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Morphine – Medical Uses, Side Effects, and Addiction Risks 

Have you ever searched for morphine mechanisms of action? Do you ever wonder what the magic pain medication truly is? Welcome! Today’s article offers all the details you’ll need about morphine. While the medication is becoming more popular for pain relief, you’ll need to learn everything you can about it before using it. You are at the right place if you or your loved one is about to use it. Because today’s article offers a detailed explanation of its working process. Don’t worry; we know you’re concerned about addiction. So we’ll also address that in this article. I assure you there’s so much to learn in this article, but let’s begin with basic definitions. What is morphine used for? We’ll find out.

what is morphine used for

What is Morphine?

Morphine is an opiate analgesic drug derived naturally from opium. Different people may know it for different reasons, but it is mostly classified as pain relief. So, it’s safe to call it a drug used to treat pains severe enough to require daily, around-the-clock, long-term care.

Is morphine an opioid? Yes! But it’s not as clear as it sounds, so most medical experts would prefer patients to stick to a specific morphine dosage for all mild and short-term pain. However, the dosage may increase when you’re taking it for more severe pains. Irrespective of how you’re taking it, it’s important to consciously avoid addiction since it can quickly cause physical and mental dependence. Experts have even qualified it as a Schedule II controlled substance because of these qualities.

Like most other opioids, this one has come a long way, especially since its origin is traceable to the early 1800s. Its specific history dates back to 1803 when Frederich Sertürner, a pharmacist assistant, started conducting experiments on opium. However, morphine did not become popular until the 1950s, when production began in commercial quantities. The popularity was largely due to its perceived ability to heal chronic pain. However, people soon discovered its adverse effects and that was the genesis of increased regulations in the 1900s.

Today, the advancement of modern medicine and pharmaceuticals has brought a new twist to the tale. More people are becoming comfortable with the idea of using opioids as pain relief medication.

Forms of Morphine

One question that always pops up when there’s a discussion about this medication is “How long does morphine stay in your system?” But there’s no better way to answer this question than to look at the different administration forms, since they significantly affect its duration in the body.

The most popular forms of administering morphine include:

  • Oral tablets/oral formulations (solutions)
  • Intramuscular injections
  • Intravenous injections
  • Epidural infusions.

So, what does morphine feel like? Here’s a review of each form and what they feel like.

Oral Forms

As the name describes, this mode involves the oral consumption of morphine as tablets or liquid solutions. The convenience and safety that this consumption route offers are the real reasons for its popularity. But that’s not to say it doesn’t have any limitations. However, its efficacy for both immediate and extended release cases stands it out.

Most times, when morphine is prescribed for oral consumption, it’s to help relieve moderate to severe pain. Most experts recommend taking it in 10 to 20 milligram doses every four hours, or as recommended by a doctor.

Injectable Forms

This form involves the injection of liquid morphine into the body with a syringe. This consumption route has become more popular in recent years, although it works best for very severe pains that can’t be handled with other methods.

To administer this form, a trained specialist gives the drug as a shot under your skin. It is also administered into your muscles or in your veins through an IV catheter.

Other Forms

Apart from the two methods mentioned above, there are other less popular administration methods. For example, a doctor may prescribe it as a suppository. If they do, you must follow the doctor’s prescription to insert it into your rectal area.

It is also available in edible forms in some countries. For example, it is sold as chewing gum or opium gum in India. Research to be sure about the permission of any administration mode in your country before use.

Medical Uses and Mechanisms of Morphine

By now, you probably already know the role morphine plays in eradicating pain. But that’s not all there is to it. So what does morphine do beyond relieving pain?

  • Pain management: here’s a pretty obvious one. The drug belongs to a class of painkillers called narcotic analgesics. So don’t be surprised if it gets recommended as part of the treatment for a serious injury or after a surgical procedure. It also works for relieving chronic pain from conditions like cancer or heart attack.
  • Heart attack (myocardial infarction): the immediate relieving effect of morphine makes it a top recommendation for treating chest pain during myocardial infarction. While studies surrounding this use remain unclear, we’ve seen doctors use it successfully. Again, it makes sense to only use this one based on a proper prescription.
  • Other applications: the use of morphine for dyspnea control has increasingly gained popularity in palliative care settings. However, we can’t overlook the ethical controversy that comes with this in many parts of the world. Notwithstanding, a doctor may still recommend it for this purpose.

