Morphine Tips from Pharmacists

• Take morphine exactly as prescribed. This medicine is habit-forming and carries a risk of physical dependence and fatal overdose.

• Do not stop taking morphine suddenly. This can lead to potentially life-threatening withdrawal symptoms.

• Do not split, cut, crush, chew, or dissolve the extended-release tablets of morphine. Doing so can lead to overdose and death because it releases a large amount of medicine all at once (extended-release dosage forms are designed to slowly release the medicine over a period of time).

• If you have trouble swallowing pills, you can open an extended-release capsule and sprinkle the beads over some soft food like applesauce. Consume the mixture immediately. Do not store it for later.

• Do not use a household spoon to measure the dose of morphine oral solution. Use a dose-measuring cup or syringe provided by your pharmacy.

• Morphine can make you drowsy and dizzy. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how this medicine affects you.

• Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about naloxone (Narcan). This medicine can reverse the dangerous effects of an opioid overdose. Make sure people in your household know how to recognize an overdose and use naloxone.