morphine related deaths in hospitals

What is the most important information I should know about morphine?
• Do not stop taking morphine suddenly if you have been taking it continuouslyfor more than 5 to 7 days morphine related deaths in hospitals. Stopping suddenly could cause withdrawal symptomsand make you very uncomfortable morphine related deaths in hospitals. Your doctor may want to gradually reduce yourdose morphine related deaths in hospitals.
• Do not crush, chew, break, or open controlled-release forms of morphinesuch as Oramorph SR, Kadian, and MS Contin morphine related deaths in hospitals. Swallow them whole morphine related deaths in hospitals. They are speciallyformulated to release morphine slowly into your system morphine related deaths in hospitals. Breaking them wouldcause too much of the drug to be released into your blood at one time morphine related deaths in hospitals.
• Morphine will cause drowsiness and fatigue morphine related deaths in hospitals. Avoid alcohol, sleeping pills,antihistamines, sedatives, and tranquilizers that may also make you drowsy exceptunder the supervision of your doctor morphine related deaths in hospitals.
• Morphine will also cause constipation morphine related deaths in hospitals. Drink plenty of water (six toeight full glasses a day) to lessen this side effect morphine related deaths in hospitals. Increasing the amountof fiber in your diet can also help to alleviate constipation morphine related deaths in hospitals.
• Never take more morphine than is prescribed for you morphine related deaths in hospitals. If your pain isnot being adequately treated, talk to your doctor morphine related deaths in hospitals.

What is morphine?
• Morphine is in a class of drugs called narcotic analgesics morphine related deaths in hospitals. It relievespain morphine related deaths in hospitals.
• Morphine is used to treat moderate-to-severe pain morphine related deaths in hospitals.
• Morphine may also be used for purposes other than those listed in thismedication guide morphine related deaths in hospitals.

Who should not take morphine?
• Morphine is habit forming and should only be used under close supervisionif you have an alcohol or drug addiction morphine related deaths in hospitals.
• Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you have
· kidney disease,
· liver disease,
· asthma,
· urinary retention,
· an enlarged prostate,
· hypothyroidism,
· seizures or epilepsy,
· gallbladder disease,
· a head injury, or
· Addison's disease morphine related deaths in hospitals.
• You may not be able to take morphine, or you may require a lower doseor special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listedabove morphine related deaths in hospitals.
• Morphine may cause addiction and withdrawal symptoms as well as otherharmful effects in an unborn baby morphine related deaths in hospitals. Do not take morphine without first talkingto your doctor if you are pregnant morphine related deaths in hospitals.
• Morphine may also cause addiction and withdrawal symptoms in a nursinginfant morphine related deaths in hospitals. Do not take morphine without first talking to your doctor if you arebreast-feeding a baby morphine related deaths in hospitals.
• If you are younger than 18 years of age or older than 60 years of age,you may be more likely to experience side effects from morphine therapy morphine related deaths in hospitals. Useextra caution morphine related deaths in hospitals.

How should I take morphine?
• Take morphine exactly as directed by your doctor morphine related deaths in hospitals. If you do not understandthese directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you morphine related deaths in hospitals.
• Take each dose with a full glass of water morphine related deaths in hospitals.
• Take morphine with food or milk if it upsets your stomach morphine related deaths in hospitals.
• Never take more of this medication than is prescribed for you morphine related deaths in hospitals. Too muchmorphine could be very harmful morphine related deaths in hospitals.
• To ensure that you get a correct dose, measure the liquid form of morphinewith a special dose-measuring spoon or cup, not with a regular tablespoon morphine related deaths in hospitals. Ifyou do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist where you can getone morphine related deaths in hospitals.
• Do not crush, chew, break, or open controlled-release forms of morphinesuch as Oramorph SR, Kadian, or MS Contin morphine related deaths in hospitals. Swallow them whole morphine related deaths in hospitals. They are speciallyformulated to release morphine slowly into your system morphine related deaths in hospitals. Breaking them wouldcause too much drug to be released into your blood at one time morphine related deaths in hospitals.
• Use the suppositories rectally as directed by your doctor morphine related deaths in hospitals. If you donot know how to use them, ask you doctor, nurse, or pharmacist for instructions morphine related deaths in hospitals.
• Do not stop taking morphine suddenly if you have been taking it continuouslyfor more than 5 to 7 days morphine related deaths in hospitals. Stopping suddenly could cause withdrawal symptomsand make you feel uncomfortable morphine related deaths in hospitals. Your doctor may want to gradually reduce yourdose morphine related deaths in hospitals.
• Morphine will cause constipation morphine related deaths in hospitals. Increase the amount of fiber and water(at least six to eight full glasses daily) in your diet to prevent constipation morphine related deaths in hospitals.
• Do not share this medication with anyone else morphine related deaths in hospitals.
• Store morphine at room temperature away from moisture and heat morphine related deaths in hospitals.
• Discard any opened bottle of morphine solution after 90 days morphine related deaths in hospitals.

