History of Morphine (Opium Poppy)

Morphine was discovered by Freidrich Wilhelm Adam Serturner (1783-1841), an obscure, uneducated, 21-year-old pharmacist’s assistant with little equipment but loads of curiosity.

Serturner wondered about the medicinal properties of opium, which was widely used by 18th-century physicians. In a series of experiments, performed in his spare time and published in 1806, he managed to isolate an organic alkaloid compound from the resinous gum secreted by the opium poppy.

Serturner found that opium with the alkaloid removed had no effect on animals, but the alkaloid itself had 10 times the power of processed opium. He named that substance morphine, after Morpheus, the Greek god of dreams, for its tendency to cause sleep.

He spent several years experimenting with morphine, often on himself, learning its therapeutic effects as well as its considerable dangers. Although his work was initially ignored, he recognized its significance, and as he predicted, chemists and physicians soon grew interested in his discoveries. Serturner’s crystallization of morphine was the first isolation of a natural plant alkaloid. It sparked the study of alkaloid chemistry and hastened the emergence of the modern pharmaceutical industry.

Morphine as Pain Relief

In 1818, French physician Francois Magendie published a paper that described how morphine brought pain relief and much-needed sleep to an ailing young girl. This stimulated widespread medical interest. By the mid-1820s morphine was widely available in Western Europe in standardized doses from several sources, including the Darmstadt chemical company started by Heinrich Emanuel Merck.

In 1853, the hypodermic needle was developed and the use of morphine became more widespread. From its earliest application, it was used as a form of pain relief and that is still how it is meant to be used today. Since then, various delivery systems for morphine have been developed, including epidural injection and pumps that allow patient-controlled analgesia.

Although morphine was originally touted as a cure for many maladies, even for alcohol and opium addiction, by the 1870s physicians had become increasingly aware of its own addictive properties. Many new pain relievers have been synthesized since the crystallization of morphine from opium almost 200 years ago. “Morphine remains the standard against which all new medications for postoperative pain relief are compared,” notes Jonathan Moss, MD, PhD, professor of anesthesia and critical care at the University of Chicago.

Morphine in America

In December 1914, the United States Congress passed the Harrison Narcotics Act which called for control of each phase of the preparation and distribution of medicinal opium, morphine, heroin, cocaine, and any new derivative that could be shown to have similar properties. It made illegal the possession of these controlled substances. The restrictions in the Harrison Act were most recently redefined by the Federal Controlled Substances Act of 1970. The act lists opium and its derivatives and all parts of the plant except the seed as a Schedule II Controlled Substance.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration says morphine is the standard against which other analgesics are measured. As with many other narcotic pain relievers, the increase of morphine use in the United States has increased dramatically in the last several years. According to the DEA, there has been a three-fold increase in the number of morphine products available in the U.S. The National Institute on Drug Abuse says many opiates, including morphine, can cause physical and psychological addiction with prolonged use. Users may also develop a tolerance to pain medication, causing them to take more and more to achieve the same effect.

Morphine Help

If you or someone you know has become addicted to the pain relief powers of morphine please contact our toll free number at (877) 259-5633. We can also help with information you may need on symptoms and effects of morphine use.

A patient can use short-acting formula morphine on an “as needed” basis for the pain or an extended-release formula when using morphine for around-the-clock patients who are constantly in pain. Often times, your doctor will not prescribe morphine unless your body has already built up a tolerance to other opioid medications because morphine is a highly dependent drug.

Morphine can be habit forming, so it is important to only take what is prescribed to you by your doctor, so that your body does not build up a tolerance quickly. It is also important to keep it in a safe place away from children and those who have had addiction problems. Morphine is popular for teenagers who want to do drugs because it is easily accessible in their parents’ medicine cabinets. Morphine should be stopped gradually in order to not experience withdrawal symptoms.

Morphine Side Effects

Users may experience certain side effects when using morphine. These effects are increased when morphine is abused.

• Dizziness
• Lightheadedness
• Drowsiness
• Upset stomach
• Vomiting
• Constipation
• Diarrhea

Forms of Morphine

Morphine can be found under generic and brand name products including MS-Contin®, Oramorph SR®, MSIR®, Roxanol®, Kadian®, and RMS®. Morphine is used through injection for preoperative sedation, rather than using an anesthesia. Traditionally, morphine was almost exclusively used by injection. Today, however, morphine is taken in a variety of different forms. Some of these forms include: oral solutions, immediate and sustained-release tablets and capsules, injectable preparations and suppositories.

Morphine Oral Solutions

Oral solutions come in the form of a liquid. This form is commonly used on hospice patients because it is easier to take when people have a hard time swallowing pills. It is often concentrated so that a greater dose can be given with less liquid. Many users prefer this kind because it is easy to take and begins working within 15 minutes and only lasts for around four hours. However, liquid morphine has a very bitter taste.

Morphine Tablets and Capsules

Morphine tablets and capsules come in extended release as well as rapid release. It is important to take the tablets and capsules as they are given. Do not break, crush or chew the extended release tablets. They have been designed specifically to give the patient the correct amount of morphine over a period of time. Breaking, crushing or chewing the tablets will release too much morphine into the bloodstream at one time.

However, rapid release tablets can be crushed and mixed into food such as applesauce or pudding. This is a popular thing to do when abusing morphine because it creates a strong high.

Morphine Injections

Injections are not as common with morphine because the other methods are quite effective. Injections are typically used for surgery preparations when using morphine rather than an anesthesia.

