Morphine is an opioid pain reliever (analgesic). It is a strong painkiller used to treat moderate to severe pain. Morphine works by blocking the transmission of pain signals through nerves.
Morphine can be taken by many different routes, including by intraspinal injection, intrathecal injection, intravenous injection, subcutaneous injection, intramuscular injection, rectal, and by mouth. Morphine Sulphate is the most common form of Morphine used in clinical practice.
If you are taking Morphine by mouth, the dose for the immediate-release medicines is 5-20 mg every 4 hours as needed, while the dose for the extended-release medicines is 10 mg every 12-24 hours.
If you are using Morphine rectally, you should use 10-20 mg every 4 hours.
The dosages above are just suggested dosages. The actual dosage should be individualised according to the severity of pain and your response.
Common side effects of Morphine include constipation, dizziness and drowsiness, dry mouth, euphoric mood, flushing, hallucinations, nausea and vomiting (more common on initiation), respiration depression (with high dose). Like all opioid medications, people can become tolerant or addicted to Morphine, which can result in withdrawal symptoms when you try to stop the medicine.
Common dosing schedule:
This schedule is for reference only, adjustments may be made according to individual needs.
Some common medications Morphine may interact with:
Please notify your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking the above medication, dosage adjustments might be needed.
In Hong Kong, Morphine is a prescription only medicine, and requires a prescription from a doctor to be purchased in a pharmacy. It can also be obtained from doctors. To find a pharmacy near you, refer to the list of pharmacies (“Authorized Sellers of Poisons”) from the Hong Kong Department of Health.
For more information about drug names and ingredients, you can visit Hong Kong’s Drug Office at https://www.drugoffice.gov.hk
Need more information?
For detailed information about the use of Morphine in children, pregnancy and breastfeeding, and for questions about drug interactions, please check with your pharmacist or doctor.
Disclaimer: our goal is to provide you with the most relevant drug information and common dosage for Hong Kong. This information does not constitute medical advice. For specific treatment recommendations and advice, always discuss with your doctor or pharmacist, and follow the instructions included with your specific medicine.
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