Morphine

2009.05.11

Morphine is an opiate analgesic drug, obtained from opium, from the juice secreted by the seeds of poppy. Morphine falls into the category of drugs called narcotic pain relievers, and is also known as “opioids”. Opioids work on receptors which are widely found in nervous tissues, and all opioids acts on these receptors. So just like other opioids, e.g. oxycodone, hydromorphine, and diacetylmorphine or heroin morphine acts directly on the central nervous system CNS and helps in relieving pain.

Morphine is highly addictive, which increases physical and psychological tolerance.

Hence it is used to treat moderate to severe pain, by diluting the pain perception center in the brain. Earlier morphine was used by injection mostly, but now it can be used in its other forms like oral solutions, suppositories, tablets and capsules.

Using morphine can be reliving during the times of pain but it has certain side effects, the most critical being the respiratory depression. It can also give a sensation of nausea and cause vomiting as the morphine stimulates a particular center in the brain called chemotactic trigger zone. It also causes cough suppression, sedation and dependence leading to addiction, histamine release causing itching of the skin and nose along with flushing of the skin, anxiety, pinpoint pupils, involuntary movement of the eyeball, impaired vision, constipation, depression, dizziness, diarrhea, agitation, headache, insomnia, appetite loss etc.

In US morphine is a regulated drug. Morphine which contain more than 50 mg per 100 milliters is put under Schedule II of the Controlled Substance Act, under the US Federal Law, which implies that it cannot be sold without the license of DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) and illegal to buy or possess without a license or prescription.

Products containing less than 50 mg morphine per 100 milliters and which contain more active nonnorcotic substance fall under Schedule III. Most of the states in US follow the federal scheduling system, though slight variation can be observed in different states.

Morphine is commonly available at cheap price, but still in poor countries people still doesn't have access to it. Studies show that the less affluent counties consume only 6% of the global morphine supply. The patients consuming morphine must always be under strict observation for tracing any kind of side effects and consumption of alcohol should be avoided when under medication. Before using morphine, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

• asthma, COPD, sleep apnea, or other breathing disorders;

• liver or kidney disease;

• underactive thyroid;

• curvature of the spine;

• a history of head injury or brain tumor;

• epilepsy or other seizure disorder;

• low blood pressure;

• gallbladder disease;

• Addison's disease or other adrenal gland disorders;

• enlarged prostate, urination problems;

• mental illness; or

• a history of drug or alcohol addiction.

Doctors are of the opinion that it is totally safe to use morphine when the patient is in severe pain but its consumption should be stopped as soon as the treatment is over else it can be addictive and can adversely affect the patient.