steps to process morphine into codeine

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

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

Who should not take morphine?
• Morphine is habit forming and should only be used under close supervisionif you have an alcohol or drug addiction steps to process morphine into codeine.
• 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 steps to process morphine into codeine.
• 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 steps to process morphine into codeine.
• Morphine may cause addiction and withdrawal symptoms as well as otherharmful effects in an unborn baby steps to process morphine into codeine. Do not take morphine without first talkingto your doctor if you are pregnant steps to process morphine into codeine.
• Morphine may also cause addiction and withdrawal symptoms in a nursinginfant steps to process morphine into codeine. Do not take morphine without first talking to your doctor if you arebreast-feeding a baby steps to process morphine into codeine.
• 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 steps to process morphine into codeine. Useextra caution steps to process morphine into codeine.

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

What happens if I miss a dose?
• Take the missed dose as soon as you remember steps to process morphine into codeine. Do not take a double doseof this medication steps to process morphine into codeine. Wait the prescribed amount of time before taking your nextdose steps to process morphine into codeine.

What happens if I overdose?
• Seek emergency medical attention steps to process morphine into codeine.
• Symptoms of a morphine overdose include slow breathing, seizures, dizziness,weakness, loss of consciousness, coma, confusion, tiredness, cold and clammyskin, and small pupils steps to process morphine into codeine.

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

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 steps to process morphine into codeine.
• Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur steps to process morphine into codeine. 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 steps to process morphine into codeine.
• Morphine is habit forming steps to process morphine into codeine. Do not stop taking it suddenly steps to process morphine into codeine.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur steps to process morphine into codeine. Talk to yourdoctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome steps to process morphine into codeine.

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 steps to process morphine into codeine. Dangerous side effects could result steps to process morphine into codeine.
• The most serious interactions affecting morphine are with those drugsthat also cause sedation steps to process morphine into codeine. 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) steps to process morphine into codeine.
• Do not take any of the drugs listed above without the approval of yourdoctor steps to process morphine into codeine.
• Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with morphine steps to process morphine into codeine. Talkto your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-countermedicines steps to process morphine into codeine.

Where can I get more information?
• Your pharmacist has additional information about morphine written forhealth professionals that you may read steps to process morphine into codeine.

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