Morphine Addiction
Q)
What is Morphine?
A) Morphine is a narcotic analgesic. Morphine was first
isolated from opium in 1805 by a German pharmacist, Wilhelm
Sertürner. Sertürner described it as the Principium
Somniferum. He named it morphium - after Morpheus, the
Greek god of dreams. Today morphine is isolated from opium
in substantially larger quantities - over 1000 tons per
year - although most commercial opium is converted into
codeine by methylation. On the illicit market, opium gum
is filtered into morphine base and then synthesized into
heroin.
Q) How is Morphine used?
A) Morphinecan be taken orally in tablet form, and can also injected subcutaneously, intramuscularly, or intravenously; the last is the route preferred by those who are dependent on morphine.
Q) What are the side effects of Morphine?
A) anxiety
involuntary movement of the eyeball blurred vision / double vision constipation "pinpoint" pupils chills depressed or irritable mood itching cramps dizziness rash diarrhea drowsiness rigid muscles inability to urinate exaggerated sense of well-being seizure dreams light - headedness swelling due to fluid retention dry mouth nausea tingling or pins and needles facial flushing sedation tremor fainting faintness sweating uncoordinated muscle movements floating feeling vomiting weakness hallucinations agitation abdominal pain headache allergic reaction abnormal thinking high/low blood pressure appetite loss accidental injury hives apprehension memory loss insomnia
Q) What are the symptoms of Overdose?
A)
- cold clammy skin
- flaccid muscles
- fluid in the lungs
- lowered blood pressure
- "pinpoint" or dilated pupils
- sleepiness
- stupor
- coma
- slowed breathing
- slow pulse rate
Q) What is Morphine addiction?
A) Morphine is highly addictive. Tolerance (the need for higher and higher doses to maintain the same effect) and physical and psychological dependence develop quickly. Withdrawal from morphine causes nausea, tearing, yawning, chills, and sweating lasting up to three days. Morphine crosses the placental barrier, and babies born to morphine-using mothers go through withdrawal.
Addictive
drugs activate the brain’s reward systems. The promise
of reward is very intense, causing the individual to crave the
drug and to focus his or her activities around taking the drug.
The ability of addictive drugs to strongly activate brain reward
mechanisms and their ability to chemically alter the normal
functioning of these systems can produce an addiction. Drugs
also reduce a person’s level of consciousness, harming
the ability to think or be fully aware of present surroundings.
Q) What are possible drug interactions when using Morphine?
A)
- Alcohol
- Certain analgesics such as Talwin, Nubain, Stadol, and Buprenex
- Drugs that control vomiting, such as Compazine and Tigan
- Drugs classified as MAO inhibitors, such as the antidepressants Nardil and Parnate
- Major tranquilizers such as Thorazine and Haldol
- Muscle relaxants such as Flexeril and Valium
- Sedatives such as Dalmane and Halcion
- Tranquilizers such as Librium and Xanax
- Water pills such as Diuril and Lasix
For More Information about Morphine Abuse, please use our Addiction Help Line.