Other conditions treatable by this medication include:

  • Brain tumor
  • Lung disease, asthma, or breathing problems
  • Acute pain
  • Pancreatic disease
  • Subacute pain
  • Chronic kidney disease
  • Stomach or intestine problems.

Morphine Mechanism of Action

Like most other medications in its class, morphine binds to opioid receptors like my, kappa, and delta. Its analgesic effects are mostly a result of its ability to bind with mu-opioid receptors within the central nervous system and peripheral nervous system. Of course, the peripheral nervous system relays information like pain signals to the brain. So, since morphine affects nociceptive neurons, it’ll easily stop the communication of pain signals to the original source of their occurrence.

Dosage and Administration

As with many other kinds of medicine, dosage mostly relies on factors like age, severity, and administration mode. Here’s a breakdown of dosages based on popular factors:

Intramuscular, Subcutaneous

Surgery premedication, severe pain: Adults should receive 10 mg of morphine injection every 4 hours until the pain subsides. Older adults should contact a doctor for a specific dosage that suits their needs.

Intraspinal

Severe pain: Adults should receive an initial 5 mg through an epidural injection. This dosage can be increased by 1-2 mg every hour to suit specific pain resistance until it reaches a total dose of 10 mg within 24 hours. Your medical personnel may decide to individualize prescriptions to suit your specific needs.

Intrathecal

Severe pain: Adults can receive this medication as morphine sulfate: initially 0.1-1 mg as a single dose within the first 24 hours. A doctor can choose to slightly reduce the dosage for elderly adults, depending on needs.

Intravenous

Severe pain, surgery premedication: Medication should be administered to adults as morphine sulfate in doses of 2.5–14 mg every four hours. Dose reduction may be required for older adults.

Oral

Moderate to severe pain: Administer to adults based on pain severity, opioid tolerance, and response to treatment. Most health experts will administer 5-20 mg every 4 hours until they notice significant improvement.

Please note that morphine titration allows for dosage adjustment. So don’t be surprised if an expert continues to adjust these dosages until it meets your needs. Morphine half life between 20 mins and 6 hours is 2 to 3 hours and is not influenced by the patient’s age.

Morphine Side Effects and Risk

Like most medications, morphine comes with its side effects. However, different people may experience these side effects differently. So while answering questions about morphine generic name and uses, we must also touch on its effects.

Some common side effects include:
  • Constipation
  • Nausea/vomiting
  • Tiredness and sleepiness
  • Dizziness
  • Confusion
  • Headaches
  • Rash/itchy skin.

Let’s state here that some people may not experience any of these side effects, especially since severity may be influenced by dosage. So does morphine make you sleepy or cause other symptoms? Definitely yes! But the lesson here is to contact your doctor for advice and recommendations if you feel any effects.

Studies also show that 1 out of a hundred people may experience serious side effects like respiratory depression, cardiovascular complications, hypertension, and allergic reactions. If any of these happen to you, consult a health professional immediately.

Long-term Side Effects

In cases where a patient has a condition that requires long-term pain relief, they may need to take the medication for a long time. Long-term usage may cause the body to become used to it, leading to tolerance. In such cases, you may begin to need higher doses to control pain. Many people become more sensitive to pain when this happens. Others become addicted to the medication. In any case, your doctor will gradually reduce the dosage to control these symptoms.

Is Morphine Addictive?

While morphine is a very important medicine for pain, it is also extremely addictive. Available studies show that it’s just as addictive as heroin. Just like heroin, it causes extreme euphoria, relaxation, and inspiration. Both drugs have similar tolerance levels. So, as expected, prolonged morphine use and consistent abuse can lead to addiction problems.

With time, your brain can begin to adapt to morphine functions, causing unpleasant withdrawal symptoms when you try to stop using it. People with a history of substance abuse are also more likely to get addicted.

Morphine Overdose

Yes, this drug can be overdosed. In fact, the concept of overdose is known as opioid intoxication. An opioid overdose can be catastrophic, requiring immediate emergency care. Middle-aged people who take high doses of this medication and have a history of substance abuse are more prone to abusing it. Symptoms of abuse may include shallow breathing, pinpoint pupils, severe respiratory depression, unconsciousness, etc.

