Side Effects of morphine: A Synthesis of Findings from 12 Studies

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Original Abstract of the Article

Major Research Findings

Morphine is a powerful pain reliever, but it can cause many side effects. Numerous studies have been conducted to alleviate these side effects, leading to advancements in understanding their mechanisms, developing strategies for managing them, and exploring new treatment options. 9 , 10 , 2 , 12 , 8 , 1 , 4 , 5 , , 7 , 11 , 3 etc.

Reasons for Side Effects

Morphine works by binding to opioid receptors, which are found in various parts of the body, including the brain, spinal cord, and digestive system. This binding triggers pain relief, but it can also lead to side effects due to the presence of these receptors in different organs. 10

Common Side Effects

Constipation

Morphine can slow down the movement of the intestines, leading to constipation. 8

Itching

Morphine can interact with histamine receptors in the skin, causing itching. 9 , 5

Nausea and Vomiting

Morphine can affect the digestive system's opioid receptors, leading to nausea and vomiting. 2 , 8 , 3 , 11

Drowsiness

Morphine can impact the central nervous system, resulting in drowsiness. 8

Respiratory Depression

Morphine can suppress the respiratory center, potentially leading to a decrease in breathing rate. 8

Decreased Level of Consciousness

Morphine's effects on the central nervous system can also lower the level of consciousness. 8

Side Effect Management

Constipation

Constipation can be prevented by staying hydrated, consuming a high-fiber diet, and, if needed, using laxatives. 8

Itching

Antihistamines and steroid creams can be effective for itching. 9 , 5 . Additionally, naloxone administration can help alleviate itching caused by morphine. 9

Nausea and Vomiting

Antiemetic medications can be used to address nausea and vomiting. Reducing the morphine dosage or switching to a different pain reliever might also be beneficial. 2 , 8 , 3 , 11

Drowsiness

Caffeine or stimulants can help combat drowsiness. However, these substances have addictive potential and should be used with caution. 8

Respiratory Depression

Naloxone can be administered to reverse respiratory depression. Naloxone works by blocking the effects of morphine, restoring breathing. 8

Decreased Level of Consciousness

Naloxone can also be used to treat decreased level of consciousness by counteracting the effects of morphine and restoring consciousness. 8

Comparison Across Studies

Commonalities

Many studies have investigated the use of opioid antagonists like naloxone to alleviate morphine's side effects. 9 , 4 , 5 , , 11 . Adjusting the morphine administration method and dosage has also been shown to minimize side effects. 8 , 1

Differences

The specific opioid antagonists used, administration methods, and targeted patient populations vary across studies, leading to diverse outcomes. 9 , 4 , 5 , , 11

Implications for Daily Life

Morphine is a potent pain reliever, but its potential for causing side effects necessitates careful use under the guidance of a physician. Self-administering morphine is hazardous. 8

Current Research Limitations

Research on morphine's side effects is still ongoing, and further investigation is needed, particularly concerning long-term side effects. 8

Future Research Directions

Further research is essential in areas such as developing novel treatments for minimizing morphine side effects, studying long-term side effects, and establishing optimal morphine administration methods for individual patients. 8

Conclusion

Morphine is a valuable pain reliever, but it can cause various side effects. By taking appropriate measures to manage these side effects, we can maximize the benefits of morphine. Consult your doctor for proper guidance on using morphine. 8

Literature analysis of 12 papers
Positive Content
10
Neutral Content
0
Negative Content
2
Article Type
11
1
1
1
12
1.

Epidural morphine with butorphanol in pediatric patients.

Author: LawhornC D, BrownR E

Side effect reduction

Butorphanol 40 micrograms/kg added to epidural morphine 80 micrograms/kg was found to be effective in decreasing the occurrence of side effects caused by neuraxial opioids in pediatric patients. The study involved 20 children between the ages of 2 and 17 years undergoing spinal, abdominal, or thoracic procedures.

Clinical TrialA clinical trial is a planned study conducted on humans to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and treatment methods. It aims to explore the possibilities of new treatments and improve the health of patients.
Journal ArticleAn article published in an academic or professional journal that reports original research or scholarly analysis.
Randomized Controlled TrialA clinical trial that randomly assigns participants to treatment and control groups to evaluate the effects of an intervention.

Language : English

2.

Patient-controlled analgesia with morphine and droperidol following caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia.

