The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:. Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered.
This is especially important for elderly patients, who may be more sensitive to the effects of pain medicines. If too much of this medicine is taken for a long time, it may become habit-forming causing mental or physical dependence.
It is very important that you understand the rules of the Opioid Analgesic REMS program to prevent addiction, abuse, and misuse of morphine. This medicine should also come with a Medication Guide and patient instructions. Read and follow the instructions carefully. Read it again each time you refill your prescription in case there is new information.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions. Morphine extended-release capsules and extended-release tablets should only be used by patients who have already been taking narcotic pain medicines, also called opioids.
These patients are called opioid-tolerant. If you are uncertain whether or not you are opioid-tolerant, check with your doctor before using this medicine. Swallow the extended-release capsules and extended-release tablets whole. Do not crush, break, dissolve, or chew them. Do not use extended-release tablets that are broken. If you cannot swallow the extended-release capsule, you may open it and pour the contents into a small amount of applesauce.
Stir this mixture well and swallow it right away without chewing. Do not receive this medicine through a nasogastric tube.
While taking the extended-release tablet, part of the tablet may pass into your stool. This is normal and nothing to worry about. Morphine extended-release capsules or tablets work differently from the regular morphine oral solution or tablets, even at the same dose.
Do not switch from one brand or form to the other unless your doctor tells you to. Measure the oral liquid with a marked measuring spoon, oral syringe, or medicine cup. The average household teaspoon may not hold the right amount of liquid. The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine. If you miss a dose of this medicine, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule.
Do not double doses. Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing. Morphine can cause serious unwanted effects if taken by adults, children, or pets who are not used to strong narcotic pain medicines.
Make sure you store the medicine in a safe and secure place to prevent others from getting it. Drop off any unused narcotic medicine at a drug take-back location right away. If you do not have a drug take-back location near you, flush any unused narcotic medicine down the toilet. Check your local drug store and clinics for take-back locations. You can also check the DEA web site for locations.
Here is the link to the FDA safe disposal of medicines website: www. It is very important that your doctor check your progress while you are using this medicine. This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly and to decide if you should continue to take it. The more morphine present in the body, the longer it will take to be eliminated.
If the pathways involved in opioid metabolism are busy breaking down other substances in the body, it will also take longer for the drug to leave the body. Older patients metabolize morphine more slowly. People with hepatic or renal impairments may also eliminate morphine more slowly. According to a review, there is no difference in metabolism amongst sexes. Morphine is broken down by the body and excreted in the urine, with most of a single dose eliminated after 72 hours.
However, with longer use or heavier doses, the time it takes to clear out of the body can be longer. Exercising, drinking a lot of water, and other myths people might have about how to flush your system before a drug test are likely not going to work. The only way to get morphine out of your system is to stop taking the drug and allow your body time to metabolize and eliminate it. If you have been prescribed morphine, be aware that it can be detected on a urine drug screen such as those given for employment.
Disclose your prescription to the testing lab so they can interpret your test accurately. A morphine overdose can happen when it interacts with other medications, when doses are given too close together, or too much morphine is taken. Never crush or cut an extended-release tablet or capsule as that may deliver too much morphine at one time. Some symptoms of morphine overdose include:. Bystander training to reverse an opiate overdose with naloxone is available in your area.
By administering naloxone, sometimes referred to by the brand name Narcan, someone experiencing a morphine overdose may regain consciousness and the ability to breathe. They may also begin to experience withdrawal symptoms. Taking additional opiates at this point will cause a second overdose and is not recommended.
Naloxone is available over the counter many places and from the local health department. In case of a morphine overdose, call or the poison control center at First-responders should be able to revive the victim with Narcan but only if they are notified soon enough. Morphine depresses the respiratory system and slows the heart rate. A previous history of breathing problems, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD , are reasons to be even more cautious with the use of morphine.
Symptoms of morphine withdrawal include muscle aches, insomnia, anxiety, nausea, and vomiting, and can begin as early as six hours after the last dose.
Some people compare the symptoms to those of the flu. Symptom severity varies according to the frequency of use, tolerance, and overall health and metabolism. The acute physical effects of morphine withdrawal last for three to five days, but the psychological effects may persist for several weeks. Persisting patterns of binge and withdrawal can exacerbate problematic substance use.
There are many treatments available, including medication-assisted treatment MATs with methadone or buprenorphine, which can help with withdrawal. A review details the efficacy of MAT in the treatment of opioid use disorder. If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, discuss this with your doctor as there is a risk of dependence and withdrawal in newborns of mothers who have prolonged use of morphine. Don't breastfeed while you are taking morphine.
According to the NIH, morphine will pass through your milk to your child and your child can also become dependent. If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of morphine addiction, help is available. Learn the best ways to manage stress and negativity in your life. Balch RJ, Trescot A. Extended-release morphine sulfate in treatment of severe acute and chronic pain.
J Pain Res. National Center for Biotechnology Information. World Health Organization. The body quickly metabolizes the drug, and the half-life, or the time it takes for the body to metabolize half of the dose, is just 1. The half-life length of morphine means it will usually exit the blood within several hours, and a blood test will almost always be negative within a day or two.
Morphine exits the urine relatively quickly. Urine morphine samples test for all opioids and are very sensitive. False positives are common. Some evidence suggests that consuming even a single poppy seed may trigger a positive test result. Morphine can enter breast milk, but the quantity of the drug and the length of time it remains there depends on the dosage and other factors. An analysis of lactating mothers who received morphine in an epidural found that concentrations of the drug peaked 30 minutes after the last drug dose.
The half-life in milk was 3 hours. Another study of women who received morphine in their epidurals assessed breast milk levels of the drug at various intervals.
Morphine concentrations were highest 3. By 24 hours, there was no detectable morphine in the milk. Women who may be taking morphine while breastfeeding should talk to their doctor about the safety of using this drug while breastfeeding. Morphine remains in the hair longest. As the hair grows, new hair growth may not have evidence of morphine use, but older hair may show signs of morphine use for an extended time. A study found that morphine was still detectable in hair 90 days after a person stopped using it.
Withdrawal symptoms usually begin around the time a person would take their next morphine dose and become steadily worse over several hours. The symptoms of withdrawal tend to peak within a few days. After this point, physical withdrawal symptoms may improve, but psychological cravings tend to last much longer, sometimes for months or years. Even when morphine completely exits the body, a person may feel the after effects of morphine use, including cravings and withdrawal, for several days.
People with concerns about morphine levels in their body, are considering quitting morphine, or breastfeeding a baby or young child should consult a doctor for guidance.
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