What is this medication for?
Morphine belongs to the class of medications called narcotic analgesics (pain relievers). Morphine sustained release is only intended for the treatment of moderate to severe chronic (long-term) pain. For acute pain or "breakthrough" pain, the doctor will prescribe another pain medication such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or a narcotic-containing medication.
Your doctor may have suggested this medication for conditions other than those listed here. As well, some forms of this medication may not be used for all of the conditions discussed here. If you are not sure why you are taking this medication, speak to your doctor. Do not stop taking this medication without consulting your doctor.
Do not give this medication to anyone else, even if they have the same symptoms as you do. It can be harmful for people to take this medication if their doctor has not prescribed it.
Some medications may have other generic brands available. Always ask your doctor or pharmacist about the safety of switching between brands of the same medication.
How should I use this medication?
The dose of morphine sustained release depends on various factors such as age, kidney and liver function, and an individual's needs.
The most common starting dose of morphine sustained release is 30 mg twice daily. People over 50 years of age sometimes will require lower doses. Sustained release tablets or capsules should be taken regularly every 12 hours for best results in controlling pain. Taking morphine sustained released more frequently than every 8 hours is not recommended.
Do not chew, crush, or dissolve the sustained release tablets or capsules. Doing so could lead to serious side effects and overdose from morphine since all of the medication would be released and absorbed all at once into your body. The higher strengths of morphine sustained release (100 mg and 200 mg) should only be taken by people who have already been treated with and tolerated the lower strengths and never given to anyone who has not yet used morphine sustained release or other narcotic analgesics.
Only the 200 mg tablet is scored and can therefore be split in half. However, if taking half of the 200 mg tablet, you must swallow it whole.
This medication may be habit forming if taken for long periods of time. You may experience withdrawal effects if you stop taking this medication suddenly after extended use. If you plan on stopping the medication, your doctor may want you to reduce the dose gradually to reduce the severity of withdrawal effects.
Many things can affect the dose of medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications. If your doctor has recommended a dose different from the ones listed here, do not change the way that you are taking the medication without consulting your doctor.
It is very important to take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not stop taking this medication without talking to your doctor first, and do not increase the dose of this medication without consulting your doctor. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as possible and continue on with your regular schedule. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue on with your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. If you are not sure what to do after missing a dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
Store this medication at room temperature, protect it from light and moisture, and keep it out of the reach of children.
Who should NOT take this medication?
Morphine sustained release should not be taken by anyone who:
- is allergic to morphine, other opiod pain relievers, or to any of the ingredients of the medication
- is suffering from alcoholism
- is taking an antidepressant medication know as a MAOI inhibitor, or has taking it in the last 14 days
- has convulsive disorders, head trauma, or brain tumor
- has or is suspected of having a paralytic ileus
- has respiratory depression, active asthma, or reduced lung function