Morphine is an opioid medication used to relieve pain when non-opioid medications don't provide enough relief. This medication comes as a pill, an oral liquid, as well as a rectal suppository. Depending on the form, it can be used to control sudden (acute) pain quickly or more long-lasting (chronic) pain. Common side effects of morphine include feeling sleepy, feeling dizzy, and having constipation.
Morphine is an opioid medication. It attaches to certain proteins called mu-opioid receptors in your brain to change how you react to pain. This helps lower how much pain you feel.
Morphine can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Morphine has a risk of addiction and misuse. Addiction can develop even at recommended doses as prescribed or if morphine is used for reasons other than prescribed (misuse). Sometimes, addiction and misuse can lead to life-threatening overdose. To lower the risk of addiction and misuse, your healthcare provider will prescribe the lowest amount of morphine that's necessary for you for the shortest period of time possible.
Because of the high risk of addiction and misuse, the FDA requires a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) program for morphine. Under the Opioid Analgesic REMS program, your healthcare provider will discuss with you about how to take morphine safely, what its risks are, and proper storage and disposal. These steps help keep you and your loved ones safe. If you have concerns about taking morphine, talk to your provider about other treatment options for pain.
Morphine can cause extremely slowed breathing that can be life-threatening. This can happen at any time, even when the medication is used as recommended by your provider. But generally, the risk is highest when you first start the medication or after your dose is raised. Don't take morphine with alcohol or other medications that can slow your body down (e.g., benzodiazepines, muscle relaxants). Doing so can slow down your breathing even more. If you or a loved one notices that you have trouble breathing or have bluish-colored lips, fingers, or toes, get medical help right away.
It's possible to accidentally take too much morphine at recommended doses of the medication. Overdoses can also happen if it's accidentally taken by a child or a loved one. Overdoses can be life-threatening if it's not recognized or treated in time. Your healthcare provider might recommend that you carry naloxone (Narcan) with you at all times to quickly treat an overdose if it happens. It's important for you and your caregiver to know how to use naloxone (Narcan) in case there's an accidental overdose. Opioid overdose symptoms include extremely slowed breathing, slow heartbeat, extreme sleepiness, cold or clammy skin, and not responding to sound or touch. Call 911 right away if you think an overdose has happened.
During pregnancy, opioids can be passed from you to your unborn baby through the placenta and umbilical cord. If you take morphine for a long period of time during pregnancy, there's a risk that your unborn baby can become dependent on the medication. Once your baby is born, they can develop a condition called neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) and experience withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms in your newborn can include high-pitched crying, poor feeding and sucking behavior, trembling, irritability, and sometimes seizures. This condition can be life-threatening if not recognized and treated in time. Let your healthcare provider know if you've used morphine during pregnancy or if you notice these symptoms in your baby.
Morphine can cause extreme sleepiness and lower your ability to think, react, and focus. Taking morphine while drinking alcohol or with other medications that make you feel sleepy or relaxed (e.g., benzodiazepines, sleep medications, muscle relaxants) can worsen these side effects. For this reason, it's best to avoid drinking alcohol or taking these medications while taking morphine. Make sure you know how this medication affects you before driving a car or doing activities that require your concentration. Talk to your healthcare provider right away if you feel too sleepy from taking morphine.
Some people taking opioids like morphine experienced a drop in their hormone levels. This is more likely to happen if you take the medication for more than a month. Symptoms of very low hormone levels include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, tiredness, dizziness, and weakness. Let your healthcare provider know right away if you experience these symptoms.
Morphine can cause extremely low blood pressure. This includes a sudden drop in blood pressure when you stand from a sitting or lying down position. As a result, you might feel dizzy or even faint. To avoid falling, stand up slowly or hold onto something while you get up if you've been sitting or lying down. If the dizziness or lightheadedness doesn't go away, talk to your healthcare provider.
Opioids, such as morphine, can cause more frequent seizures to happen in people who've had seizures in the past. The medication might also raise the risk of seizure in other situations where seizures can occur. Let your healthcare provider know if you have seizures more often while taking morphine.
