Morphine 15mg

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

Potential for addiction, abuse, and misuse

• Risk factors: Personal or family history of substance or alcohol abuse | History of mental health conditions

Even at recommended doses, morphine can cause addiction, abuse, or misuse. Using morphine for reasons other than prescribed (misuse) or at higher doses than prescribed can lead to overdose and death. To lower this risk, your healthcare provider will prescribe the lowest amount of morphine that’s necessary for you for the shortest period of time possible.

The FDA requires a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) program for morphine because of the high risk of addiction, abuse, and misuse. Under the REMS program, your healthcare provider will go over how to use morphine safely, what its risks are, and the proper storage and disposal of the medication to 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.

Potentially life-threatening slowed breathing (respiratory depression)

• Risk factors: Age 65 years or older | People who are very weak | Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) | Taking sedatives or other medications that can cause respiratory depression | Conditions that cause respiratory depression | Taking high doses of morphine

Morphine can cause irregular or slowed breathing, especially when first starting the medication or after your dose is raised. Respiratory depression can happen at any time, even at recommended doses. Accidental ingestion of even one tablet in children can cause respiratory depression and death. Respiratory depression can cause you to stop breathing and lead to death, so it’s important to recognize breathing problems and treat them right away. Alcohol and other medications, like benzodiazepines, sedatives, anxiety medications, and certain muscle relaxants, can slow down your breathing even more. Don’t take these medications with morphine. If you have shortness of breath, slow or shallow breathing, or bluish-colored lips, fingers, or toes, get medical help right away.

Overdose

• Risk factors: History of opioid use disorder | Previous opioid overdose | Taking sedatives or other medications that can cause slowed breathing or heartbeat | Alcohol use | Taking high opioid doses | Taking more opioids than prescribed | Age 65 years or older | Age 18 years or younger

Overdose can happen at recommended doses of morphine, or if it’s accidentally taken by a child or a loved one. Overdoses can be life-threatening and lead to death if it’s not recognized or treated in time. Accidental ingestion of even one tablet in a child can cause overdose and death. It can also happen if you take higher doses than prescribed or take the medication more often than prescribed. Store your medication out of reach from children, pets, or visitors. If you don’t need to take morphine anymore, throw away the medication through a take-back program.

Overdose symptoms include extremely slowed breathing, slow heartbeat, extreme sleepiness, cold or clammy skin, or not responding to sound or touch. Call 911 right away if you think an overdose has happened. Your healthcare provider might prescribe naloxone (Narcan), a medication used to reverse life-threatening opioid overdose. It’s important for you and your caregiver to know how to use naloxone (Narcan) in case an accidental overdose happens.

Harm to newborn babies

• Risk factors: Long-term use during pregnancy

During pregnancy, opioids can be passed from you to your unborn baby. Long-term use during pregnancy can cause your unborn baby to become dependent on opioids the same way that you can. Once your baby is born, they can experience withdrawal symptoms just like if you were to stop the medication suddenly. Withdrawal symptoms in your newborn can include high-pitched crying, poor feeding and sucking behavior, trembling, irritability, abnormal sleep patterns, and seizures. This condition is called neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome and 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.

Difficulty concentrating and extreme sleepiness

• Risk factors: Age 65 years or older | Taking other medications that make you less alert or slow your body down | Alcohol use

Morphine can cause extreme sleepiness and lower your ability to think, react, and focus. Alcohol and other medications, like benzodiazepines, sedatives, anxiety medications, and certain muscle relaxants, can make you feel even worse. 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.

Physical dependence and withdrawal

• Risk factors: Long-term use of morphine

If taken regularly for a long time, morphine can cause physical dependence and tolerance. This means your body relies on the medication to function and that you might need higher doses to get the same pain relief. You might experience withdrawal if you stop taking the medication suddenly. Withdrawal symptoms include restlessness, runny nose, yawning, sweating, chills, wide pupils, irritability, anxiety, uncontrolled pain, and suicidal thoughts. Don’t lower your dose or stop taking the medication suddenly without talking to your healthcare provider. Your provider will slowly lower your dose to prevent withdrawal symptoms. If you have concerns about taking the medication because of this risk, talk to your healthcare provider about alternative pain medications.

Low hormone levels

Opioids can cause your hormone levels to drop. This is more likely to happen if you take the medication longer 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.

Low blood pressure

• Risk factors: Age 65 years or older | Taking other medications that lower blood pressure or slow your body down | Dehydration

Morphine can cause extremely low blood pressure, including a drop in blood pressure when you stand from a sitting or lying down position. This can lead to dizziness and fainting. To avoid falling, get up slowly if you’ve been sitting or lying down. If dizziness or lightheadedness doesn’t go away, talk to your healthcare provider.

Seizures

• Risk factors: History of seizure conditions

Opioids can cause more frequent seizures in people who’ve had seizures in the past or in other situations where seizures can occur. Let your healthcare provider know if you have seizures more often while taking morphine.