Pain relief with morphine

Morphine is one of the best drugs we have to relieve pain. Like all medicine, morphine and morphine-like substances often have side effects. The side effects may be dry mouth, fatigue or dizziness. You may feel a little light-headed, but the side effects often decrease after a few days. If you get a dry mouth from morphine, you must ensure you brush your teeth, rinse your mouth often and perhaps use sugar free gum.

Constipation is another side effect. It is important to have a bowel movement every day or every other day. Otherwise there is a risk of severe constipation, which at worst can cause bowel obstruction. In order to avoid getting constipated you should take a laxative with the morphine. Please ensure that you are prescribed a laxative if your doctor should forget.

Morphine is often given as a prolonged release tablet, morning and evening. The prolonged release tablets last for 12 hours. If you experience pain anyway, you'll often get fast-acting tablets as well. Morphine can also be administered by pain patches or injection.

There are many myths and misconceptions about morphine treatment. Some people are afraid to start taking morphine as they're afraid of becoming addicted. It is true that you become physically dependent on morphine because your body gets used to getting it. But you can also gradually be weaned off the treatment if you no longer need it. Some people are afraid that if they start by using morphine, it won't work when they REALLY need it. It doesn't work that way.

Firstly, you can give very high doses of morphine and partly one can change to for example artificially produced morphine or supplement morphine treatment with other drugs, so you can get pain relief even if the illness worsens. It is a myth that morphine means that you will soon die. Morphine is used in many contexts, because it is a good analgesic.

You will be prescribed morphine if you have severe pain and depending on your diagnosis, the treatment period may be short or last for several years. Previously doctors were reluctant to give morphine because they were afraid that it affected breathing. In fact, one uses small doses of morphine to improve breathing. However, it may be necessary to pay attention to your breathing if you have very weak lungs such as smoker's lung, also called COPD.

If you've been prescribed pain medication by your doctor, it's important that you take the medicine when you're in pain rather than waiting until you can't stand the pain anymore. By treating the pain as soon as it arises, you achieve a better effect from the painkillers.

If it doesn't reduce the pain, ask your doctor to adjust the dose or prescribe medication that you can take as needed in addition to your regular pain medication. It's important to follow your doctor's advice and guidance regarding morphine treatment and remember to always take a laxative at the same time.