Author: RussellD, DuncanL A, FrameW T, HigginsS P, AsburyA J, MillarK

Reduced nausea
Reduced vomiting
Drowsiness

Droperidol, when added to morphine for patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) after caesarean section under spinal anesthesia, reduced the incidence of nausea and emesis. However, it also caused drowsiness in two patients, which limited the usefulness of the technique.

Clinical TrialA clinical trial is a planned study conducted on humans to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and treatment methods. It aims to explore the possibilities of new treatments and improve the health of patients.
Journal ArticleAn article published in an academic or professional journal that reports original research or scholarly analysis.
Randomized Controlled TrialA clinical trial that randomly assigns participants to treatment and control groups to evaluate the effects of an intervention.

Language : English

3.

Comparison of intravenous nalbuphine infusion versus naloxone in the prevention of epidural morphine-related side effects.

Author: WangJ J, HoS T, TzengJ I

Postoperative pain management
Nausea and vomiting
Pruritus

This study compared the efficacy of nalbuphine and naloxone intravenous infusions in preventing epidural morphine-related side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, and pruritus.

Clinical TrialA clinical trial is a planned study conducted on humans to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and treatment methods. It aims to explore the possibilities of new treatments and improve the health of patients.
Comparative StudyResearch that compares multiple groups/interventions to determine differences/similarities in outcomes/characteristics.
Journal ArticleAn article published in an academic or professional journal that reports original research or scholarly analysis.
Randomized Controlled TrialA clinical trial that randomly assigns participants to treatment and control groups to evaluate the effects of an intervention.
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tResearch funding provided by government agencies outside the United States.

Language : English

4.

Effects of prophylactic nalmefene on the incidence of morphine-related side effects in patients receiving intravenous patient-controlled analgesia.

Author: JoshiG P, DuffyL, ChehadeJ, WesevichJ, GajrajN, JohnsonE R

Reduces opioid-related side effects

This study was designed to determine the dose-response relation for nalmefene for the prevention of morphine-related side effects in patients receiving intravenous patient-controlled analgesia.

Clinical TrialA clinical trial is a planned study conducted on humans to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and treatment methods. It aims to explore the possibilities of new treatments and improve the health of patients.
Journal ArticleAn article published in an academic or professional journal that reports original research or scholarly analysis.
Randomized Controlled TrialA clinical trial that randomly assigns participants to treatment and control groups to evaluate the effects of an intervention.
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tResearch funding provided by government agencies outside the United States.

Language : English

5.

Epidural naloxone reduces pruritus and nausea without affecting analgesia by epidural morphine in bupivacaine.

Author: ChoiJ H, LeeJ, BishopM J

Preserved analgesia
Reduced side effects
None reported

Epidural naloxone reduced morphine-induced side effects in a dose-dependent fashion without reversal of the analgesic effect.

Clinical TrialA clinical trial is a planned study conducted on humans to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and treatment methods. It aims to explore the possibilities of new treatments and improve the health of patients.
Journal ArticleAn article published in an academic or professional journal that reports original research or scholarly analysis.
Randomized Controlled TrialA clinical trial that randomly assigns participants to treatment and control groups to evaluate the effects of an intervention.
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tResearch funding provided by government agencies outside the United States.

Language : English

6.

Effect of combining naloxone and morphine for intravenous patient-controlled analgesia.

Author: SartainJames B, BarryJohn J, RichardsonChristopher A, BranaganHelen C

Reduced morphine side effects

This study investigated the effects of combining morphine and naloxone via patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) on morphine-related side effects. The combination of morphine and naloxone via PCA was found to decrease the incidence of side effects compared to morphine alone.

Clinical TrialA clinical trial is a planned study conducted on humans to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and treatment methods. It aims to explore the possibilities of new treatments and improve the health of patients.
Journal ArticleAn article published in an academic or professional journal that reports original research or scholarly analysis.
Randomized Controlled TrialA clinical trial that randomly assigns participants to treatment and control groups to evaluate the effects of an intervention.

Language : English

7.

[Patient-controlled analgesia with lornoxicam in patients undergoing gynecological surgery].

Author: GongZ Y, YeT H, QinX T, YuG X, GuoX Y, LuoA L

Effective pain relief
Fewer adverse events

Lornoxicam provides an alternative to morphine or tramadol for the treatment of postoperative pain, with fewer adverse events.

