Morphine Sulfate Addiction and Treatment

What is Morphine Sulfate?

Morphine Sulfate is a classified Opiate (narcotic) Analgesic drug used to treat moderate to severe pain. Morphine Sulfate is available in a short-acting and extended-release form.¹ Morphine Sulfate short-acting form is prescribed and taken as needed for pain. The extended-release form is used to treat pain around-the-clock.² Morphine sulfate works by altering how the brain and nervous system respond to pain.

Is Morphine an Opioid?

The National Institute on Drug Abuse states, "Opioids are a class of drugs that include the illegal drug heroin, synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, and pain relievers available legally by prescription, such as oxycodone (OxyContin®), hydrocodone (Vicodin®), codeine, morphine, and many others." Opioids interact with opioid receptors on nerve cells in the body and on the brain. Analgesics drugs, such as Morphine or acetaminophen (Tylenol) are designed to relieve pain. Though not all analgesic drugs are opioids, Morphine is an opioid on the analgesic drugs list.

Brand Names

Familiarizing oneself with the various names of a drug can prevent overdoses from drug misuse. Morphine brand names include the following:

MS Contin

Astramorph

Depodur

Duramorph

Infumorph

Kadian

MorphaBond

Arymo ER

Liquid Morphine

Liquid Morphine Sulfate, or Roxanol, is a "highly concentrated solution of the narcotic analgesic morphine sulfate for oral administration used for the treatment of severe, chronic pain."³ Liquid Morphine dosage is prescribed per volume. The medication begins relieving pain about 15 to 30 minutes after consumption. Recognizing possible medication combinations in any form can reduce the risk of increased health issues. ⁴ Liquid morphine can interact with other medications that depress the central nervous system such as barbiturates, tranquilizers, general anesthetic medications, and other narcotics.

Dilaudid vs. Morphine

Dilaudid, also known as Hydromorphone, is an injection prescribed to relieve pain.⁴ Hydromorphone is a classified opiate analgesic drug that alters how the brain and central nervous system respond to pain. 9 Hydromorphone is injected under the skin into either a vein or a muscle, and it is typically used every 2 to 3 hours as needed. When comparing Dilaudid vs. Morphine, Dilaudid is a more potent drug and requires less dosage to equal the effects of Morphine.

Morphine Dosage

Morphine dosages vary in form and strength.⁵

Brand Name	Form	Dosage
MS Contin	Tablet, extended-release	15mg, 30mg, 60mg, 100mg, 200mg
Depodur	Injectable suspension, extended-release	10 mg/mL
Duramorph	Injectable solution, extended-release	0.5 mg/mL 1 mg/mL
Infumorph	Injectable solution, high potency	10 mg/mL (200 mg/20mL ampule) 25 mg/mL (500 mg/20mL ampule)
Kadian	Capsule, extended-release	10 mg, 20 mg, 30 mg, 40 mg, 50 mg, 60 mg 70 mg, 80 mg, 100 mg, 130 mg, 150 mg, 200 mg
MorphaBond	Tablet, extended-release	15 mg, 30 mg, 60 mg, 100 mg
Arymo ER	Tablet, extended-release	15 mg, 30 mg, 60 mg

Signs and Symptoms of Morphine Sulfate Addiction

As with any drug, as tolerance increases and dependence builds, addiction can form.

Common physical signs of morphine addiction include:

Abdominal pain

Nausea

Fatigue

Headache

Common behavioral signs of morphine addiction include:

Itching

Anxiety

Slurred speech

Lack of focus

Shallow breathing

Morphine Side Effects

Morphine side effects may vary from person to person. Morphine side effect factors depend on a person's weight, water intake, and overall health. The difference in morphine side effects also varies based on the dosage and form of the drug. Morphine side effects range from mild to severe.

Short-term morphine side effects include:⁶

Nausea and Vomiting

Constipation

Itching

Loss of Appetite

Lower Body Temperature

Difficulty Urinating

Slow Breathing

Sleepiness

Changes in Heart Rate

Weakness

Dizziness Upon Standing Up

Confusion

Nervousness

Erectile Dysfunction

Long-term morphine side effects include:

Chronic Constipation

Poor Appetite

Reflux

Bloating

Stomach Pain

Dry Mouth

Weight Loss

Issues related to hormonal changes include:

Increased Blood Sugar

Problems with Menstruation

Osteoporosis and Risk of Fractures

Immune-Related Issues, Like the Risk of Infection

Sexual Dysfunction

Morphine Overdose

Morphine overdose occurs after high levels of the drug contaminate the blood.⁷ According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, "Naloxone is used to reverse the life-threatening effects of an overdose. It works by blocking the effects of opiates to relieve dangerous symptoms caused by high levels of opiates in the blood."

Morphine overdose symptoms include:

Difficulty Breathing

Sleepiness

Unable To Respond Or Wake Up

Limp Muscles

Cold, Clammy Skin

Small Pupils

Slow Heartbeat

Blurred Vision

Nausea

Fainting

Slow, Shallow, Or Irregular Breathing

Morphine Withdrawal

Withdrawal symptoms vary from drug to drug. Morphine withdrawal symptoms range from mild to severe upon an abrupt stop of taking it.⁸ Morphine withdrawal symptoms include:

Anxiety

Runny Nose

Sweating

Drug Cravings

Thoughts of Suicide

Trouble Sleeping

Depression

Agitation

Body Aches

Nausea and Vomiting

Diarrhea

Cramping

Moodiness

Lack of Concentration

Morphine is found in the blood and saliva for up to 3 days, in the urine for up to 4 days, and in the hair for up to 90 days.

Treatment Options

Treating opioid addiction, such as morphine addiction, is possible through a variety of routes. The preference depends on the individual and the individual's health.

Detox

Detoxing opioids develop abrupt withdrawal symptoms as soon as the last dosage was taken. The effects of withdrawal vary from mild to severe.

Medication-assisted Treatment

Medicines used for medication-assisted morphine treatments include methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone.⁹ These medicines target the same area in the brain as other opioids but do not give the user a high.¹⁰

Inpatient Rehab

Inpatient rehab offers individuals treatment advantages over outpatient programs. The resources in inpatient rehabilitation include counseling. Individual counseling includes:

Cognitive-behavioral therapy helps an addict recognize and cease negative patterns of thinking and behavior. CBT can teach addict coping skills to manage stress and decrease a dependency on opioid misuse.¹¹