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- $Unique_ID{BRK03244}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{morphine}
- $Subject{sulfate MS Contin Purdue-Frederick MSIR RMS Upsher-Smith Roxanol
- Roxane SR Analgesic morphine narcotic analgesic central nervous system brain
- spinal cord moderate severe pain}
- $Volume{}
- $Log{}
-
- Copyright (C) 1993 Publications International, Ltd.
-
-
- morphine
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- BRAND NAMES (Manufacturers)
-
- morphine sulfate (various manufacturers)
- MS Contin (Purdue-Frederick)
- MSIR (Purdue-Frederick)
- RMS (Upsher-Smith)
- Roxanol (Roxane)
- Roxanol SR (Roxane)
-
- TYPE OF DRUG
-
- Analgesic
-
- INGREDIENT
-
- morphine
-
- DOSAGE FORMS
-
- Tablets (15 mg and 30 mg)
- Sustained-release tablets (30 mg and 60 mg)
- Oral solution (10 mg and 20 mg per 5-ml spoonful, with 10% alcohol; 20 mg
- per ml)
- Rectal suppositories (5 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg)
-
- STORAGE
-
- Morphine tablets and oral solution should be stored at room temperature
- in tightly closed, light-resistant containers. The rectal suppositories
- should be stored in the refrigerator.
-
- USES
-
- Morphine is a narcotic analgesic that acts directly on the central
- nervous system (brain and spinal cord). It is used to relieve moderate to
- severe pain.
-
- TREATMENT
-
- In order to avoid stomach upset, you can take morphine with food or milk.
- This medication works most effectively if you take it at the onset of pain,
- rather than waiting until the pain becomes intense.
- The solution form of this medication can be mixed with fruit juices to
- improve the taste. Measure each dose carefully with a specially designed 5-ml
- measuring spoon or with the dropper provided. An ordinary kitchen teaspoon is
- not accurate enough.
- The sustained-release tablets should be swallowed whole. Chewing,
- crushing, or crumbling the tablets destroys their sustained-release activity
- and possibly increases the side effects.
- To use the suppository form of this medication, remove the foil wrapper
- and moisten the suppository with water (if the suppository is too soft to
- insert, refrigerate it for half an hour or run cold water over it before
- removing the wrapper). Lie on your left side with your right knee bent. Push
- the suppository into the rectum, pointed end first. Lie still for a few
- minutes. Try to avoid having a bowel movement for at least an hour (to give
- the medication time to be absorbed).
- If you are taking this drug on a regular schedule and you miss a dose,
- take the missed dose as soon as possible, unless it is almost time for your
- next dose. In that case, do not take the missed dose at all; just return to
- your regular dosing schedule. Do not double the next dose.
-
- SIDE EFFECTS
-
- Minor.
-
- Constipation, dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth, false sense of
- well-being, flushing, light-headedness, loss of appetite, nausea, rash, or
- sweating. These side effects should disappear as your body adjusts to the
- medication.
- If you are constipated, increase the amount of fiber in your diet (fresh
- fruits and vegetables, salads, bran, and whole-grain breads), exercise, and
- drink more water (unless your doctor directs you to do otherwise).
- Chew sugarless gum or suck on ice chips to reduce mouth dryness.
- If you feel dizzy or light-headed, sit or lie down for a while; get up
- from a sitting or lying position slowly.
-
- Major.
-
- Tell your doctor about any side effects that are persistent or
- particularly bothersome. IT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR about
- anxiety, difficulty in breathing, excitation, fainting, fatigue, painful or
- difficult urination, palpitations, restlessness, sore throat and fever,
- tremors, or weakness.
-
- INTERACTIONS
-
- Morphine interacts with several other types of drugs:
- 1. Concurrent use of it with other central nervous system depressants
- (such as alcohol, antihistamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepine tranquilizers,
- muscle relaxants, and phenothiazine tranquilizers) or with tricyclic
- antidepressants can cause extreme drowsiness.
- 2. A monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor taken within 14 days of this
- medication can lead to unpredictable and severe side effects.
- 3. The depressant effects of morphine can be dangerously increased by
- chloral hydrate, glutethimide, beta blockers, and furazolidone.
- 4. The combination of cimetidine and morphine can cause confusion,
- disorientation, and shortness of breath.
- BE SURE TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR about any medications you are currently
- taking, especially any of those listed above.
-
- WARNINGS
-
- * Tell your doctor about unusual or allergic reactions you have had to
- any medications, especially to morphine or to other narcotic analgesics (such
- as codeine, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, meperidine, methadone, oxycodone, and
- propoxyphene).
- * Tell your doctor if you now have or if you have ever had acute
- abdominal conditions, asthma, brain disease, colitis, epilepsy, gallstones or
- gallbladder disease, head injuries, heart disease, kidney disease, liver
- disease, lung disease, mental illness, emotional disorders, enlarged prostate
- gland, thyroid disease, or urethral stricture.
- * If this drug makes you dizzy or drowsy, do not take part in any
- activity that requires alertness, such as driving a car or operating
- potentially dangerous machinery.
- * Before having surgery or any other medical or dental treatment, be sure
- to tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking this medication.
- * Morphine has the potential for abuse and must be used with caution.
- Usually, it should not be taken for longer than ten days (unless your doctor
- directs you to do so). Tolerance develops quickly; do not increase the dosage
- or stop taking the drug abruptly, unless you first consult your doctor. If
- you have been taking large amounts of this drug, or if you have been taking it
- for long periods of time, you may experience a withdrawal reaction (muscle
- aches, diarrhea, gooseflesh, runny nose, nausea, vomiting, shivering,
- trembling, stomach cramps, sleep disorders, irritability, weakness, excessive
- yawning, or sweating) when you stop taking it. Your doctor may, therefore,
- want to reduce the dosage gradually.
- * Be sure to tell your doctor if you are pregnant. The effects of this
- medication during the early stages of pregnancy have not been thoroughly
- studied in humans. However, regular use of morphine in large doses during the
- later stages of pregnancy can result in addiction of the fetus, leading to
- withdrawal symptoms (irritability, excessive crying, tremors, fever, vomiting,
- diarrhea, sneezing, or excessive yawning) at birth. Also, tell your doctor if
- you are breast-feeding an infant. Small amounts of this medication may pass
- into breast milk and cause excessive drowsiness in the nursing infant.
-
- ----------------
-
- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
- the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
- doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
- problem.
-