Morphine Uses

Morphine is used to relieve moderate to severe pain in people whose pain cannot be managed with non-opioid medications. The extended-release tablets and capsules are used in people with chronic pain who require around-the-clock pain relief. 

There may be other uses of morphine. Your doctor or pharmacist can give you further morphine drug information.

Morphine Mechanism of Action

Morphine binds to opioid receptors in the brain and changes the way the central nervous system responds to pain signals. 

Morphine Doses

Morphine extended-release tablets (MS Contin) are available in 15 mg, 30 mg, 60 mg, 100 mg, and 200 mg doses. The medicine is also available as a 2 mg/mL, 4 mg/mL or 20 mg/mL oral solution and as 5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg, and 30 mg suppositories.

The usual starting dose of morphine in adults is 15 mg to 30 mg every 4 hours as needed. The extended-release tablets (MS Contin) are taken every 8-12 hours, and the extended-release capsules (Kadian) are taken every 12-24 hours. 

In general, doctors prescribe the smallest dose of morphine for the shortest possible time to relieve pain.