morphine

Brand names: MORPHINE SULFATE

# Morphine: What You Need to Know Morphine is a powerful pain medication that doctors use to treat moderate to severe pain, especially in patients who have been seriously injured, had surgery, or have cancer. It works by changing the way your body feels and responds to pain. Morphine comes in different forms, including tablets, liquids, and extended-release versions that slowly release medicine over time. Because morphine is very strong, it should only be used exactly as a doctor prescribes it. Morphine is a controlled substance, which means the government carefully monitors its use because people can become dependent on it if they take it for too long or use it incorrectly. It's very important not to mix morphine with alcohol or other drugs that make you sleepy or drowsy, like certain anxiety medications, because this combination can be extremely dangerous and even life-threatening. Common side effects include drowsiness, constipation, and nausea. Always tell your doctor about all the medications you take, and never share your morphine with anyone else, even if they have similar pain. If you have questions about your morphine prescription, talk to your pharmacist or doctor—never change how much you take or how often you take it without their permission.

Known Interactions

7 DRUG INTERACTIONS Table 1 includes clinically significant drug interactions with morphine sulfate tablets. Table 1: Clinically Significant Drug Interactions with Morphine sulfate tablets Benzodiazepines and Other Central Nervous System (CNS) Depressants Clinical Impact: Due to additive pharmacologic effect, the concomitant use of benzodiazepines or other CNS depressants, including alcohol, can increase the risk of hypotension, respiratory depression, profound sedation, coma, and death [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 )]. Intervention: Reserve concomitant prescribing of these drugs for use in patients for whom alternative treatment options are inadequate. Limit dosages and durations to the minimum required. Inform patients and caregivers of this potential interaction and educate them on the signs and symptoms of respiratory depression (including sedation). If concomitant use is warranted, consider prescribing naloxone for the emergency treatment of opioid overdose [see Dosage and A

Source: FDA-approved drug labeling via openFDA

Most Reported Side Effects (FAERS)

  • DRUG DEPENDENCE33,820 reports
  • PAIN26,762 reports
  • OVERDOSE25,312 reports
  • DEATH21,503 reports
  • EMOTIONAL DISTRESS17,585 reports
  • TOXICITY TO VARIOUS AGENTS15,711 reports
  • DRUG WITHDRAWAL SYNDROME14,570 reports
  • DRUG HYPERSENSITIVITY12,383 reports
  • NAUSEA10,554 reports
  • DRUG INEFFECTIVE9,370 reports

Source: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Voluntary reports do not establish causation.

Check interactions with morphine:

SafeCheck provides drug interaction information from FDA-approved product labeling (openFDA). This is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before making medication decisions.