Morphine, what is it and what are its effects

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Abraham McLaughlin
Morphine, what is it and what are its effects

Morphine is an opiate narcotic that is used as a powerful pain reliever. In fact, it is widely used in medicine to alleviate intense acute pain such as those that appear after a surgical operation or an acute myocardial infarction, although it is also used to relieve chronic pain as devastating as cancer, among others.

Morphine can really be a great option for pain patients; however, when used recreationally or in inappropriately high doses, morphine can lead to heavy dependence and serious side effects.

Contents

  • Short-term effects of morphine
  • Side effects
  • Signs of morphine overdose
  • Long-term effects of morphine consumption
  • Morphine dependence
  • Morphine withdrawal symptoms

Short-term effects of morphine

The main effects of morphine are euphoria, a feeling of intense relaxation and decreased perception of pain.

Morphine is available in numerous forms, including pills, injectables, patches, and even suppositories..

Side effects

The use of morphine can cause a number of side effects, which can range from mild to life-threatening. These side effects can include:

  • Sickness.
  • Vomiting.
  • Skin itch.
  • Loss of appetite.
  • Urinary retention.
  • Constipation.
  • Shallow or slow breathing.
  • Altered or irregular heartbeat.
  • Chest pain.
  • Cyanosis (blue discoloration of the skin, lips, nails, etc.)
  • Dizziness.
  • Confusion.
  • Agitation.
  • Seizures.

Signs of morphine overdose

When taking excessive doses of morphine the following warning signs may appear:

  • Uncontrolled vomiting.
  • Shortness of breath / respiratory arrest.
  • Bradycardia (slow heart rate) / cardiac arrest.
  • Seizures.
  • Loss of consciousness.

In these cases, it is very important to seek help immediately, as an opioid overdose can lead to coma or death..

Long-term effects of morphine consumption

The main risk associated with long-term use of morphine is the development of addiction. If this happens, we must know that any addiction to opiates can be devastating, and its main symptoms are:

  • Losing interest in family, friends, and work.
  • Prioritize the search for and use of morphine over all things.
  • Not taking care of your health, although many of the health problems are related to the use of morphine (as in the case of suffering from chronic pain).
  • Generate financial problems as a result of trying to obtain the drug in an uncontrolled way.
  • Stealing from others / engaging in criminal activity.

As use continues and addiction worsens, you may also experience very uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms at times when you are not using..

Morphine dependence

Over time, the body of the chronic user develops a dependence on morphine. This can be very dangerous if opioid addiction sets in, as it can wreak havoc on the body system.

As tolerance to the drug develops, the person will have to take more and more morphine to obtain the same results, risking their health with possible respiratory diseases and even possible cardiac arrest, as well as increasing the probability of damaging a whole series of vital organ systems. Furthermore, dependency also starts to take over your life, causing problems like the ones mentioned above. Physical dependence on a drug such as morphine is accompanied by a strong psychological dependence, causing the user to seek continuous access to the drug, which consumes their thoughts and makes them act dangerously, abandoning their interests and responsibilities..

Morphine withdrawal symptoms

When a person enters the vicious cycle of an addiction, it is tremendously difficult to get out of it, since withdrawal symptoms are often extremely unpleasant, and morphine is no exception. The main withdrawal symptoms for morphine include:

  • Anxiety.
  • Irritability
  • Perspiration.
  • Excessive mucus in the nose.
  • Diarrhea.
  • Decreased appetite.
  • Cramps.
  • Vomiting.

Opioid withdrawal is not usually life threatening, but many have great difficulty carrying out this process on their own, as the experience can be quite unpleasant and is accompanied by strong urges to continue using the drug. For this reason, it is preferable to spend the period of abstinence in a controlled and structured environment such as detox centers with the help of a medical professional..


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