MORPHINE SULFATE is a brand name for Morphine. The medicine, its uses, side effects and dosage are the same regardless of brand.
Used for: Morphine Sulfate Solution for Injection is indicated for the relief of moderate to severe pain. Morphine is used especially in pain associated with cancer, myocardial infarction and surgery. Morphine also helps to relieve the anxiety and insomnia which may be associated with severe pain.
Verbatim from this product's MHRA label. Tap a section to expand.
4).
Adults and children over 12 years:
Morphine Sulfate Solution for Injection is formulated for use by the intravenous route in Patient Controlled Analgesia (PCA) systems. PCA, which permits adjustment of dosage according to the patient’s individual needs, must only be carried out in departments and by staff who are trained and have experience of the system.
Patient selection for the use of PCA must ensure that the patient is capable of understanding and following the instructions of the medical/nursing staff. The specific department or unit protocols must be covered to ensure aseptic transfer of the contents of the ampoule or vial to the PCA system.
There is a considerable variation in analgesic requirements among patients and therefore individualised treatment strategies are required. Dosage should be based on the severity of the pain and the response and opiate tolerance of the patient.
Loading Dose Loading doses of typically between 1mg and 10mg (maximum 15mg) of Morphine Sulfate Solution for Injection may be given by intravenous infusion over four or five minutes. The loading dose used will depend upon the patient’s diagnosis and condition.
PCA demand dose An initial demand dose of 1mg Morphine Sulfate Solution for Injection with a lockout period of 5 to 10 minutes is recommended. Dosages may vary depending on the loading dose, the tolerance and condition of the patient, and whether a background infusion of morphine sulfate is being given.
The patient should be specifically monitored for pain, sedation and respiratory rate during the first few hours of treatment to ensure that the dosage regimen is suitable. The duration of treatment should be kept to a minimum, although dependence and tolerance are not generally a problem when morphine is used legitimately in patients with opioid-sensitive pain.
Use in children:
Not recommended for children under 12 years.
Use in the elderly:
Morphine doses need to be reduced in elderly patients. Treatment goals and discontinuation Before initiating treatment with Morphine Sulfate Solution for Injection, a treatment strategy including treatment duration and treatment goals, and a plan for end of the treatment, should be agreed together with the patient, in accordance with pain management guidelines.
Morphine Sulfate Solution for Injection should not be given to patients with known hypersensitivity to morphine or other opioid preparations. Use of Morphine Sulfate Solution for Injection is also contraindicated in patients with respiratory depression; obstructive airways disease; excessive bronchial secretions; during a bronchial asthma attack or in heart failure secondary to chronic lung disease; head injury; raised intra-cranial pressure; coma; convulsion disorders; ulcerative colitis; in presence of a risk of paralytic ileus; biliary and renal tract spasm and acute alcoholism; phaeochromocytoma.
Morphine Sulfate Solution for Injection should not be given to patients with moderate to severe renal impairment (glomerular filtration rate <20mL/min) or with severe or acute liver failure. Morphine Sulfate Solution for Injection is contraindicated in patients receiving monoamine oxidase inhibitors or within two weeks of discontinuing such treatment.
Use of Morphine Sulfate Solution for Injection during pregnancy or lactation is not recommended. 2 Special Warnings and Precautions for Use Drug dependence, tolerance and potential for abuse For all patients, prolonged use of this product may lead to drug dependence (addiction), even at therapeutic doses.
, major depression). Additional support and monitoring may be necessary when prescribing for patients at risk of opioid misuse. A comprehensive patient history should be taken to document concomitant medications, including over-the-counter medicines and medicines obtained on-line, and past and present medical and psychiatric conditions.
Patients may find that treatment is less effective with chronic use and express a need to increase the dose to obtain the same level of pain control as initially experienced. Patients may also supplement their treatment with additional pain relievers.
Not medical advice. Always read the patient information leaflet and follow your prescriber or pharmacist.
Other brands of Morphine in United Kingdom.
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During treatment, there should be frequent contact between the physician and the patient to evaluate the need for continued treatment, consider discontinuation and to adjust dosages if needed. When a patient no longer requires therapy with Morphine Sulfate Solution for Injection, it may be advisable to taper the dose gradually to prevent symptoms of withdrawal.
4). Duration of treatment Morphine Sulfate Solution for Injection should not be used longer than necessary.
These could be signs that the patient is developing tolerance. The risks of developing tolerance should be explained to the patient. Overuse or misuse may result in overdose and/or death. It is important that patients only use medicines that are prescribed for them at the dose they have been prescribed and do not give this medicine to anyone else.
Patients should be closely monitored for signs of misuse, abuse, or addiction. The clinical need for analgesic treatment should be reviewed regularly. Opioid Use Disorder (abuse and dependence) Tolerance and physical and/or psychological dependence may develop upon repeated administration of opioids such as Morphine Sulfate Solution for Injection.
Repeated use of Morphine Sulfate Solution for Injection can lead to Opioid Use Disorder (OUD). A higher dose and longer duration of opioid treatment, can increase the risk of developing OUD. Abuse or intentional misuse of Morphine Sulfate Solution for Injection may result in overdose and/or death.
The risk of developing OUD is increased in patients with a personal or a family history (parents or siblings) of substance use disorders (including alcohol use disorder), in current tobacco users or in patients with a personal history of other mental health disorders (eg.
major depression, anxiety and personality disorders). 2). Before and during treatment the patient should also be informed about the risks and signs of OUD. If these signs occur, patients should be advised to contact their physician. g.
too early requests for refills). This includes the review of concomitant opioids and psycho- active drugs (like benzodiazepines). For patients with signs and symptoms of OUD, consultation with an addiction specialist should be considered.
Drug withdrawal syndrome Prior to starting treatment with any opioids, a discussion should be held with patients to put in place a withdrawal strategy for ending treatment with morphine sulfate. Drug withdrawal syndrome may occur upon abrupt cessation of therapy or dose reduction.
When a patient no longer requires therapy, it is advisable to taper the dose gradually to minimise symptoms of withdrawal. Tapering from a high dose may take weeks to months. The opioid drug withdrawal syndrome is characterised by some or all of the following: restlessness, lacrimation, rhinorrhoea, yawning, perspiration, chills, myalgia, mydriasis and palpitations.
Other symptoms may also develop including irritability, agitation, anxiety, hyperkinesia, tremor, weakness, insomnia, anorexia, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, increased blood pressure, increased respiratory rate or heart rate.
If women take this drug during pregnancy, there is a risk that their newborn infants will experience neonatal withdrawal syndrome. Hyperalgesia Hyperalgesia may be diagnosed if the patient on long-term opioid therapy presents with increased pain.
This might be qualitatively and anatomically distinct from pain related to disease progression or to breakthrough pain resulting from development of opioid tolerance. Pain associated with hyperalgesia tends to be more diffuse than the pre-existing pain and less defined in quality.
Symptoms of hyperalgesia may resolve with a reduction of opioid dose. As with other narcotics, a dose reduction may be appropriate in elderly patients, in patients with hypothyroidism, renal and chronic hepatic disease. Morphine Sulfate Solution for Injection should be used with caution in debilitated patients and those with Acute chest syndrome (ACS) in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD); adrenal insufficiency; hypopituitarism; prostatic hypertrophy; shock; diabetes mellitus; diseases of the biliary tract; myasthenia gravis; cardiac […]