This medication is used to treat moderate-to-severe
pain. It acts on certain centers in the brain to give you pain relief. This
medication is an opioid analgesic.
Read the Medication Guide provided by your pharmacist
before you start using morphine and each time you get a refill. If you have
any questions, consult your doctor or pharmacist.
Unwrap and insert one suppository rectally as directed
by your doctor. Lie down on your left side with right knee bent. Gently
push the suppository into the rectum with your finger. Remain lying down
for a few minutes, and avoid having a bowel movement for an hour or longer
so the drug will be absorbed. The suppository is for rectal use
only.
The dosage is based on your medical condition and
response to treatment. Pain medications work best if they are used as the
first signs of pain occur. If you wait until the pain has worsened, the
medication may not work as well.
You may also take long-acting opioid medications or use
opioid patches for ongoing pain if so directed by your doctor. In that
case, this medication might be used for sudden (breakthrough) pain only as
needed. Also follow your doctor's or pharmacist's instructions for safely
using other pain relievers (such as naproxen, ibuprofen). Ask your doctor
or pharmacist about using morphine safely with other drugs.
Suddenly stopping this medication may cause withdrawal,
especially if you have used it for a long time or in high doses. To prevent
withdrawal, your doctor may lower your dose slowly. Tell your doctor or
pharmacist right away if you have any withdrawal symptoms such as
restlessness, mental/mood changes (including anxiety, trouble sleeping,
thoughts of suicide), watering eyes, runny nose, nausea, diarrhea,
sweating, muscle aches, or sudden changes in behavior.
Though it helps many people, this medication may
sometimes cause addiction. This risk may be higher if you have a substance
use disorder (such as overuse of or addiction to drugs/alcohol). Use this
medication exactly as prescribed to lower the risk of addiction. Ask your
doctor or pharmacist for more details.
When used for an extended period, this medication may
not work as well and may require different dosing. Talk with your doctor if
this medication stops working well.
Tell your doctor if your pain does not get better or if
it gets worse, or if you have any new pain.
See also Warning section.
Nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, constipation, increased
sweating, lightheadedness, dizziness, or drowsiness may occur. If any of
these effects last or get worse, notify your doctor or pharmacist
promptly.
To prevent constipation, eat dietary fiber, drink enough
water, and exercise. You may also need to take a laxative. Ask your
pharmacist which type of laxative is right for you.
To reduce the risk of dizziness and lightheadedness, get
up slowly when rising from a sitting or lying position.
Remember that this medication has been prescribed
because your doctor has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the
risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious
side effects.
Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side
effects, including:
- interrupted breathing during sleep (sleep apnea)
- mental/mood changes
- vision changes
- slow/fast heartbeat
- difficulty urinating
- severe stomach/abdominal pain
- signs of your adrenal glands not working well (such as loss
of appetite, unusual tiredness, weight loss)
Get medical help right away if you have any very serious
side effects, including:
- slow/shallow breathing
- fainting
- seizures
- severe drowsiness/difficulty waking up
A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare.
However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a
serious allergic reaction, including:
- rash
- itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat)
- severe dizziness
- trouble breathing
This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If
you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or
pharmacist.
In the US - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.
You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at
www.fda.gov/medwatch.
In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about
side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at
1-866-234-2345.
Before using morphine, tell your doctor or pharmacist if
you are allergic to it; or to other opioid pain medications (such as
codeine); or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain
inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems.
Talk to your pharmacist for more details.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or
pharmacist your medical history, especially of:
- brain disorders (such as head injury, tumor, seizures)
- breathing problems (such as asthma, sleep apnea, chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease-COPD)
- gallbladder disease
- kidney disease
- liver disease
- mental/mood disorders (such as confusion, depression,
thoughts of suicide)
- personal or family history of a substance use disorder (such
as overuse of or addiction to drugs/alcohol)
- stomach/intestinal problems (such as blockage, constipation,
diarrhea due to infection, paralytic ileus)
- disease of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
- difficulty urinating (such as due to enlarged prostate)
This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy. Alcohol or
marijuana (cannabis) can make you more dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive, use
machinery, or do anything that needs alertness until you can do it safely.
Avoid alcoholic beverages. Talk to your doctor if you are using marijuana
(cannabis).
Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about
all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription
drugs, and herbal products).
Older adults may be more sensitive to the side effects
of this drug, especially confusion, dizziness, drowsiness, and slow/shallow
breathing.
During pregnancy, this medication should be used only
when clearly needed. It may harm an unborn baby. Discuss the risks and
benefits with your doctor. (See also Warning section.)
This drug passes into breast milk and may have
undesirable effects on a nursing infant. Tell the doctor right away if your
baby develops unusual sleepiness, difficulty feeding, or trouble breathing.
Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.
See also Warning section.
Drug interactions may change how your medications work
or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not
contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you
use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and
share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the
dosage of any medicines without your doctor's approval.
Some products that may interact with this drug
include:
- certain pain medications (mixed opioid agonist/antagonists
such as butorphanol, nalbuphine, pentazocine)
- naltrexone
- samidorphan
The risk of serious side effects (such as slow/shallow
breathing, severe drowsiness/dizziness) may be increased if this medication
is used with other products that may also cause drowsiness or breathing
problems. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are using other products
such as other opioid pain or cough relievers (such as codeine,
hydrocodone), alcohol, marijuana (cannabis), drugs for sleep or anxiety
(such as alprazolam, lorazepam, zolpidem), muscle relaxants (such as
carisoprodol, cyclobenzaprine), or antihistamines (such as cetirizine,
diphenhydramine).
Check the labels on all your medicines (such as allergy
or cough-and-cold products) because they may contain ingredients that cause
drowsiness. Ask your pharmacist about using those products
safely.
This medication may interfere with certain lab tests
(such as amylase and lipase levels), possibly causing false test results.
Make sure lab personnel and all your doctors know you use this
drug.
This medicine may be harmful if swallowed. If someone
has overdosed and has serious symptoms such as passing out or trouble
breathing, give them naloxone if available, then call 911. If the person is
awake and has no symptoms, call a poison control center right away. US
residents can call 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call
1-844-764-7669. Symptoms of overdose may include: slow/shallow breathing,
slow heartbeat, extreme drowsiness, coma.
Do not share this medication with others. Sharing it is
against the law.
This medication has been prescribed for your current
condition only. Do not use it later for another condition unless told to do
so by your doctor. A different medication may be necessary in that
case.
If you use this medication regularly and miss a dose,
use it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose,
skip the missed dose. Use your next dose at the regular time. Do not double
the dose to catch up.
Store at room temperature away from heat. Keep all
medications away from children and pets.
Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them
into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when
it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste
disposal company.