Morphine is a derivative of opium that can be found in the form of a dark brown resin known as Papaver somniferum. It can be taken orally, intra-dermal, or intravenously. It can also be used to treat pain. Its effects can be induced by the central nervous system. It can also alter the perception and emotional response of pain.
It can be used for various types of pain, such as chronic and acute pain. It can be administered through mouth, injection under the skin, or rectally. It can also be used to treat kidney stones and myocardial infarction.
The maximum effect of morphine can be achieved after around 20 minutes. It can be given intravenously or through mouth, and its effects can last for up to 7 hours. Long-acting morphine formulations are available through various brands such as Kadian, MS-Contin, and generically.
Severe side effects of morphine include nausea, vomiting, and decreased respiratory effort. It can also cause low blood pressure and worsen the effects of opioid withdrawal. It can also be addictive and can lead to withdrawal symptoms.
Friedrich Sertrner, a pharmacist in Germany, first isolated morphine in 1805. It was marketed by the pharmaceutical company Merck in 1827. Sertrner originally called the drug morphium, which means “morpheus” in Greek. It was widely used after the invention of a hypodermic syringe in 1853 to 1855.
The main source of morphine is the opium poppy. In 2013, around 523 tons of morphine were produced. Over the years, the amount of morphine used for pain has increased significantly. Most of it is used to make other opioid drugs such as heroin and hydromorphone. About 70% of morphine is used to make these drugs.
It is currently classified as a Schedule II drug in the US, and it’s also included in the WHO’s Essential Medicines List. It’s also sold under various trade names. In 2019, morphine was the 163rd most commonly used medication in the US.
Key Facts to Note About Morphine
Morphine is a type of pain medication that can be used to treat short-term and long-term pain. It can be used to treat severe pain that requires daily or around-the-clock opioid treatment. It belongs to a class of drugs known as narcotic analgesics, which can be used to treat various types of pain.
However, when it comes to treating acute pain, such as after surgery, prolonged use of morphine is not advised. It should only be used in situations where non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are effective.
It is important to remember that prolonged use of morphine can lead to habit forming. If you are taking it the same way as directed, do not take it more often or take it in a different way. While you are taking it, talk to your healthcare provider about your pain treatment goals. If you or someone in your family has used drugs, alcohol, or both, talk to your doctor about it. Also, if you or someone in your family has had a mental illness, such as depression, tell them about it.
If you or someone in your family has ever had a substance abuse disorder, talk to your healthcare provider about it. Also, if you think that you may be suffering from an opioid addiction, call the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1.800.662-HELP.
During the first 24 to 72 hours of treatment, morphine can cause breathing problems. Your doctor will monitor you and adjust your dose to prevent these problems. If you have asthma or slowed down breathing, tell your doctor about this condition. He or she may also tell you not to take morphine. Also, tell your doctor about any conditions that can affect your brain, such as a brain tumor or a head injury.
If you are an older adult or are malnourished, you might be at risk of experiencing breathing problems. Some of these symptoms include: slow breathing, frequent stops between breaths, and shortness of breath.
Taking other medications while receiving morphine may increase the risk of experiencing breathing problems or other life-threatening conditions. If you are taking any of the following medications, tell your doctor about it. These include: benzodiazepines such as Xanax, Valium, and diazepam; opioid pain medications such as Ativan, Halcion, and Vicodin; muscle relaxants such as Valium and Xanax; and sleeping pills.
You may need to change the dosage of your medications to keep them in check. If you are taking morphine and develop any of the following side effects, contact your doctor immediately. These include: unusual dizziness, lightheaded behavior, difficulty breathing, and unresponsiveness. Be sure to tell your family and caregivers about these side effects so they can call the emergency medical center if you are unable to seek help on your own.
Drinking alcohol, taking street drugs, and using medications that contain alcohol while taking morphine can increase the risk of experiencing life-threatening side effects. It is also important to avoid consuming alcohol-containing beverages while taking long-acting capsules of Avinza. It is also important to avoid consuming alcohol-containing beverages while taking long-acting capsules of Avinza. Drinking alcohol can cause the morphine in these products to be released too quickly into the body, which can lead to various health problems.
If you have morphine, do not allow anyone else to take it. It can cause death if it gets accidentally ingested by others, such as children. Keep it in a safe place and away from children. Also, keep track of the number of pills and capsules that you have left. If you are taking extended-release capsules or tablets, do not split, chew, or crush them. Doing so could cause them to get too much morphine at once, which could cause breathing problems and even cause death. Also, if you are unable to swallow the whole capsule, follow the instructions in this section to dissolve the contents in an applesauce.
The Morphine oral solution comes in different concentrations. The highest concentration is usually given to people who are tolerant of the effects of opioid drugs. However, this shouldn’t be taken by everyone. Before you start taking your medication, make sure that you know how much you should take.
If you’re planning on becoming pregnant, tell your doctor about your use of morphine. It can cause withdrawal symptoms in your baby that could be life-threatening. Some of these symptoms include irritability, hyperactivity, vomiting, diarrhea, and a high-pitched cry.
Your doctor or pharmacist will usually give you a patient information sheet about the different types of morphine and the medication’s active ingredients when you start taking it. This information will help you make informed decisions when you’re taking it. You can also get this information from the Food and Drug Administration’s website or from the manufacturer’s website.
Why Do People Take Morphine?
For Pain
For treating severe pain, morphine is commonly used. Its analgesia can last for up to seven hours. Although it can cause constipation and nausea, these side effects are rarely enough to stop it.
