Morphine sulphate and morphine patches

Morphine is a severe pain medication  of the opiate family that is found naturally in opium, a dark brown resin in poppies, morphine patches(Fentanyl) belongs to a class of drugs known as opioid (narcotic) analgesics. It works in the brain to change how your body feels and responds to pain.

What is morphine?

Morphine is an opioid medication. An opioid is sometimes called a narcotic. Morphine works by blocking pain signals from travelling along the nerves to the brain.

Morphine is used to treat moderate to severe pain. The extended-release form of morphine is for around-the-clock treatment of pain. Short-acting formulations are taken as needed for pain.

Extended-release morphine is not for use on an as-needed basis for pain.

Warnings

You should not take morphine if you have severe asthma or breathing problems, a blockage in your stomach or intestines, or a bowel obstruction called paralytic ileus.

Morphine can slow or stop your breathing, and may be habit-forming MISUSE OF OPIOID MEDICINE CAN CAUSE ADDICTION, OVERDOSE, OR DEATH, , especially in a child or other person using the medicine without a prescription. Keep the medication in a place where others cannot get to it.

Taking opioid medicine during pregnancy may cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms in the newborn.

Fatal side effects can occur if you use morphine with alcohol, or with other drugs that cause drowsiness or slow your breathing.

Before taking this medicine

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;
• a stomach or bowel obstruction (including paralytic ileus); or
• if you have taken an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days, such as isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, or tralcypromine.

To make sure morphine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• breathing problems, sleep apnea (breathing stops during sleep);
• 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.

Ask a doctor before using opioid medicine if you are breastfeeding. Tell your doctor if you notice severe drowsiness or slow breathing in the nursing baby.

How should I use morphine?

Take morphine exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides. Never use morphine in larger amounts, or for longer than prescribed. Tell your doctor if you feel an increased urge to take more of this medicine.

Never share opioid medicine with another person, especially someone with a history of drug addiction. MISUSE CAN CAUSE ADDICTION, OVERDOSE, OR DEATH. Keep the medicine where others cannot get to it. Selling or giving away this medicine is against the law.

Stop taking all other around-the-clock narcotic pain medications when you start taking morphine.

Swallow the capsule or tablet whole to avoid exposure to a potentially fatal overdose. Do not crush, chew, break, open, or dissolve.

Measure liquid medicine with the supplied syringe or a dose-measuring device (not a kitchen spoon).

You may have withdrawal symptoms if you stop using morphine suddenly. Ask your doctor before stopping the medicine.

Never crush a pill to inhale the powder or inject it into your vein. This could result in death.

Store at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and light. Keep track of your medicine. You should be aware if anyone is using it improperly or without a prescription.

Do not keep leftover opioid medication. Just one dose can cause death in someone using this medicine accidentally or improperly. Ask your pharmacist where to locate a drug take-back disposal program. If there is no take-back program, flush the unused medicine down the toilet.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Since morphine is used for pain, you are not likely to miss a dose. If you do miss a dose, take the medicine as soon as you remember. Then take your next dose as follows:

• If you take morphine 1 time per day: Take your next dose 24 hours after taking the missed dose.
• If you take morphine 2 times per day: Take your next dose 12 hours after taking the missed dose.
• If you take morphine 3 times per day: Take your next dose 8 hours after taking the missed dose.

Do not take two doses at one time. Do not take more than your prescribed dose in a 24-hour period.

What should I avoid while using morphine?

Do not drink alcohol. Dangerous side effects or death could occur.

Avoid driving or hazardous activity until you know how morphine will affect you. Dizziness or drowsiness can cause falls, accidents, or severe injuries.

Morphine side effects

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. Morphine patches(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. Your caregiver must still get emergency medical help and may need to perform CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) on you while waiting for help to arrive.

Call your doctor immediately if you weakness any of the following.

• slow heart rate, sighing, weak or shallow breathing, breathing that stops;
• chest pain, fast or pounding heartbeats;
• extreme drowsiness, feeling like you might pass out;
• serotonin syndrome – agitation, hallucinations, fever, fast heart rate, muscle stiffness, twitching, loss of coordination, nausea, diarrhea; or
• low cortisol levels – nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, dizziness, worsening tiredness or weakness.

Serious breathing problems may be more likely in older adults and people who are debilitated or have wasting syndrome or chronic breathing disorders, common morphine side effects may include:

• drowsiness, dizziness, tiredness;
• constipation, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting;
• sweating; or
• feelings of extreme happiness or sadness.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA.

What other drugs will affect morphine?

Many other drugs can be dangerous when used with opioid medicine. Tell your doctor if you also use any of the following:

• other opioid medicines;
• a benzodiazepine sedative like Valium, Klonopin, or Xanax;
• sleep medicine, muscle relaxers, or other drugs that make you drowsy; or
• drugs that affect serotonin, such as antidepressants, stimulants, or medicine for migraines or Parkinson’s disease.

This list is not complete. Many drugs may interact with morphine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed here. morphine drug and patches interactions (more detail)

Frequently asked questions

• Which painkiller should you use?