You may not be able to take this medicine unless you are already being treated with a
similar opioid pain medicine and your body is tolerant to it. Talk with your doctor if you are not
sure you are opioid-tolerant.
should be used only by the person it
was prescribed for. Morphine should never be given to another person, especially
someone who has a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a secure place
where others cannot get to it.
Do not drink alcohol while you are using morphine. Dangerous side effects or death
can occur when alcohol is combined with morphine. Check your food and medicine labels to be
sure these products do not contain alcohol.
Never take more than your prescribed dose of morphine. Tell your doctor if the medicine
seems to stop working as well in relieving your pain.
Do not stop taking morphine suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal
symptoms. Talk to your doctor about how to avoid withdrawal symptoms when stopping the
medication.
What is morphine?
Morphine is in a group of drugs called narcotic pain relievers.
Morphine is used to treat moderate to severe pain. Short-acting morphine is taken as
needed for pain. Extended-release morphine is for use when around-the-clock pain relief is
needed.
Morphine is not for treating pain just after surgery unless you were already taking
morphine before the surgery.
Morphine may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using morphine?
Do not use this medication if you have ever had an allergic reaction to a narcotic
medicine (examples include codeine, methadone, Oxycontin, Darvocet, Percocet, Vicodin,
Lortab, and many others). You should also not take morphine if you are having an asthma attack
or if you have a bowel obstruction called paralytic ileus.
Morphine may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it
was prescribed for. Morphine should never be given to another person, especially
someone who has a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a secure place
where others cannot get to it.
Before using morphine, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:
You may not be able to take morphine unless you are already
being treated with a similar opioid pain medicine and your body is tolerant to it. Talk with your
doctor if you are not sure you are opioid-tolerant.
FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby, and
could cause addiction or withdrawal symptoms in a newborn. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant
or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
Morphine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this
medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Older adults may be more sensitive to the effects of this medicine.
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