About morphine sulfate
Opioid pain medicine
Used for
- Relief of severe pain when other treatments are inadequate
Usual adult dose
Dose is individualized; a common starting dose for opioid-naive adults is 5–10 mg by mouth every 4 hours as needed.
Usual dose in children
For severe pain, dosing is individualized by age, weight, and opioid history; specialist supervision is required.
Common side effects
- Constipation
- Nausea or vomiting
- Drowsiness or dizziness
- Slow or shallow breathing
Important warnings
- Can cause life-threatening breathing problems, especially when starting or increasing doses.
- Can cause dependence, misuse, and overdose; keep securely stored.
- Avoid alcohol and other sedatives unless specifically directed by a clinician.
- Use extra caution with lung disease, head injury, or older age.
Pregnancy
Use only when clearly needed; prolonged use can cause newborn withdrawal, and use near delivery may slow a newborn’s breathing.
Breastfeeding
Morphine passes into breast milk and can cause infant sleepiness or breathing problems; use requires careful clinical assessment.
Interactions
- Benzodiazepines and other sedatives increase risk of profound sleepiness and breathing suppression.
- Alcohol increases sedation and breathing risks.
- Some medicines that affect serotonin can increase serotonin syndrome risk.
- Buprenorphine and other opioids may alter pain relief or increase adverse effects.
AI-generated from general medical knowledge, not from this product's official leaflet. It may be incomplete or out of date. Not medical advice — ask a pharmacist or doctor before making any decision.