Morphine Sulfate

Last Reviewed: Dec 08, 2022

Morphine Pros and Cons

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Morphine can effectively treat moderate to severe pain that is not relieved by other non-opioid pain medications.
It works quickly and provides rapid relief from pain.
Morphine is available in various dosage forms, including tablets, extended release capsules and tablets, oral solutions, suppositories, and injection solutions.
You only need to take the extended-release forms of morphine every 8-12 hours.
This medicine is available in a low-cost generic form.

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There is a potential for misuse, abuse, addiction, and overdose with morphine.
This medicine can cause potentially life-threatening breathing difficulties, especially if combined with other CNS depressants like alcohol, benzodiazepines, sedatives, and certain muscle relaxants.
Morphine is a Schedule II drug and comes under the FDA’s Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) program. It is only available at certified pharmacies and from physicians who have received special training and education in prescribing it.