Has your doctor prescribed morphine for you or someone in your family for severe pain? Since it is a fairly strong painkiller, you may have a lot of questions about it. "Is it dangerous to use?", "What are the side effects?", "What should I be aware of when taking it?" You may also have questions like this. Don't worry. We will talk about all of this simply and clearly today.
What is this morphine?
Simply put, morphine is a powerful painkiller that doctors prescribe to control severe pain . It is used when the pain cannot be controlled with regular painkillers, or when the body cannot tolerate the medication.
This belongs to a class of drugs called opioids. This drug works by blocking the transmission of pain signals to our brain. So, no matter how severe the pain is, we feel it less.
Things you need to tell your doctor before taking medication
Before you start using morphine, it is very important to give your doctor a complete description of your health condition. Be sure to tell them if you have any of the following conditions:
| Your health condition | Why should you inform? |
|---|---|
| Head injuries, brain tumors | Morphine can increase pressure in the brain. |
| Asthma, lung disease, or breathing difficulties | This medicine can be dangerous because it can slow breathing. |
| Kidney or liver disease | The process of removing medication from the body may be affected. |
| Drug or alcohol addiction | This is also a drug with a risk of addiction, so special care is required. |
| Diseases of the pancreas or gallbladder | These situations can become serious. |
| Seizures or convulsions | The risk of seizures may increase. |
| Taking MAOI medications in the past 14 days | This can cause very severe and dangerous reactions. |
| Are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or breastfeeding | Because this medicine can affect the baby, medical advice is essential. |
| Allergies to any other medicine or food | Be aware of the possibility of an allergy to morphine. |
How exactly do you use this medicine?
It is very important to follow the exact method of using this.
- Take only the dose prescribed by your doctor: Never take more than the doctor tells you to.
- Measure correctly: Since this medicine comes as a liquid, use a special spoon or cup to measure it. Do not measure with household teaspoons, as they are not accurate.
- Take it at the right time: Take the medicine at the right time, every few hours, as prescribed by your doctor.
- If you experience stomach upset: If you feel upset after taking the medicine, take it with a meal or a glass of milk.
- Avoid stopping suddenly: Do not stop taking the medication suddenly without your doctor's advice. Doing so may cause severe side effects (withdrawal symptoms).
Very important: This medicine has been prescribed for you only . Never share this medicine with anyone else. It is illegal and very dangerous.
What to do if you miss a dose?
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. But if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the scheduled time. Never take two doses at the same time.
What if I take too much medicine? (Overdose)
If you think you have taken too much medication, take action immediately. This can be life-threatening.
1. Immediately call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital .
2. At the same time, take the patient to the Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) of the nearest hospital.
Other drugs that may interact with this medicine (Drug Interactions)
It is important to tell your doctor about any other medications, vitamins, or herbal remedies you are taking, as some medications can react with morphine and cause dangerous conditions.
| Drugs that should never be taken with morphine | |
|---|---|
| |
| Medications that may interact with morphine and should therefore be reported to the doctor | |
| Drug type | Examples |
| Alcohol | Any type of alcohol. |
| Some medicines for colds and coughs (Antihistamines) | Medicines that cause drowsiness, such as Piriton. |
| Medications for mental health problems (Depression, Anxiety) | Medications such as Amitriptyline, Fluoxetine, Sertraline. |
| Medications for insomnia | Medications such as diazepam. |
| Other strong painkillers or cough medicines | Drugs like Tramadol and Codeine. |
*This list is not complete. Tell your doctor about all medications you are taking.*
Be careful of these things when taking medicine.
The difference between tolerance and addiction
One of the fears that many people have is that they will become addicted to this type of medication. We need to understand two things here.
1. Tolerance: When you take morphine for a long time, the previous dose may no longer be enough to relieve pain. This means that a slightly higher dose is needed to control the pain. This is normal . This is not an addiction.
2. Addiction: Addiction is the tendency to use a drug for psychological pleasure without a medical reason. If you are taking it for pain on medical advice, it is not an addiction.
Be aware of Naloxone
Naloxone is a life-saving medication that can reverse an overdose of an opioid drug, such as morphine. An overdose can occur when you take too much of the drug or when you take it with something like alcohol. Symptoms of an overdose include very slow breathing, extreme drowsiness, and inability to wake up even with talking . Talk to your doctor about this and how to get and use Naloxone if needed.
Other important points
- Drowsiness and dizziness: This medicine may make you feel drowsy and dizzy. Therefore , do not drive or operate machinery while taking this medicine.
- Alcohol: Avoid drinking alcohol completely while taking morphine. It can have very dangerous consequences.
- Constipation: Constipation is a common side effect of this medication. So drink plenty of water, eat more fiber-rich foods (fruits, vegetables). Tell your doctor if you have difficulty defecating for more than 3 days.
Side effects that may occur due to medication
| Serious side effects that should be reported to your doctor or ETU immediately | |
|---|---|
| Allergic Reactions | Skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips, tongue. |
| Respiratory distress (CNS Depression) | Breathing very slowly, difficulty breathing, excessive sleepiness, inability to wake up. |
| Reduction in high blood pressure | Dizziness, blurred vision, fainting. |
| Side effects that may occur commonly, but should be reported to the doctor if they persist | |
| Constipation | Follow the remedies mentioned above. |
| Dizziness, drowsiness | It may decrease as the body gets used to the medicine. |
| Nausea, vomiting | It can be reduced by taking the medicine with food. |
| Dry mouth | Chewing sugar-free gum and drinking water may help. |
How to keep medicine safe?
- Keep away from children and pets: This medicine can be fatal if it gets into the hands of a child or pet.
- Lock it in a safe place: To protect it from theft, keep it in a safe place where no one can easily get it.
- Leftover Medicines: If you have any leftover medicines, dispose of them properly. If that is not possible, flush them down the toilet. Do not use expired medicines.
Take-Home Message
- Morphine is a powerful painkiller that should only be used under medical supervision.
- Be sure to tell your doctor about all other medications you take and all your medical conditions.
- Never share this medicine with others. It is very dangerous.
- Be aware of the symptoms of overdose (excessive drowsiness, difficulty breathing) and go to the Emergency Department (ETU) immediately.
- Avoid stopping the medication suddenly without medical advice.
- Always keep the medicine locked up in a safe place out of the reach of children and pets.
💬 අදහස් (0)
තවමත් කිසිදු අදහසක් පළ කර නොමැත. ඔබේ අදහස පළමු වරට මෙහි එක් කරන්න.
ඔබේ අදහස එක් කරන්න