Morphine is a powerful painkiller, but along with its strength comes potentially serious side effects, which make the drug unsuitable for common usage. The main disadvantage would be the potential of drug addiction, and the effects of morphine withdrawal is another negative aspect to consider. On the other hand, the primary advantage of using morphine for pain is the drug’s ability to relieve and control intense physical suffering when other alternatives fail. The painkilling effects of morphine may be chosen by patients suffering from terminal illness, such as cancer, where the potential problem of addiction is less important than receiving effective pain relief.
Addiction
For those with a serious illness or traumatic injury that causes extreme pain and discomfort, morphine may be a treatment option. This option, however, is generally reserved for patients whose pain is not relieved with other medications. Many healthcare professionals are hesitant to prescribe morphine for pain because of a potential for drug dependency. Morphine abuse is not uncommon for patients who have been prescribed this drug, and in some cases this abuse leads to addiction.
As it is a narcotic that dulls a patient’s sensory perception, doctors sometimes prescribe morphine for pain. This, however, is a controversial issue among the medical profession. Some healthcare professionals believe the disadvantages outweigh the positives and refuse to prescribe the drug to their patients. Doctors who choose to prescribe morphine for their patients generally have tried other medications with little or no success. When a patient is suffering from intense pain, blood pressure and heart rate may increase to dangerous levels, while morphine is known to produce a tranquil state that counters this tendency.
Withdrawal
In most cases, morphine can be administered via an intravenous (IV) drip or morphine pills. The IV drip is generally administered by a trained medical professional, typically in a hospital or hospice, or at home under medical supervision. Even when it is prescribed in pill form, an addiction to this drug will cause severe withdrawal symptoms.
Some of the symptoms of morphine withdrawal include tremors, nightmares and night sweats. Vomiting, extreme headache, and dehydration are other possible issues for people attempting to stop taking morphine for pain. Increased heart rate and respiratory distress may be other side effects from morphine withdrawal.
Behavioral Side Effects
Even when it doesn’t lead to addiction, using morphine for pain may produce unwanted side effects such as dizziness or confusion. This may pose a risk, especially when a person is driving an automobile or operating some type of machinery. In some cases, hallucinations or delusions may be another side effect of using this narcotic.
Gastrointestinal Side Effects
The drug may also produce digestive distress, such as nausea and vomiting. Stomach
cramps
may be another side effect from using morphine as a pain-relieving drug.
Constipation
or diarrhea are also possibilities when taking morphine for pain.