Morphine is commonly prescribed for severe pain. This drug is named after the Greek god of dreams, Morpheus. Morphine’s effect is described as dreamlike.

The pods of poppy plants include a gumlike substance that people use to make morphine, opium, and other drugs for medicinal and recreational purposes. At the height of the Industrial Age (around 1800), people believed that Asian immigrants transported opium from the region and brought it to new areas. Regardless of opium’s origin, there was widespread use and abuse of the drug as a painkiller during that time.

Between 1803 and 1817, pharmacist Friedrich Wilhelm Adam Sertürner extracted a compound from opium. He found that the compound had similar pain relief effects to opium. He named the compound morphine.

Manufacturers initially developed morphine to lessen people’s addictions to opium and provide another option for relieving pain. Some people believe that morphine was widely used for wounded soldiers during the U.S. Civil War (1861-65). Other researchers found that morphine addiction was more common after the war ended.

Morphine is a type of opiate/opioid derived from the opium poppy plant. It is a powerful painkiller, so it is commonly used to treat many kinds of extreme pain. Morphine works by blocking brain signals associated with pain. This calms the central nervous system (CNS). It also helps slow blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration, which may provide calmness and pleasure.

The drug is known as an opiate or a narcotic analgesic, a type of drug that alters the pain response in the brain and the central nervous system. Morphine and similar medications are used to manage pain for people who are in the advanced stages of fatal illnesses.

While some people believe that morphine comforts people who are sick and near death, their loved ones may worry that using opiates such as morphine may also be deadly. But it is not likely that using morphine properly may hasten a person’s death.

Even if people use morphine with doctors’ prescriptions, they should inform their doctors of health conditions such as asthma, breathing problems, or gastrointestinal or bowel movement problems. Otherwise, the improper use of morphine may lead to devastating side effects, including dependency, addiction, overdoses, and even death.

What Does Morphine Look Like?

Depending on the manufacturer and the mode of administration, morphine comes in different forms. Users often use morphine orally or inject it directly into their bloodstream. The drug comes in capsules or tablets that are different shapes, colors, and sizes. The medication includes information about the dosage on the tablets or capsules themselves.

Users also consume the drug in the form of morphine injections. As with the oral forms of morphine, the injectable version also provides a sudden rush of pleasure and produces states of wakefulness and sleepiness. People may also use morphine in the form of rectal suppositories or use nebulizers to inhale it in the form of mist.

Doctors often recommend that people ingest the oral forms of morphine every four hours or as needed to relieve pain. Other people take other forms of the drug every eight to twelve hours, or every twelve hours, or every twelve to twenty-four hours. Because of the differences, it is best to consult your doctor or pharmacist and prescription labels for proper intake.

Brand Names and Street Names for Morphine

Morphine is also known by a wide assortment of names, including various brand names and slang terms. As a brand, morphine is also known, produced, and marketed under names such as:

• Arymo ER
• Avinza
• Kadian ER
• Morphabond
• MS Contin
• Oramorph SR
• Roxanol-T
• Morphine sulfate ER

The drug also has several different nicknames. People use these names when they use morphine as a recreational drug instead of a prescription medication. Different slang terms associated with morphine include:

• Monkey
• White stuff
• Auntie, Auntie Em
• Emma
• M, MS
• Dreamer
• Morph, Morpho
• Drone
• TNT
• Tango and Cash
• Dance fever
• Goodfella
• Murder 8
• Mister blue
• God’s drug

There are also other terms for the drug that are only used within certain geographic areas.

Is Morphine Addictive?

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) classifies morphine as a schedule II drug. According to the DEA, schedule II drugs have “a high potential for abuse.” Because of this potential, people should use medications such as morphine only with doctors’ prescriptions and supervision.

Medications such as morphine are used for pain related to cancer and major surgeries. The drug carries a high risk of abuse and addiction due to the feelings of pleasure, calm, and euphoria it may produce. Likewise, it is relatively accessible through illegal means.

Even if people do not use morphine for long periods of time, signs and effects of morphine misuse may still occur, regardless of the type of morphine they use. Morphine may be habit-forming and addictive with long-term use, making it dangerous to an individual’s health. It is best to take this drug only as prescribed.

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Effects of Morphine Abuse

As with other kinds of substance abuse, tolerance to morphine may quickly progress to the point that users consume more drugs to feel the desired effects, which can lead to overdoses. In addition, morphine abusers may experience morphine withdrawal symptoms when they attempt to quit.

Whether taken orally or intravenously, morphine use may create euphoric feelings that users want to recapture. If a person is dependent on the drug and stops using it, he or she may experience several symptoms and side effects.

Such withdrawal symptoms may make quitting morphine more challenging. Even if taken under medical supervision, morphine addiction and overdoses are still possible as well as the possibility of comas or even death.

Meanwhile, other dangers of morphine overdose include:

• Passing out/fainting spells
• Weakened muscles
• Clammy skin and profuse sweating
• Slow heartbeat
• Blurry vision
• Nausea and appetite loss
• Lethargy
• Constipation
• Dry mouth
• Headache
• Skin problems, such as hives
• Bowel problems
• Anemia
• Collapsed lungs
• Seizures
• Hallucinations

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Dangers of Morphine

As in other kinds of substance abuse, tolerance to morphine may quickly progress to the point that users consume more drugs to feel the desired effects, which may lead to overdoses. In addition, morphine abusers may experience morphine withdrawal symptoms when they attempt to quit.