Overdose is a medical issue that requires emergency care. So, if you notice any of the symptoms above, contact a professional. Your doctor will administer treatment by giving you medicines (Naloxone) that typically reverse the overdose effects. They can also use a breathing machine in cases where breathing has been impaired.

Treatment for Morphine Addiction

Most times, when people ask about morphine addiction potential, it’s because they want a solution to its addictive prowess. Fortunately, there are a few things you can try. Let’s review the most popular solutions.

  • Detoxification: Here’s one of the most common methods of managing and eliminating withdrawal symptoms. It involves removing traces of already consumed substances from your body. In most situations, detoxification will be followed by comprehensive addiction treatments.
  • Medication for opioid dependence: Since morphine is an opioid, you can tackle it as an opioid. Medications for opioid dependence like methadone and buprenorphine can help. You can also look up detailed comparisons of different drugs, like the fentanyl vs morphine comparison, to make an informed choice. Don’t forget that it’s best to pair medication with inpatient support programs when you want top-notch results.
  • Psychological approaches: Another effective way to deal with this addiction is to completely change the orientation of the addict. Unfortunately, this is not an easy process, but it is achievable. Simply expose them to support groups where they can constantly interact with individuals who have successfully overcome the same situation. These individuals will offer therapy by sharing their stories.
  • Rehabilitation programs: Both governmental and non-governmental organizations often organize these kinds of programs to help people heal from different addictions. The programs are classified as inpatient and outpatient treatments. Inpatient addiction treatment involves confining the addict to a facility where they’ll be taken care of and monitored for effective withdrawal. On the other hand, outpatient treatments involve receiving therapy and support from home while continuing your normal activities. Both categories of rehabilitation programs have their pros and cons covered in the table below.
Pros Cons
Inpatient treatment
  • 24/7 support
  • Controlled treatment environment
  • Proper peer support
  • Fully customizable
  • Patients cannot leave to take care of other important businesses
  • Often more intense
Outpatient treatment
  • Relatively cheaper
  • Doesn’t require putting your life on hold
  • Maintain support from close family members and friends
  • Less time with a counselor
  • Hardly customizable.

Alternatives to Morphine

Does morphine speed up death as many people claim? Definitely not. But if you’ve had this fear, there are quite a number of other alternatives you can try. Most of these alternatives have been explored at scientific and nonscientific levels. Let’s look at some of them.

  • Non-opioid pain relievers: from the name, you can tell that this type of pain relievers are not opioids. However, these drugs are mostly useful for treating mild to moderate pain. Examples of drugs in this category include topical and oral NSAIDs, Acetaminophen, Tricyclic and tetracyclic antidepressants, etc.
  • Other opioids: while non-opioid medications are effective for handling minor pain, you may need to up your game to handle severe and long-standing pains. But since you don’t want to get addicted to taking morphine, it makes sense to opt for other prescription opioids. This way, your body doesn’t feel any vacuum when you decide to withdraw. Some popular alternatives are codeine, fentanyl, and oxycodone.
  • Non-pharmaceutical therapy: your medical personnel may also recommend other non-conventional approaches to handle mild addiction. Physical therapy, acupuncture, and psychological approaches all work as alternatives for handling mild pains.

Conclusion

Morphine has made its way into modern medicine for the treatment of different levels of pain. But how can you opt for it when you don’t know anything about it? Fortunately, we’ve written a detailed article about that. Hopefully, you can use all the information in this article to use the product better. Don’t forget that it’s often best to talk to a professional before trying any new medication, especially when dealing with morphine withdrawal symptoms. If you or your family member is dealing with addiction, don’t hesitate to get them to rehab so their condition and mental health can be rightly assessed.

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John Smith

John Smith is a behavioral health specialist with over 15 years of experience in the field of addiction treatment. He is an expert in treating alcoholism and drug addiction, as well as a trained mental health and substance abuse counselor. John has dedicated his career to helping people overcome addictions and improve their overall well-being. In addition to his clinical practice, he also serves as a senior medical editor, covering the latest treatment approaches and research in the field of addiction.

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