The need-to-know information about Morphine
MorphineSome pearls and fun nuggets
1. There is plenty of Morphine to go around 🎁 The primary source of morphine is isolation from poppy straw of the opium poppy.[13] In 2013, approximately 523 tons of morphine were produced.[14] Approximately 45 tons were used directly for pain, a four-fold increase over the last twenty years.[14]
2. Morphine can make you constipated 😣 Like loperamide and other opioids, morphine acts on the myenteric plexus in the intestinal tract, reducing gut motility, causing constipation.
3. Once addicted, it’s tough to quit 🙅 Abusers of morphine (and heroin) have one of the highest relapse rates among all drug users, ranging up to 98% in the estimation of some medical experts.[50]
4. With enough of it, Morphine can kill you quick 😱The minimum lethal dose of morphine sulfate is 120 mg,[52] but in case of hypersensitivity, 60 mg can bring sudden death. In serious drug dependency (high tolerance), 2000–3000 mg per day can be tolerated.[53]
5.There are TONS of ways to consume Morphine 📃 Orally, sublingually, bucally, rectally, subcutaenously, intranasally, intravenously, intrathecally, epidurally, etc. You can even inhale it through a nebulizer. Recreationally, this is called “Chasing the dragon”
Patient Perspectives
“Was on tramadol, diazepam, paracetamol and diclofenac for 10 weeks after a prolapsed disc and sciatica. Put on morphine last Friday and has taken most of the pain, which is allowing me to feel happier in myself.”
“This medication tends to work better for my pain. Cut tip of finger off in a lawnmower accident (cleaning the blades with garden hose and got too close obviously). They sewed my finger back on; but having lots of bone and joint (knuckle) pain. Norco did not help as well as Morphine has. I only take this medication when I can no longer tolerate severity of pain so that I can actually get some much needed rest. Morphine works well for my personal ordeal.”
“It helps a little for pain but now I have no sex drive, constipation all the time. When I took Vicodin 10 I did not have this problem. “
References
- Why every medic should love Deployed Medicine - November 8, 2020
- 3 Areas Where Medics Fall Short - November 7, 2020