Morphine Suppositories

Suppositories are also not used as often. They are typically used when a patient needs a longer lasting dose, but have difficulty swallowing. When given in the form of a suppository, it should only be inserted into the rectum.

Morphine Interactions

Most prescribed medications have contraindications; meaning it is recommended that you do not use the prescribed drug if you have one or more of a list of other characteristics or drug usage. In some cases, it is recommended that you absolutely do not take the prescribed medication. In other cases, caution in use is recommended.

For morphine, it is recommended that you avoid using it if you have taken an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. MAO inhibitors are the family of medications used primarily for treating depression and Parkinson’s disease. The two-week period suggests that the chemicals in the MAO inhibitor will have cleared your body after two weeks. Exactly what period of time your body processes a medication completely out of your system varies per person, so just using a basic timeframe as a point of reference could be insufficient.

It is also recommended that you do not take morphine with other narcotic pain medications, sedatives, tranquilizers, muscle relaxers or other medicines that can make you sleepy or slow your breathing.

There are other prescribed medications that may or may not interact with your use of morphine including most medications prescribed for the treatment of pain.

With morphine being such an effective treatment for severe pain, physicians and scientists continue to evaluate the benefit/risk ratio of prescribing morphine. Ongoing research to further understand how morphine works may provide insights on how to better manage its addictive properties. Without such information, a person must commit to managing their morphine use and taking action should they feel that the use is becoming abuse.

Morphine Help

If you or a loved one is addicted to morphine, it is important to seek help. Morphine is a highly dependent drug. Once addicted, the effects are devastating. Many lose their jobs, dreams and ambitions. But, there is hope. If you are interested in receiving information on morphine detox or rehab, please call our toll free number at (877) 259-5633.

• A decreases hunger
• Inhibiting the cough reflex
• Producing constipation
• Reducing the sex drive
• In women it may interfere with the menstrual cycle

Morphine’s euphoric effects can be highly addictive. Tolerance (the need for higher and higher doses to maintain the same effect) and physical and psychological dependence develop quickly.

Morphine Hazards

The major hazards of morphine, as with other narcotic analgesics, are respiratory depression and, to a lesser degree, circulatory depression, respiratory arrest, shock, and cardiac arrest. These particularly coincide with an overdose.
The most frequently observed adverse reactions include sedation, lightheadedness, dizziness, nausea, vomiting and sweating. These effects seem to be more prominent in ambulatory patients and in those who are not experiencing severe pain. Some adverse reactions in ambulatory patients may be alleviated if the patient lies down.
Other possible adverse reactions include:

• Central Nervous System – euphoria, dysphoria, weakness, headache, agitation, tremor, uncoordinated muscle movements, visual disturbances, transient hallucinations and disorientation
• Gastrointestinal – constipation, biliary tract spasm
• Cardiovascular – tachycardia, bradycardia, palpitation, faintness, syncope, and orthostatic hypotension
• Genitourinary – oliguria and urinary retention; an antidiuretic effect has been reported
• Allergic – Allergic reactions to opiates occur infrequently; pruritus, urticaria, and other skin rashes are most common. Rarely, anaphylactoid reactions have been reported following intravenous administration.
• Other – Opiate-induced histamine release may be responsible for the flushing of the face, sweating, and pruritus often seen with these drugs. Wheals and urticaria at the site of injection are probably related to histamine release. Local tissue irritation, pain and induration have been reported following repeated subcutaneous injection. Morphine, like other opioids, may alter temperature regulation in susceptible individuals and will depress the cough reflex.

Morphine Addiction

Another one of morphine’s effects is addiction, and morphine is highly addictive. Just because it is legally approved for use doesn’t mean the drug can’t be addictive and just as dangerous as illegal drugs when used improperly. Tolerance (the need for higher and higher doses to maintain the same effect) and physical and psychological addiction to morphine develop quickly.

Addictive drugs, such as morphine activate the brain’s reward systems. The promise of reward is very intense, causing the individual to crave morphine and to focus his or her activities around the taking of morphine. The ability of morphine to strongly activate brain reward mechanisms and its ability to chemically alter the normal functioning of these systems can produce a morphine addiction. Morphine also reduces a person’s level of consciousness, harming the ability to think or be fully aware of present surroundings. It is important to know the warning signs of prescription (morphine) abuse in order to avoid addiction.

Warning Signs of Prescription Drug Abuse

• Is the user taking more medication than prescribed?
• Are they using the medication for something other than its intended purpose?
• Are they unable to stop using the medication once the original need for the drug has passed?
• Do they experience intense cravings for the drug?
• Are they moody and irritable?
• Do they lie about the amount of medication they’re taking and/or manipulate doctors and others to get more?
• Are they requesting or obtaining refills before they’re needed (a sign they’re unwilling to go without the drug for any period of time)?
• Are they illegally purchasing pain medication?

Where Morphine Comes From

Morphine is a powerful narcotic agent with strong analgesic action and other significant effects on the central nervous system. It is dangerously addicting. Morphine is a naturally occurring member of a large chemical class of compounds called alkaloids. Morphine is highly effective in relieving pain.

The name, which derives from Morpheus, the mythological son of sleep and god of dreams, was coined in 1805 by German apothecary Adolf Serturner (1783-1841) to designate the main alkaloid in opium. Opium comes from the poppy plant.

Morphine Help

Because many who become addicted to prescription drugs start using them for valid reasons, admission an addiction can be particularly difficult. But if the warning signs above indicate they have become dependent, getting professional help is crucial. Please call our toll free number at (877) 259-5633 if you or someone you know is in need of morphine treatment.