If you take morphine regularly for a long time, you can become physically dependent on the medication. This means your body starts to rely on the medication to function. When you're physically dependent on morphine, you might experience withdrawal if you lower your dose or stop taking the medication suddenly. Withdrawal symptoms can include restlessness, muscle pain, runny nose, yawning, sweating, chills, anxiety, and uncontrolled pain. Don't lower your dose or stop taking the medication suddenly without talking to your healthcare provider. To prevent withdrawal symptoms from happening, you'll need to follow your provider's instructions carefully to slowly lower your dose. If you have concerns about taking the medication because of this risk, talk to your healthcare provider about alternative pain medications.
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Less common
Blurred vision
bulging soft spot on the head of an infant
burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings
change in the ability to see colors, especially blue or yellow
chest pain or discomfort
chills
confusion
decreased urination
dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
fainting
fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
headache
increased sweating
loss of appetite
nervousness
pounding in the ears
puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
severe constipation
severe vomiting
shakiness in the legs, arms, hands, or feet
slow heartbeat
stomach pain
sweating
vomiting
Incidence not known
Agitation
black, tarry stools
cold, clammy skin
darkening of the skin
difficulty swallowing
feeling of warmth or heat
flushing or redness of the skin, especially on the face and neck
irregular, fast or slow, or shallow breathing
lightheadedness
loss of consciousness
low blood pressure or pulse
mental depression
overactive reflexes
pale or blue lips, fingernails, or skin
pale skin
pinpoint red spots on the skin
poor coordination
pounding in the ears
puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
restlessness
shakiness and unsteady walk
shivering
talking or acting with excitement you cannot control
tightness in the chest
twitching
unsteadiness, trembling, or other problems with muscle control or coordination
unusual bleeding or bruising
unusual tiredness or weakness
very slow heartbeat
Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:
Symptoms of overdose
Constricted, pinpoint, or small pupils (black part of the eye)
decreased awareness or responsiveness
extreme drowsiness
increased blood pressure
increased thirst
lower back or side pain
muscle cramps, spasms, pain, or stiffness
no muscle tone or movement
severe sleepiness
swelling of the face, fingers, or lower legs
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
Cramps
difficulty having a bowel movement
drowsiness
false or unusual sense of well-being
relaxed and calm feeling
sleepiness or unusual drowsiness
Less common
Absent, missed, or irregular menstrual periods
bad, unusual, or unpleasant (after) taste
change in vision
floating feeling
halos around lights
heartburn or indigestion
loss in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
muscle stiffness or tightness
night blindness
overbright appearance of lights
problems with muscle control
stomach discomfort or upset
trouble sleeping
uncontrolled eye movements
Incidence not known
Abnormal dreams
change in walking and balance
change or problem with discharge of semen
clumsiness or unsteadiness
confusion as to time, place, or person
false beliefs that cannot be changed by facts
feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings
general feeling of discomfort or illness
holding false beliefs that cannot be changed by fact
poor insight and judgment
problems with memory or speech
seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
sensation of spinning
trouble recognizing objects
trouble thinking and planning
trouble walking
unusual excitement, nervousness, or restlessness
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Yes. In fact, if you need additional pain relief, it's recommended that you take non-opioid pain medications. This helps lower the amount of morphine you take and lower the risks that come with taking opioids. In general, it's safe to take non-opioid pain medications, like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil), with morphine. Keep in mind that these other pain medications also have their own risks to consider. So before taking other pain medications with morphine, speak with your healthcare provider to make sure it's safe for you to do so.
Yes, it's common for morphine to make you feel sleepy or tired. If you feel sleepy or tired after taking morphine, don't drive or do anything that requires your full attention until these effects go away. This helps prevent accidental injuries from happening. If the sleepiness or tiredness from morphine is bothersome, speak with your healthcare provider. They might discuss with you about other treatment options for your pain.
Constipation is a common side effect of morphine. To help with constipation, make sure to drink plenty of water. You can also add more fiber-rich foods to your diet. These foods can include broccoli, chickpeas, and a variety of fruit. Talk to your healthcare provider if your constipation doesn't improve or worsens with these lifestyle changes. They can recommend certain constipation medications that might help with constipation from morphine.