Clinical TrialA clinical trial is a planned study conducted on humans to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and treatment methods. It aims to explore the possibilities of new treatments and improve the health of patients.
Comparative StudyResearch that compares multiple groups/interventions to determine differences/similarities in outcomes/characteristics.
English AbstractA summary of a research paper/publication written in English for a wider audience.
Journal ArticleAn article published in an academic or professional journal that reports original research or scholarly analysis.
Randomized Controlled TrialA clinical trial that randomly assigns participants to treatment and control groups to evaluate the effects of an intervention.

Language : Chinese

8.

Management of opioid side effects in cancer-related and chronic noncancer pain: a systematic review.

Author: McNicolEwan, Horowicz-MehlerNathalie, FiskRuth A, BennettKyle, Gialeli-GoudasMaria, ChewPriscilla W, LauJoseph, CarrDaniel,

Constipation
Delirium
Myoclonus
Nausea
Pruritus
Respiratory depression
Sedation
Vomiting

This systematic review assessed the management of opioid side effects in cancer pain management and chronic noncancer pain. Well-designed trials are needed to provide evidence-based guidelines for managing opioid side effects.

Journal ArticleAn article published in an academic or professional journal that reports original research or scholarly analysis.
Meta-AnalysisA statistical technique that integrates the results of multiple studies to draw more general conclusions about a particular issue.
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tResearch funding provided by government agencies outside the United States.
ReviewAn article that critically examines existing research on a particular topic and summarizes the current state of knowledge in the field.
Systematic ReviewA review that systematically collects, evaluates, and integrates relevant research to answer a specific research question.

Language : English

9.

Effects of epidural naloxone on pruritus induced by epidural morphine: a randomized controlled trial.

Author: JeonY, HwangJ, KangJ, HanS, RheeK, OhY

Reduced pruritus severity

Continuous epidural infusion of naloxone combined with morphine is effective in reducing the incidence and severity of pruritus induced by epidural morphine.

Clinical TrialA clinical trial is a planned study conducted on humans to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and treatment methods. It aims to explore the possibilities of new treatments and improve the health of patients.
Journal ArticleAn article published in an academic or professional journal that reports original research or scholarly analysis.
Randomized Controlled TrialA clinical trial that randomly assigns participants to treatment and control groups to evaluate the effects of an intervention.

Language : English

10.

Cognitive-affective and somatic side effects of morphine and pentazocine: side-effect profiles in healthy adults.

Author: RileyJoseph L, HastieBarbara A, GloverToni L, FillingimRoger B, StaudRoland, CampbellClaudia M

Cognitive side effects
Somatic side effects

This study examined the subjective effects of morphine and pentazocine on somatic and cognitive/affective side effects using questionnaires.

Journal ArticleAn article published in an academic or professional journal that reports original research or scholarly analysis.
Randomized Controlled TrialA clinical trial that randomly assigns participants to treatment and control groups to evaluate the effects of an intervention.
Research Support, N.I.H., ExtramuralResearch funding provided by the NIH to external research institutions and researchers.

Language : English

11.

A small-dose naloxone infusion alleviates nausea and sedation without impacting analgesia via intravenous tramadol.

Author: JiaDong-Lin, NiCheng, XuTing, ZhangLi-Ping, GuoXiang-Yang

Reduced nausea
Reduced sedation
Reduced vomiting

A small dose of naloxone infusion reduced tramadol-induced side effects without reversing its analgesic effects in patients undergoing cervical vertebrae surgery.

Journal ArticleAn article published in an academic or professional journal that reports original research or scholarly analysis.
Randomized Controlled TrialA clinical trial that randomly assigns participants to treatment and control groups to evaluate the effects of an intervention.

Language : English

12.

Does adding low doses of oral naltrexone to morphine alter the subsequent opioid requirements and side effects in trauma patients?

Author: FarahmandShervin, AhmadiOmid, DehpourAhmadreza, KhashayarPatricia

Reduced nausea

Ultra-low-dose naltrexone combined with morphine does not alter opioid requirements in patients with extremity trauma but may reduce the risk of nausea.

Journal ArticleAn article published in an academic or professional journal that reports original research or scholarly analysis.
Randomized Controlled TrialA clinical trial that randomly assigns participants to treatment and control groups to evaluate the effects of an intervention.

Language : English

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