine: hives;
difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Opioid
medicine can slow or stop your breathing, and death may occur. A person caring
for you should seek emergency medical attention if you have slow breathing with
long pauses, blue colored lips, or if you are hard to wake up.
Call
your doctor at once if you have:
- Slow
heart rate, sighing, weak or shallow breathing; - Chest
pain, fast or pounding heartbeats; - Extreme
drowsiness, feeling like you might pass out; or - Nausea,
vomiting, loss of appetite, dizziness, worsening tiredness or weakness.
Common
morphine side effects may include:
- Drowsiness,
dizziness, tiredness; - Constipation,
stomach pain, nausea, vomiting; - Sweating;
or - Feelings
of extreme happiness or sadness.
Keywords: morphine
