MSIR
Generic Name: morphine (MOR feen)
Brand Names: Avinza, Kadian, MS Contin, MSIR, Oramorph SR, Rescudose, Roxanol, Roxanol 100
What is MSIR (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 is the most important information I should know about MSIR (morphine)?
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.
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.
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 should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using MSIR (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:
-
asthma, COPD, sleep apnea, or other breathing disorders;
-
liver or kidney disease;
-
underactive thyroid;
-
curvature of the spine;
-
a history of head injury or brain tumor;
-
epilepsy or other seizure disorder;
-
low blood pressure;
-
gallbladder disease;
-
Addison's disease or other adrenal gland disorders;
-
enlarged prostate, urination problems;
-
mental illness; or
-
a history of drug or alcohol addiction.
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.
How should I use MSIR (morphine)?
Use this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Never take morphine
in larger amounts, or use it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow
the directions on your prescription label. Too much morphine could be very harmful. Tell your
doctor if the medicine seems to stop working as well in relieving your pain.
Do not crush, chew, or break an extended-release tablet. Swallow
the pill whole. It will release medicine slowly in the body. Breaking the pill would cause too
much of the drug to be released at one time.
To make swallowing easier, you may open the extended-release capsule and sprinkle the medicine into a spoonful of applesauce. Swallow this mixture right
away without chewing. Do not save the mixture for later use. Discard the empty capsule.
Measure the liquid form of morphine with a special dose-measuring spoon or cup, not a
regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist where you
can get one.
Do not stop using morphine suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal
symptoms. Talk to your doctor about how to avoid withdrawal symptoms when stopping the
medication.
Store this medication at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and light.
Keep track of how many pills have been used from each new bottle of this medicine.
Morphine is a drug of abuse and you should be aware if any person in the household is using this
medicine improperly or without a prescription.
After you have stopped using this medication, flush any unused pills down the toilet.
Throw away any unused liquid morphine that is older than 90 days.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Since morphine is sometimes used as needed, you may not be on a dosing schedule. If
you are using the medication regularly, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is
almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and wait until your next regularly scheduled
dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Extended-release morphine is not for use on an as-needed basis for
pain.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this
medicine. An overdose of morphine can be fatal.
Overdose symptoms may include extreme drowsiness, pinpoint pupils, confusion, cold
and clammy skin, weak pulse, shallow breathing, fainting, or breathing that stops.
What should I avoid while using MSIR (morphine)?
Do not drink alcohol while you are taking this medication. 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.
Morphine can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be
careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
MSIR (morphine) side effects
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic
reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
-
shallow breathing, slow heartbeat;
-
seizure (convulsions);
-
cold, clammy skin;
-
confusion;
-
severe weakness or dizziness; or
-
feeling light-headed, fainting.
Less serious side effects are more likely to occur, such as:
-
constipation;
-
warmth, tingling, or redness under your skin;
-
nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, loss of appetite;
-
dizziness, headache, anxiety;
-
memory problems; or
-
sleep problems (insomnia).
This list is not complete and other side effects may occur. Tell your
doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.
What other drugs will affect MSIR (morphine)?
Avoid taking morphine if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid
(Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or
tranylcypromine (Parnate) within the past 14 days. Side effects can be more severe if you use
morphine before the MAO inhibitor has cleared from your body.
Do not take morphine with other narcotic pain medications, sedatives, tranquilizers,
muscle relaxers, or other medicines that can make you sleepy or slow your breathing. Dangerous
side effects may result.
Before taking morphine, tell your doctor if you are using pentazocine (Talwin),
nalbuphine (Nubain), butorphanol (Stadol), or buprenorphine (Buprenex, Subutex). If you are
using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use morphine, or you may need dosage
adjustments or special tests during treatment.
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with morphine.
Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This
includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start
using a new medication without telling your doctor.
Where can I get more information?
-
Your pharmacist can provide more information about morphine.
-
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share
your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
- Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate,
up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum
information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not
warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does
not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist
licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not
a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or
drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any
given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information
Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug
interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse
or pharmacist.
Copyright 1996-2006 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 6.03. Revision Date: 08/13/2007 3:30:05 PM.
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