It's important to take morphine as your doctor has asked you to.
Take morphine with, or just after, a meal or snack so it's less likely to make you feel sick.
Morphine liquid, injections and some morphine tablets are used for pain which is expected to last for a short time. They may also be recommended when you start taking morphine to help find the right dose.
Morphine granules and some morphine tablets and capsules are slow-release. This means the morphine is gradually released into your body over either 12 or 24 hours. This type of morphine takes longer to start working but lasts longer. It's used for long-term pain.
Sometimes you may take different types of morphine to manage long term pain and sudden flares of pain that break through the medicine.
Standard tablets are known by the brand name Sevredol. Slow-release tablets are known by brand names MST Continus or Morphgesic SR. Slow-release capsules are also known as MXL or Zomorph.
Morphine does not come as a skin patch. Sometimes people call their pain relief patch a "morphine patch". However these patches do not contain morphine but medicines which are very similar to morphine called fentanyl or buprenorphine.
Dosage and strength
Morphine comes as:
- standard tablets containing 10mg, 20mg or 50mg of morphine
- slow-release tablets containing 5mg, 10mg, 15mg, 30mg, 60mg, 100mg or 200mg of morphine
- slow-release capsules containing 10mg, 30mg, 60mg, 90mg, 100mg, 120mg, 150mg or 200mg of morphine
- a packet of granules to mix in water and make a drink containing 20mg, 30mg, 60mg, 100mg or 200mg of morphine
- a liquid you swallow containing 10mg of morphine per 5ml dose
- an injection, usually given in hospital
Doses of morphine vary from person to person. Your dose will depend on how bad your pain is, how you've responded to previous painkillers and if you get any side effects.
Changes to your dose
Usually, you start on a low dose of morphine and this is increased slowly until your pain is well controlled. Once your pain is under control, talk to your doctor about swapping to slow-release morphine. This may cut down the number of doses you have to take each day.
When you stop taking morphine your dose will go down gradually, especially if you've been taking it for a long time.
How and when to take it
It's important to swallow slow-release morphine tablets and capsules whole with a drink of water.
You can choose to take your morphine at any time of day but try to take it at the same time every day and space your doses evenly. For example, if you take morphine twice a day and have your first dose at 8am, take your second dose at 8pm.
How often you take it depends on the type of morphine that you've been prescribed. You'll usually take:
- standard tablets 4 to 6 times a day
- slow-release granules, tablets and capsules once or twice a day
- liquid 4 to 6 times a day
You'll usually have injections 4 to 6 times a day (sometimes in a pump that you control yourself).
Important
Do not break, crush, chew or suck morphine slow-release tablets or capsules. If you do, the medicine will not be released gradually and the whole dose might get into your body in one go. This could cause a potentially fatal overdose.
If you are not able to swallow your medicine, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.
How long to take it for
Depending on why you're taking morphine, you may only need to take it for a short time. For example, if you're in pain after an injury or operation, you may only need to take morphine for a few days or weeks.
You may need to take it for longer if you have a long-term condition such as cancer.
If you forget to take it
This will vary depending on which type of morphine you're taking.
If you forget to take a dose, check the information on the leaflet inside the packaging or ask your pharmacist or doctor for advice on what to do.
Never take 2 doses at the same time to make up for a forgotten one.
If you often forget doses, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. You could also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to remember to take your medicine.
If you take too much
Taking too much morphine can be dangerous.
If you've taken an overdose you may feel very sleepy, sick or dizzy. You may also find it difficult to breathe. In serious cases you can become unconscious and need emergency treatment in hospital.
The amount of morphine that can lead to an overdose varies from person to person.
Urgent advice: Contact 111 for advice now if:
- you or a child have taken more than your prescribed dose of morphine
Go to 111.nhs.uk or call 111
If you need advice for a child under the age of 5 years, call 111.
If you need to go to A&E, do not drive yourself. Get someone else to drive you or call for an ambulance.
Take the morphine box, bottle or the leaflet inside the packet plus any remaining medicine with you.
Immediate action required: Call 999 or go to A&E now if:
you or your child has taken more than your prescribed dose of morphine and:
- feel sleepy, sick or dizzy
- have difficulty breathing
- start to lose consciousness
Stopping morphine
If you need to take morphine for a long time your body can become tolerant to it.
This is not usually a problem but you could get unpleasant withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking it suddenly.
If you want to stop taking morphine, talk to your doctor first. Your dose can be reduced gradually so you do not get unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.
Withdrawal symptoms can include:
- feeling agitated
- feeling anxious
- shaking
- sweating
Important
If you have been taking morphine for more than a few weeks do not stop taking it without speaking to your doctor first.
Where to store morphine
If you're prescribed morphine, it's particularly important that you:
- store it properly and safely at home
- keep it out of the sight and reach of children
- never give your medicine to anyone else
Return any unused morphine to your pharmacist who will dispose of it.