Morphine (Diamorphine, Morphgesic SR, MXL, Zomorph, MST, MXL, Sevredol, Oramorph)
This page tells you about the painkilling drug morphine. You can read about
Morphine is a type of opioid. There are different types of opioids - strong and weak ones. Morphine is a strong one. You can only get it on prescription from your doctor.
You have morphine for moderate to severe pain. Opioids work by mimicking the body’s natural painkillers, endorphins. They control pain by blocking pain messages to the brain. You can find out more about cancer and pain control in our symptoms and side effects section.
There are different types of morphine
- Short acting lasting for 2 to 4 hours per dose
- Long acting (slow release) lasting 12 to 24 hours per dose
The type and dose of morphine you have depends on the pain that you have and the amount you need to control your pain. Your doctor or nurse will give you instructions on how much morphine to take and when to take it.
It may take a while to work out the right dose for you. Most people start on a short acting tablet or liquid because it is easier and quicker to adjust the dose. Once your pain is under control, you will probably change to a long acting slow release tablet. You take the slow release tablets either once or twice a day. If you are taking them twice a day you take them in the morning and the night, for example 8am and 8pm. It is really important that you take them regularly, even if you don’t feel that you have pain. They take up to 48 hours to give you a steady dose and if you stop and start, they won’t work so well.
Because morphine is an opioid, some people do worry about becoming addicted. When you take an opioid to control pain, it is highly unlikely that you will become addicted. The body uses the drug to control pain, not to give you a ‘high’. You can read more information about fear of addiction in our treating pain section.
If you become drowsy after taking morphine for a while, it may mean you need to reduce your dose. Don’t just stop taking it - you are likely to need to reduce the amount you take slowly. Talk to your doctor before you alter your dose.
You can take morphine either as a
Morphine tablets
Most people take morphine as a tablet or capsule. You should take the tablet with a glass of water and swallow it whole. You can take it with or without food. The tablets come in several doses from 5mg to 200mg. The tablets are in different colours to help you tell the different doses apart. There are different brands of morphine tablets. The commonest include Sevredol (short acting) and MST continus (long acting).
Liquid morphine
Liquid morphine comes as a ready made suspension or as a powder that you dissolve in water. Try to drink a glass of water with it to help prevent constipation. The names for liquid morphine include Oramorph (short acting) and MST Continus suspension (long acting powder for dissolving in water).
Morphine suppositories
Morphine suppositories are absorbed through the lining of the back passage (rectum). It is easiest to put the suppository into your back passage if you lie on your side with your knees up towards your chest - whichever side is easiest for you. You should push it in about 2cm (an inch) and wash your hands afterwards. If you are worried about it staying in, it can help to lie still for a few minutes after you have put it in.
Morphine injections
If you can’t swallow, or are feeling very sick, you can have morphine as an injection into your
- Fatty tissue (subcutaneously)
- Muscle (intramuscularly)
- Vein (intravenously)
You may have the morphine through a pump called a syringe driver. This delivers liquid from a syringe to a needle placed just under the skin (subcutaneously). It gives you a small volume continuously. A nurse will change the pump every 24 to 48 hours.
Many people have one or more of the following side effects when taking morphine
- Constipation – your doctor may give you laxatives to help prevent this but do tell them if you are constipated for more than 3 days
- Feeling or being sick happens in about 3 out of every 10 people (30%), but is usually well controlled with anti sickness drugs
- Drowsiness may be a problem at first, or when your dose is increased, but usually wears off after a few days
Some people have the following side effects
- Dizziness
- Dry mouth
- Headaches
- Mood changes - you may feel very happy or feel low in mood
- Confusion
- Narrowing of your pupils in your eyes
- Reduced sex drive (libido)
- Griping pain in your stomach - if you have this and haven’t opened your bowels tell your doctor
A few people have the following side effects
- Rash
- Difficulty passing urine
- Slowing of the heart beat or palpitations - tell your doctor or nurse as you may need a lower dose of morphine
- Drop in blood pressure
- Slowed breathing - tell your doctor as you may need a lower dose of morphine
The side effects above may be mild or more severe. A side effect may get better or worse through your course of treatment, or more side effects may develop as the course goes on. This depends on
- How many times you've had the drug before
- Your general health
- The amount of the drug you have (the dose)
- Other drugs you are having
Some side effects are inconvenient or upsetting but not damaging to your health.
Some side effects are serious medical conditions and need treating. Where we have urged you to contact your doctor, this is because
- Your side effect may need treating
- Your drug dose may need reducing to try to prevent the side effect
Tell your doctor about any other medicines you are taking, including vitamins, herbal supplements and other over the counter remedies - some drugs can react together.
Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse about all your side effects so that they can help you manage them. You should have a contact number for your specialist nurse, clinic or ward. You can ring if you have any questions or problems. They can give you advice or reassure you. If in doubt, call.
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