It’s also commonly used for treating labor pains and for treating acute myocardial infarction. However, there are concerns that it can increase mortality in the event of a non-ST elevation myocardial infarction. In 2006, a review of the literature suggested that there is not enough evidence supporting the use of morphine in treating acute pulmonary edema. In 2016, a Cochrane review revealed that it can relieve cancer pain.
For Shortness of breath
Both cancer and non-cancer causes can lead to the development of shortness of breath. In most cases, regular use of morphine can help reduce the symptoms of this condition. It can also be used safely and effectively in the setting of breathlessness due to various conditions, such as advanced cancer.
For Opioid Addiction
In addition to being used for treating opioid addiction, morphine can also be used as a slow-release formulation for those who cannot tolerate either buprenorphine or methadone.
How to Use Morphine
Morphine can come as a solution, extended release tablet or extended release capsule taking orally. The main difference between the two is that the former is a liquid solution that can be taken orally, while the latter is a long-acting tablet that can be taken by mouth. The former is usually taken for 4 hours, while the latter is taken every 8 or 12 hours.
Usually, the Morphabond and Kadian brands of tablets are taken every 12 hours, while the latter is taken with or without food. Follow the directions on the label carefully.
When taking morphine solution, use the syringe or the dosing cup that comes with the medication. Follow the instructions on the label to determine how much liquid to take.
If you are taking Kadian extended-release capsules, your doctor or pharmacist can assist you in using the medication through your feeding tube.
If you are unable to swallow the Kadian extended-release capsules, you can still use a different method. In order to ensure that you have swallowed all of the medication, carefully open the capsule and sprinkle all of the beads on top of a spoonful of applesauce. After taking the mixture, rinse your mouth and swallow the water to make sure that all of the medication has been swallowed.
If you are taking Arimo ER, then swallow the tablets one at a time. Do not allow the extended-release tablets to get wet, or presoak them.
You should start taking morphine at a low dose to start and gradually increase it as needed to control your pain. However, if your pain persists, your doctor may adjust the dose at any time. If you feel that your pain is not under control, contact your doctor.
If you are not talking to your doctor about your condition, then stop taking morphine immediately. Withdrawal symptoms could include feelings of anxiety, irritability, restlessness, slurred speech, and a runny nose. Some of the other withdrawal symptoms could include chills, muscle aches, and weakness.
Some Adverse Effects to Take Note
Constipation
Like other opioids, morphine can affect the myenteric plexus, which can lead to constipation. The effects of morphine are mediated by the -opioid receptors in the intestine. These receptors prevent the gastric emptying and decrease the rate of intestine transit. The reduction in gut secretion and the increase in intestine fluid absorption can also contribute to the development of constipation. Inhibition of nitric oxide generation can also cause tonic gut spasms. This effect was demonstrated in animals when L-arginine reversed the effects of morphine on gut motility.
Hormone Imbalance
Studies have shown that chronic users of opioids, such as morphine, can experience hypogonadism and hormonal imbalances. These effects can be dose-dependent and occur in both men and women.
Many studies suggest that around 90% of chronic opioid users experience hypogonadism. This condition could cause bone fractures and osteoporosis, and it is believed that the effects of opioid use on the endocrine system are temporary. As of 2013, it is not clear if acute or low-dose morphine can cause the same effects.
Human Performance
Most studies have shown that the effects of opioids on human performance are minimal. However, recent studies have shown that they can cause impairment in certain areas of the brain, such as the ability to perform various tasks.
Although morphine can have negative effects on certain motor abilities, such as the ability to maintain a low level of force, studies have not shown a link between the drug and gross motor abilities. For instance, high doses of morphine can affect the ability to perform finger tapping.
A study has shown that morphine can have negative effects on the ability to perform retrograde and anterograde memory. However, these effects are not permanent and these effects are transient. It is also believed that the effects of morphine on various other cognitive and sensory abilities are more pronounced in people who are opioid-naive.
For people who are suffering from chronic pain, behavioral testing has shown that their cognitive, perception, and behavior abilities are not affected by their use of opioids. A study conducted in 2000 looked into the abilities of COAT patients to drive a vehicle. The results of the study revealed that stable opioid use does not impair the abilities of people who are skilled drivers.
COAT patients were able to complete tasks that required quick response times, such as the Rey Complex Figure Test. However, they made more errors than the controls. They also exhibited deficits in short-term memory and visual-spatial perception. The results of the study suggest that these individuals may have difficulty performing certain tasks due to their use of opioids.
Although the patients exhibited these deficits, they did not show signs of impairment in higher-order cognitive abilities, such as planning. The study also noted that these individuals did not exhibit any domain-specific deficits. This suggests that chronic opioid use does not have detrimental effects on various cognitive and neuropsychological functions.
Morphine and Addiction
Opiates are addictive substances. In controlled studies, subjects who had previously been exposed to heroin or morphine showed no preference for either drug over the other. The effects of both were similar in terms of their subjective responses. They also exhibited similar levels of sleepiness and euphoria.
Studies on short-term addiction revealed that tolerance to morphine and heroin developed at the same rate as those who had previously been exposed to morphine or hydromorphone. These findings suggest that both morphine and heroin are addictive substances and can be abused by individuals. Compared to other opioids, such as oxycodone and fentanyl, former addicts preferred morphine and heroin for their positive effects.
It’s believed that former drug users prefer heroin and morphine due to their similarities in structure and effects. Heroin is a prodrug that’s similar to morphine and is converted to morphine before it can be absorbed by the body. This activates the opioid receptors in the spinal cord and brain, which then produces the desired effects.
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