Morphine

Description

Side effects

(Don't be unduly alarmed. All drugs cause side effects for some patients)

Warnings

(These are standard cautions but may not be applicable to your case)

Comments

When I finally could not work any longer I was having so many epidurals it was ridiculous. They tried me on many pain killers, most of which were no good in pain control. Then they started me on MST which had to be increased. Eventually, they inserted a morphine pump into my abdomen which was in for about 18 months when it had to be removed due to infection. Your mind becomes so confused and I realised that, whilst it was in, all that time I remember very little of what happened. I still am on Morphine and take 2000 mgs a day plus Oromorph first thing in the morning and also take a whole load of other drugs too. The morphine does work, of that I have no doubt. Sometimes during the day, if I have done something too much, I take a swig of Oromorph and the pain becomes less severe so in that respect I have to say that it does work. Clare - a nurse in England

Written from my hospital bed during investigations into possible Crohn's disease -
Just surfing the web looking for information about some of the drugs I have been prescribed in the past week. The information about one of the side effects of Morphine caught my eye - urinary retention. As I type, I have a catheter removing my urine for me following a three day period of receiving Morphine pretty much on request (that's private health cover for you) either orally or by injection. I was warned about the possibility of constipation but no mention of urination problems. Had I known it could have ended up like this, I'd have gritted my teeth a little harder. Marc - Canterbury, Kent, England

NOTE:
Opiates including Morphine, Diamorphine (Heroin) and milder derivatives like Codeine are very effective analgesics - although in neuropathic pain their value is sometimes questioned.
A core concern is the matter of addiction.
When opiates are abused or used for recreational purposes that carry a very high risk of dependence - the reason is that the user is taking the drug for 'effect' rather than pain relief. Thus dependence develops quickly and there is no need to discuss all that follows - we are all aware of that.
However - when used for purpose of analgesia, and in a controlled way, addiction is far less of an issue - and patients can be weaned from opiates quite successfully. However, tolerance soon develops and dosage in long term use can become quite phenomenal. As the body becomes tolerant to the drug then rapid withdrawal will result in the unpleasant symptoms known as 'withdrawal'. Thus the chronic pain sufferer must reduce the dose slowly if they intend to come off the drug.
Finally - opiates do have profound systemic effects and although pain relief may be good the individual may found themselves with a wealth of unwanted side effects - the decision is whether the side effects outweigh the pain relief. Dave Barton, Swansea, Wales - Administrator of SKIP (Support for Kids In Pain)