Morphine is in a group of drugs called narcotic pain relievers
Used to treat moderate to severe pain.
Obtained from opium, the juice secreted by the seeds of the poppy
Street Names
block, cube, drug store dope, goma, Mary, morphina, Morphy, mojo, mud, Murphy, dreamer, emsel, first line, God's drug, hows, M, MS, Miss Emma, Mr. Blue, morph, unkie
Brand Names
MS-Contin®," Oramorph SR®," MSIR®," Roxanol®," Kadian®," and RMS®."
Who Uses Morphine?
Morphine is one of the most effective drugs known for the relief of severe pain
Remains the standard against which new analgesics are measured
Like most narcotics, the use of morphine has increased significantly in recent years
Since 1990, there has been about a 3-fold increase in morphine products in the United States.
Morphine is used for preoperative sedation, as a supplement to anesthesia
Routes of Administration
Tablet
Capsules
Suppositories
Oral solutions
Injectable solutions
Signs & Symptoms of Use
constipation
warmth, tingling, or redness under your skin
nausea
vomiting
stomach pain
diarrhea
loss of appetite
dizziness
headache
anxiety
memory problems
sleep problems (insomnia)
Short - Term Effects
shallow breathing, slow heartbeat
seizure (convulsions)
cold, clammy skin
confusion
severe weakness
feeling light-headed
fainting.
dizziness
drowsiness
upset stomach
vomiting
constipation
diarrhea
loss of appetite
weight loss
changes in ability to taste food
dry mouth
sweating
weakness
headache
agitation
nervousness
mood changes
confusion
difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
stiff muscles
shaking of a part of your body that you cannot control
double vision
red eyes
small pupils (black circles in the middle of the eyes
eye movements that you cannot control
chills
flu symptoms
decreased sexual desire or ability
difficulty urinating or pain when urinating
Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:
slow, shallow, or irregular breathing
blue or purple color to the skin
fast or slow heartbeat
seizures
hallucinations (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist)
blurred vision
fainting
hives
rash
itching
tightness in the throat
difficulty swallowing
swelling of the arms, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
Symptoms of overdose may include:
slow, shallow, or irregular breathing
sleepiness
loss of consciousness
limp muscles
cold, clammy skin
small pupils
slow heartbeat
blurred vision
upset stomach
fainting
References:
Uppers, Downers, All Arounders: Physical and Mental Effects of Psychoactive Drugs (Paperback), 6th edition, by Darryl Inaba & William E. Cohen