Whether taken orally or intravenously, morphine use may create euphoric feelings that users want to recapture. Not using the drug may lead to several symptoms and side effects.

Such withdrawal symptoms may make quitting morphine more challenging. Even if taken under medical supervision, morphine addiction and overdoses are still possible as well as the possibility of comas or even death.

Meanwhile, other dangers of morphine overdoses may include:

• Passing out/fainting spells
• Weakened muscles
• Clammy skin and profuse sweating
• Slow heartbeat
• Blurry vision
• Nausea and appetite loss
• Lethargy
• Constipation
• Dry mouth
• Headache
• Skin problems, such as hives
• Bowel problems
• Anemia
• Collapsed lungs
• Seizures
• Hallucinations

Immediate Side Effects of Morphine

Morphine’s short-term effects vary depending on its administration and dosage. Its effects may occur fifteen minutes after the administration of the medication and may last for up to six hours.

Common short-term side effects of morphine use include:

• Itchy skin
• Drowsiness
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Nausea
• Concentration/focus problems
• Stomach pains
• Dry mouth
• Difficulty urinating
• Shallow breathing

Some of morphine’s side effects may be life-threatening. People who experience the following symptoms should consult their doctors immediately:

• Irregular heartbeat
• Bluish or purplish skin
• Agitation, hallucinations, and confusion
• Fever
• Loss of coordination
• Muscle stiffness
• Vomiting, nausea, and loss of appetite
• Erectile dysfunction
• Irregular menstruation
• Diminished libido
• Seizures
• Swallowing pain
• Swelling of the lips, eyes, face, and mouth

Long-term Side Effects of Morphine

The effects of morphine depend on when people use it. Using morphine in the previous twelve hours may affect people’s blood tests. Tests may detect morphine in people’s urine even if they stopped using morphine in the previous two or three days.

Users may also fail hair follicle drug tests even if they stopped using morphine in the previous ninety days. In other words, morphine’s effects may stay in the system for days or months.

Aside from addiction, long-term morphine use may lead to other devastating side effects, including:

• Mood disorders, including depression, mood swings, and anxiety
• Collapsed veins, especially at the injection sites
• Compromised immune systems
• Severe constipation
• Restlessness
• Hallucinations
• Confusion

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Addiction to Morphine

Like other kinds of addiction, morphine abuse may begin due to curiosity and peer pressure. Addiction often begins once a person starts to abuse morphine and uses it in different ways that are outside of its original prescription.

Users sometimes develop tolerance to morphine. This means they need larger doses than usual. Some may even resort to illegal means to acquire the drug if they do not have prescriptions. Some people say that morphine addiction is one of the most challenging and difficult addictions to overcome.

Morphine tolerance may lead to withdrawal symptoms when users do not receive regular doses of the drug or when they decide to quit. Morphine addiction’s psychological effects may be more devastating than its physical ones, although the effects vary from person to person.

A sudden morphine withdrawal may lead to physical and psychological trauma. A structured withdrawal and detoxification plan is thus needed to effectively remove morphine from the user’s system.

Morphine, Other drugs, and Alcohol

Substances such as morphine may be addictive if used on their own. Morphine’s effects may be amplified if users mix it with other substances. One of the common substances used with morphine is alcohol.Since both morphine and alcohol are central nervous system (CNS) depressants, using them together may create harmful consequences such as hallucination, comas, and even death.

Morphine is an opiate (opioid). Mixing it with other opiates/opioids such as codeine, oxycodone, fentanyl, and heroin may intensify the effects of both substances. Using one opiate/opioid may depress the central nervous system. Using more than one at the same time may multiply the effects of each drug.

Some users combine morphine with marijuana. Doing so may create potentially life-threatening side effects such as fatigue, hallucinations, and mental confusion, to name a few.

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Recognizing a Morphine Addiction

It may be difficult to determine whether people are simply following doctors’ prescriptions or are misusing morphine. Anyone may be at risk of morphine addiction if they use it in ways that are not intended.

Morphine use is considered morphine abuse when people use it without prescriptions. If you or someone you know has a suspected morphine addiction, some telltale signs are drastic physical and behavioral changes that may occur in the users.

Another sign of morphine addiction is if users prioritize the use of morphine over other daily activities in their lives. Users may withdraw from their friends and family and seek solace from morphine use instead.

Overcoming Your Morphine Addiction

As with other addictions, many individuals who struggle with morphine addiction deny their conditions or are ashamed to admit them. This may occur because some people still consider addiction to be taboo. Taboos may prevent people from seeking assistance, but finding support may be an extremely helpful aspect of recovery.

If left untreated, addiction may consume individuals’ lives, ruining their overall quality of life and hurting everyone around them. Thankfully, there are rehabilitation facilities available that may help people who abuse morphine and other substances.

Mountain Springs Recovery provides effective treatment options such as counseling, medical detoxification (detox), and support groups. Morphine withdrawal may be challenging, but medical professionals and personnel at Mountain Springs Recovery may help you succeed, achieve recovery, and ultimately change your life for the better.