What happens if I miss a dose?
• Take the missed dose as soon as you remember morphine related deaths in hospitals. Do not take a double doseof this medication morphine related deaths in hospitals. Wait the prescribed amount of time before taking your nextdose morphine related deaths in hospitals.

What happens if I overdose?
• Seek emergency medical attention morphine related deaths in hospitals.
• Symptoms of a morphine overdose include slow breathing, seizures, dizziness,weakness, loss of consciousness, coma, confusion, tiredness, cold and clammyskin, and small pupils morphine related deaths in hospitals.

What should I avoid while taking morphine?
• Avoid alcohol while taking morphine morphine related deaths in hospitals. Alcohol will greatly increase thedrowsiness and dizziness caused by morphine and could be dangerous morphine related deaths in hospitals.
• Also avoid sleeping pills, tranquilizers, sedatives, and antihistaminesexcept under the supervision of your doctor morphine related deaths in hospitals. These medications also may causedangerous sedation morphine related deaths in hospitals.
• Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardousactivities morphine related deaths in hospitals. Morphine may cause drowsiness morphine related deaths in hospitals. If you experience drowsiness, avoidthese activities morphine related deaths in hospitals.

What are the possible side effects of morphine?
• If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop takingmorphine and seek emergency medical attention:
· an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat;swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
· slow, weak breathing;
· seizures;
· cold, clammy skin;
· severe weakness or dizziness; or
· unconsciousness morphine related deaths in hospitals.
• Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur morphine related deaths in hospitals. Continueto take morphine and talk to your doctor if you experience
· constipation;
· dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, or decreased appetite;
· dizziness, tiredness, or lightheadedness;
· muscle twitches;
· sweating;
· itching;
· decreased urination; or
· decreased sex drive morphine related deaths in hospitals.
• Morphine is habit forming morphine related deaths in hospitals. Do not stop taking it suddenly morphine related deaths in hospitals.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur morphine related deaths in hospitals. Talk to yourdoctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome morphine related deaths in hospitals.

What other drugs will affect morphine?
• Do not take morphine if you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor(MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), or tranylcypromine(Parnate) in the last 14 days morphine related deaths in hospitals. Dangerous side effects could result morphine related deaths in hospitals.
• The most serious interactions affecting morphine are with those drugsthat also cause sedation morphine related deaths in hospitals. The following drugs may lead to dangerous sedationif taken with morphine:
· antihistamines such as brompheniramine (Dimetane, Bromfed, others),diphenhydramine (Benadryl, Nytol, Compoz, others), chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton,Teldrin, others), and others;
· tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline (Elavil) and doxepin(Sinequan), and serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline(Zoloft), and paroxetine (Paxil);
· other commonly used antidepressants, including amoxapine (Asendin),clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline(Pamelor), and protriptyline (Vivactil);
· anticholinergics such as belladonna (Donnatal), clidinium (Quarzan),dicyclomine (Bentyl, Antispas), hyoscyamine (Levsin, Anaspaz), ipratropium (Atrovent),propantheline (Pro-Banthine), and scopolamine (Transderm-Scop);
· phenothiazines such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), fluphenazine (Prolixin),thioridazine (Mellaril), and prochlorperazine (Compazine); and
· tranquilizers and sedatives such as phenobarbital (Solfoton, Luminal),amobarbital (Amytal), secobarbital (Seconal), alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium),lorazepam (Ativan), flurazepam (Prosom), and temazepam (Restoril) morphine related deaths in hospitals.
• Do not take any of the drugs listed above without the approval of yourdoctor morphine related deaths in hospitals.
• Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with morphine morphine related deaths in hospitals. Talkto your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-countermedicines morphine related deaths in hospitals.

Where can I get more information?
• Your pharmacist has additional information about morphine written forhealth professionals that you may read morphine related deaths in hospitals.

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