Morphine has a serious risk of addiction. The medication can be habit-forming even at recommended doses that are prescribed to you by your provider. And if not addressed appropriately, addiction can lead to life-threatening overdose. But to help lower the risk of addiction, your healthcare provider will prescribe the lowest amount of morphine that's necessary for you for the shortest period of time possible. Speak with your provider if you have concerns about the risk of addiction with morphine use.
Immediate-release morphine is taken on an as-needed basis (up to every 4 hours). The medication gets released into your body soon after you take it to provide quick relief of sudden pain (breakthrough pain). Immediate-release morphine is available as tablets, oral liquids, and rectal suppositories. On the other hand, extended-release morphine is taken at scheduled times (every 8, 12, or 24 hours). It provides more long-lasting pain relief since the medication gets released into your body slowly over time. Extended-release morphine is only available as tablets and capsules.
Before you plan to stop morphine or lower your dose, it's best to speak with your healthcare provider first. This is especially important if you take morphine regularly for a long period of time. Stopping the medication suddenly can sometimes cause withdrawal, which can look like restlessness, muscle or joint aches, trouble sleeping, and anxiety. Stopping morphine suddenly can even lead to serious consequences, like uncontrolled pain or thoughts of harming yourself. To prevent withdrawal, your provider might lower your morphine dose slowly every few weeks before you can completely stop the medication. If you've taken morphine for a brief period of time, you might be able to lower your dose more quickly. Your healthcare provider will give you instructions on how to stop or lower your dose safely.
Morphine generally isn't recommended if you're pregnant. Taking morphine for a long period of time during pregnancy can cause your unborn baby to become dependent on the medication. Once your baby is born, they can experience withdrawal symptoms, such as high-pitched crying, poor feeding and sucking behavior, irritability, and sometimes even seizures. This condition is called neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) and can be life-threatening if not recognized and treated in time. Speak with your provider about the risks and benefits of taking morphine while pregnant. They can recommend other pain medications that are safer for you and your baby.
Speak with your healthcare provider about the risks and benefits of taking morphine if you're breastfeeding. It's generally recommended to try non-opioid pain medications first before considering morphine if you need to breastfeed while taking pain medication. Morphine can be found in breast milk. The medication can potentially cause sleepiness, slowed breathing, and slowed heartbeat in breastfed babies. If you're taking morphine and are breastfeeding, get medical help right away if you notice these effects in your baby. Discuss with your provider about other options that might be safer, like switching to another pain medication or using baby formula instead.
Hydromorphone (Dilaudid) and morphine are both opioid medications. Besides differences in chemical properties, the two medications are actually quite similar. Studies suggest hydromorphone (Dilaudid) and morphine work just as well as each other to help relieve pain when non-opioid medications aren't enough, especially for cancer-related pain in adults. The side effects of both medications are similar, though some experts suggest that hydromorphone (Dilaudid) causes less itchiness and nausea and has a higher risk of nervous system problems (e.g., seizures) than morphine. More research is needed about differences in side effects between the two medications. Discuss with your provider about which medication best fits your needs for pain.
| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15ml of 100mg/5ml | 1 bottle | $7.03 | $7.03 |
| 120ml of 100mg/5ml | 4 bottles | $95.99 | $24.00 |
| 240ml of 100mg/5ml | 1 bottle | $52.24 | $52.24 |
| 30ml of 100mg/5ml | 1 bottle | $11.57 | $11.57 |
| 500ml of 100mg/5ml | 1 bottle | $40.95 | $40.95 |
| 118ml of 100mg/5ml | 1 bottle | $37.75 | $37.75 |
| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10mg/5ml | 100 ml | $9.86 | $0.10 |
| 20mg/5ml | 200 ml | $19.84 | $0.10 |
Your healthcare provider will work with you to find the right dose and regimen for your individual needs. It's recommended to use the lowest dose possible for the shortest duration of time to manage your pain.
Immediate-release morphine:
Extended-release morphine:
Morphine is also available as an injection given through the veins (IV) by a healthcare provider in the hospital setting.
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Morphine will not be safe for you to take.