Morphine Injection

Morphine injection is used to relieve severe pain.Morphine is in a class of medications called opiate (narcotic) analgesics. It works by changing the way the brain and nervous system respond to pain.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Morphine injection comes as a solution (liquid) to inject intravenously (into a vein) or intramuscularly (into a muscle). Inject every 4 hours as needed.

Morphine also may be injected into certain areas of the spine by a healthcare professional or with a continuous infusion device.

Your doctor may adjust your dose of morphine injection during your treatment, depending on how well your pain is controlled and on the side effects that you experience. Talk to your doctor about how you are feeling during your treatment with morphine injection. Tell your doctor if you feel that your pain is not controlled or if your pain increases, becomes worse, or if you have new pain or an increased sensitivity to pain during your treatment with morphine. Do not use more of it, use it more often, or for a longer period of time than prescribed by your doctor.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about access to rescue medicines, naloxone or nalmefene,while receiving morphine. Rescue medications can reverse the life-threatening effects of anopioid overdose and are available from community programs, over the counter, or with a prescription. Make sure that youand your family members and people usually around you know how to recognize an overdose,how to use naloxone or nalmefene, and what to do until emergency medical help arrives. Yourdoctor or pharmacist will show you and others how to use it. If symptoms of an overdose occur,they should give the first dose of naloxone, call 911 immediately, and stay with you and watchyou closely until emergency medical help arrives. If your symptoms return, the person shouldgive you another dose of the rescue medication. Additional doses may be given every 2 to 3minutes, if symptoms return before medical help arrives.

If you have used morphine injection for longer than a few days, do not stop using it suddenly. If you suddenly stop using morphine injection, you may experience withdrawal symptoms including restlessness; teary eyes; runny nose; yawning; sweating; chills; muscle, back or joint pain; widening of the pupils; irritability; anxiety; weakness; stomach cramps; difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep; nausea; loss of appetite; vomiting; diarrhea; fast breathing; or fast heartbeat.Your doctor will probably decrease your dose gradually.

Before using morphine injection,

• tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to this drug, any part of this drug, or any otherdrugs, foods or substances. Tell your doctor or pharmacist about the allergy and whatsymptoms you had.

• some medications should not be taken with morphine. Make sure you have discussed anymedications you are currently taking or plan to take before starting morphine with your doctorand pharmacist. Before starting, stopping, or changing any medications while receiving morphine, please get the advice of your doctor or pharmacist.

• tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking the following medications or have stoppedtaking them within the past two weeks: isocarboxazid, linezol,methylene blue, phenelzine, selegiline, or tranylcypromine.

• the following nonprescription or herbal products may interact with morphine: St. John's wortand tryptophan. Be sure to let your doctor and pharmacist know that you are taking thesemedications before you start using morphine. Do not start these medications while receiving morphine without discussing it with your healthcare provider.

• tell your doctor if you have or have ever had slowed breathing, asthma, chronic pulmonarydisease (COPD), or other lung problems, a blockage or narrowing of your stomach or intestines, or paralytic ileus (condition in which digested food does not move through the intestines). Your doctor may tell you not to use morphine.

• tell your doctor if you have or have ever had a head injury, a brain tumor, or any conditionthat increases pressure in the brain seizures; seizures; or heart, kidney, liver, pancreas, thyroid,or gall bladder disease.

• tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. If youbecome pregnant while using morphine call your doctor immediately.

• you should know that this medication may decrease fertility in men and women.Talk to your doctor about the risks of using morphine.

• you should know that this medication may make you drowsy. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you.

• you should know to not drink alcoholic beverages while you are using morphine. Alcohol can make the side effects from morphine worse.

• you should know that morphine may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, and fainting when you get up too quickly from a lying position. To avoid this problem, get out of bed slowly, resting your feet on the floor for a few minutes before standing up.

• you should know that morphine may cause constipation.Talk to your doctor about changing your diet or using other medications to prevent or treat constipation while you are using morphine.

Talk to your doctor about eating grapefruit and drinking grapefruit juice while using this medication.

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, out of reach of children, and in a location that is not easily accessible by others, including visitors to the home. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom).

Dispose of any medication that is outdated or no longer needed through a medicine take-back program. If you do not have a take-back program nearby or one that you can access promptly, flush any morphine injection solution that is outdated or no longer needed down the toilet. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication.

Keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers are not child-resistant. Always lock safety caps. Place the medication in a safe location – one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach. https://www.upandaway.org

In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at 1-800-222-1222. Information is also available online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. If the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can't be awakened, immediately call emergency services at 911.

Symptoms of overdose may include the following:

• slow, shallow, or irregular breathing, difficulty breathing, unusual snoring
• excessive sleepiness, unable to respond or wake up
• limp or weak muscles
• cold, clammy skin
• narrowing or widening of the pupils (dark circle in the eye)
• slow heartbeat

Keep all appointments with your doctor

Before having any laboratory test, tell your doctor and the laboratory personnel that you are using morphine.

This prescription is not refillable. If you are using morphine to control your pain on a long term basis, be sure to schedule appointments with your doctor so that you do not run out of medication. If you are using morphine on a short-term basis, call your doctor if you continue to experience pain after you finish the medication.

Keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines, vitamins, minerals, and dietary supplements you are taking. Bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to the hospital. You should carry the list with you in case of emergencies.