Morphine Addiction Help

Morphine is an extremely potent opiate, analgesic, psychoactive drug which is considered the best solution to treat extreme pain. Morphine is the primary active ingredient in opium and prior to 1914 morphine was used without restrictions. Morphine then became a controlled substance but was still the most commonly abused narcotic analgesic in the world until heroin was synthesized.

Used for extreme pain relief, including pre-surgery anesthesia, morphine is also used for severe coughs, shortness of breath and chronic diarrhea.

Side Effects of Morphine Use

Most side effects associated with monitored morphine use are mild and often require no treatment, including:

• Lightheadedness or dizziness
• Drowsiness
• Constipation
• Nausea or vomiting
• Sweating

Indicators of Morphine Addiction

The indicators of morphine addiction don’t always present in physical ways. Rather, it is behavioral and psychological symptoms that suggest morphine addiction. There are two primary causes for morphine addiction: tolerance and craving. Because of its highly addictive nature, the body quickly builds a tolerance to the morphine dosage and thus requires greater and greater amounts of morphine to achieve the desired effect.

Because morphine impacts the brain by presenting a desired state of being, the brain continually seeks or craves the outcome. Craving morphine is the most obvious indicator of addiction. Others include:

• If a person starts to crave morphine.
• Wanting more before their scheduled dose time.
• Wanting more than the amount prescribed.

These cravings along with the desire to maintain or increase the desired affect may lead a person to use more morphine, or add other painkillers, drugs or alcohol. At that point, the person has a morphine addiction and intervention is necessary.

Morphine Withdrawal

Many systems of morphine withdrawal appear to be minor enough for an individual to manage without detoxification or medical supervision, including:

• Restlessness
• Yawning
• Perspiration
• Muscle spasm
• Hot and cold flashes
• Insomnia
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

However, self-detoxification is not recommended as some additional symptoms of morphine withdrawal may include strokes and heart attacks.

Get Help for Morphine Addiction

Recovering from morphine with proper medical supervision and support services is possible. If you or someone you know is addicted to morphine, call our toll free number today at (877) 259-5633. We are available 24 hours a day to answer any questions you might have about morphine addiction treatment. We are here to help.

Morphine is in a group of drugs called narcotic pain relievers. It is a potent analgesic drug and the primary active agent is opium. It is used to treat moderate to severe pain. Morphine works by dulling the pain perception center in the brain. 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 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 parent’s medicine cabinets. Morphine should be stopped gradually in order to not experience withdrawal symptoms.

Morphine Dependency

Similar to heroin, morphine is a highly dependent drug. Often, morphine addictions happen accidentally by those who have been prescribed morphine by their doctors. When used for a prolonged amount of time, the body becomes used to the amount of drugs administered. When this happens, the user has to take more to receive the initial effects. This is a dangerous thing to do because when a user stops taking the medication, withdrawal symptoms will occur. When taking this drug, the patient needs to do exactly as the doctor says to stay clear of addiction. It is important to talk to your doctor before coming off of morphine to ensure that withdrawal symptoms do not occur.

Morphine Detox

The safest way to detox from morphine is to go to a rehab facility and be in the care of professionals who deal with addictions (addictionologists). They will be able to successfully step a user through the detox process with lessened withdrawal effects.

It is especially important for those addicted to morphine to go to a facility for the detox process since morphine is an opiate drug. It is mentally and physically addictive. Without executing the process properly, the user is at a high rate of relapse. However, under the careful care of a professional staff, the user is equipped with strategies to overcome the addiction. After the detox process is completed, there are several addiction treatment programs.

For many users, the addiction goes beyond the physical aspect. It mentally affects the users as well. If you became addicted because morphine really was prescribed to you, it is important to go to a specialized treatment or therapy to learn other ways to take care of your painful symptoms without becoming addicted to your prescribed medication.

Morphine Withdrawal

Like many other drugs, the effects of morphine withdrawal are difficult to go through by yourself. It is important to consult a professional in order to stay safe. Do not stop taking morphine all at once; the symptoms will greatly lessen if you reduce your intake gradually. Since morphine is such a powerful analgesic, withdrawal symptoms can begin as soon as four to six hours after the last dose. Withdrawal is much safer and more manageable when at a rehab facility. Some of the earlier effects are:

• Insomnia
• Watery eyes
• Diarrhea
• Sweating
• Cravings
• Dysphoria

As the time between doses increases, the symptoms worsen:

• Irritability
• Severe headaches
• Body aches
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Stomach pains
• Tremors
• Increased cravings

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 rehab or detox, please call our toll free number at (877) 259-5633.