Morphine Side Effects: Physical And Psychological Adverse Reactions

Morphine is an opiate medication that occurs naturally in certain plants and animals. The medication is commonly prescribed by doctors for severe pain which does not respond adequately to standard non-opioid analgesics such as acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). However, several Morphine side effects may adversely affect one’s health. Let’s look at some information about how the narcotic affects the body and brain health, long- and short-term Morphine side effects, Morphine contraindications, and how you can seek help with opioid addiction.

Table Of Contents:

• What Are the Effects of Morphine on the Body and Brain?
• What Are the Short-Term Effects?
• What Are the Long-Term Effects?
• When Is Its Use Contraindicated?
• Why Get Medical Help For Drug Abuse?

Morphine Side Effects on the Body and Brain

Due to the narcotic affecting both the body and the brain, it is both physically and psychologically addictive. Many users get hooked on the opioid after receiving a dose during medical treatment. They then continue to seek the drug for the recreational and pain-numbing Morphine effects .

Typically, the side effects of Morphine affect both body and mind. These consequences are believed to be due to the complex interactions within the brain brought about by Morphine side effects and its active metabolites on opioid receptors located throughout the CNS. These are dependent on several factors such as the dose of the medication prescribed by the doctor, how long the individual has been taking the medication, previous opioid use, the individual’s health status, and other idiosyncratic factors.

Short-Term Side Effects of Morphine Consumption

Its use can affect the user in both short and long-term manners. In the short term, adverse Morphine effects on one’s health are often lessened compared to the long term. However, this information does not mean they aren’t a health hazard.

The Short-Term Morphine Side Effects Include:

• Drowsiness. It does this by numbing the nerves, making the user feel tired and only half awake.
• Shallow breathing. The narcotic slows the body's systems, including breathing.
• Constipation. It also appears due to the slowing of the body's systems and dehydration.
• Unconsciousness. Often a slightly more extreme version of drowsiness, the user will sometimes become completely unconscious.
• Nausea. A common side effect when drugs alter the body and the way it works.
• Depression. It happens due to the narcotic suppressing the nervous system. As the comedown begins, the body has adjusted to the drug, and the mind struggles without it.
• Itching. This is possibly due to certain opioids' effect on the receptors that send itch signals to the brain through the spinal cord.
• Loss of appetite. Due to the effect the narcotic has on some brain regions, and several Morphine side effects such as nausea, vomiting, and constipation, loss of appetite are common in narcotic use.
• Difficulty urinating. Opioids increase the urinary sphincter's tone and reduce the tone bladder and urethra, making voluntary urination harder.
• Dizziness upon standing up. This is due to several of the cardiovascular consequences of drugs, such as a fall in diastolic and systolic blood pressure, as well as the heart rate.
• Confusion. It can cause confusion, nervousness, and even hallucinations through the action of one of its active metabolites, Morphine-3-glucuronide.
• Sexual dysfunction. Opioids have hypogonadal and androgen-inhibiting consequences. It can lead to sexual dysfunctions in both men and women. It may present as reduced libido and/or erectile dysfunction (in men).

Long-Term Effects of Morphine Use

Over time, continued use of the painkiller presents an even greater danger to the user’s health. In addition to risks of overdosing on Morphine due to increase in the dosage, there are also other health dangers. The long-term reactions are often stronger versions of the short-term adverse effects of Morphine and are often more dangerous to your health. It is important to know information about these symptoms to know what to expect.

Long-Term Morphine Effects Include:

• Dependency and tolerance. The user's body may adjust to the medication and need more of it to take effect. They may also rely on it entirely to function effectively.
• Restlessness and inability to sit still. The narcotic impairs the nerves, so long-term users may suddenly feel too much and not be able to sit still as it wears off.
• Muscle aches and bone pain. Once nerve impairment wears off, the pain will return.
• Insomnia. Accompanies anxiety and restlessness because of nerves returning.
• Diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea. The user's bodily systems get used to the medicine and struggle to deal without it.
• Temperature changes. Similarly to other symptoms, this starts when there isn't enough of Morphine in the body in comparison to what it is used to.
• Coma. In severe cases, the drug will sedate the user to the point where the body struggles to reawaken.
• Death. The most extreme case, either by symptoms or an overdose.

According to the US National Library of Medicine, there is also significant concern over the psychological consequences that long-term narcotic use may have. Long-term opioid abuse has been linked with patients exhibiting frequent delusions and hallucinations, as well as memory loss and the impairment of psychomotor speed. It brings about these by binding to opioid receptors located throughout the central nervous system, causing lasting changes to neurotransmitter levels and reconfiguring the neural reward pathway over time. This can lead to various psychological consequences ranging from altered sleep patterns, mood instability, and poor cognition to psychological addiction compulsive behavior.

Some of these psychological long-term Morphine effects include intense substance cravings, loss of appetite, restlessness, insomnia, anxiety, compulsive drug-seeking behaviors, and mood swings. All these Morphine side effects can be exacerbated when the drug is withdrawn and may even lead to severe withdrawal symptoms.

Morphine Contraindications

There are certain situations and conditions under which your doctor may inform you that the use of the medicine is contraindicated. This is why it is necessary to have specific information about its usage and its interactions. Always tell your doctor if you have any of the below-described conditions.

Some Common Morphine Contraindications Include:

• Current or past history of drug abuse
• History of opioid abuse
• Opioid or opioid-analog allergy
• Tramadol allergy
• Alcohol intoxication
• Low blood pressure
• Asthma attacks
• Decreased lung function
• Systemic mastocytosis
• Untreated low thyroid hormone levels
• Reduced function of the adrenal gland
• Cor pulmonale (right-sided ventricular dysfunction caused by a respiratory issue)
• Constipation or intestinal obstruction
• Seizures
• Severe kidney disease
• Increased intracranial pressure

Why Get Medical Help for Drug Abuse?

If drugs are taken in excess, regularly or not, and Morphine abuse has become apparent, it may be necessary to get medical help. One reason to get medical help may be that the body is developing a tolerance to the drug. Another may be the adverse effects of Morphine. Morphine side effects can be dangerous if left untreated, which is why those experiencing them should ensure they get the best and most suitable care possible.

In addition to those reasons, one may also need to seek medical help if the signs of narcotic abuse, like thinking about the drug all the time, have already become seen.

The painkiller may be used by a doctor for various medical purposes. However, it can be dangerous and should be treated as so. If an individual decides to get medical help and remove drugs from their life, they may need a way to deal with a life without the drug.

Many inpatient, outpatient, and therapy programs provide individuals with the information and means of dealing with opioid withdrawal and cravings. There are a variety of opioid treatment programs to suit every lifestyle and personality. These programs may even offer substitutes from the drug to lead a happy and healthy life once the drug is out of the system.

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