morphine IM

This product is used to treat moderate-to-severe pain in emergencies. It acts on certain centers in the brain to give you pain relief. This medication is a narcotic pain reliever (opiate-type).
This product delivers one fixed dose of morphine and is not recommended for use in children who are younger than 14 years or who weigh less than 90 pounds (40 kilograms).

How to use morphine IM
This medication is given by injection into the muscle of the outer thigh, through clothing if necessary, as directed. If you do not get good pain relief after 30 minutes, a second dose may be given if so directed. This product is meant to be used in emergencies only, so it is not usually given repeatedly. However, if this product needs to be given repeatedly, it is given as directed by the doctor, usually every 4 hours as needed.
If you will be giving this medication to yourself, learn how to properly inject this medication in advance so you will be prepared if you actually need to use it. Lying down when receiving this medication may help to reduce side effects such as nausea, vomiting, and dizziness. Discard the injector properly after use. If you have any questions about using this medication properly, consult your doctor or pharmacist.
Pain medications work best if they are used as the first signs of pain occur. If you wait until the pain has worsened, the medication may not work as well.
This medication may cause withdrawal reactions, especially if it has been used regularly for a long time or in high doses. In such cases, withdrawal symptoms (such as restlessness, irritability, watery eyes, runny nose, sweating, diarrhea) may occur if you suddenly stop using this medication. To prevent withdrawal reactions, your doctor may reduce your dose gradually. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details, and report any withdrawal reactions immediately.
Rarely, abnormal drug-seeking behavior (addiction) is possible with this medication. Do not increase your dose, use it more frequently, or use it for a longer time than prescribed. Properly stop the medication when so directed.
This product is meant to be used in emergencies, not for a long time. If morphine is used for a long time, it may not work as well and may require different dosing. Talk with your doctor if your morphine stops working well.
Tell your doctor if your pain persists or worsens.

Nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, constipation, flushing, increased sweating, lightheadedness, swelling/pain/itching at injection site, dizziness, or drowsiness may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.
To lower your risk of dizziness and lightheadedness, get up slowly when rising from a sitting or lying position.
To prevent constipation, eat a diet adequate in fiber, drink plenty of water, and exercise. If you become constipated while using this drug, consult your pharmacist for help in selecting a laxative (such as stimulant-type with stool softener).
Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.
Tell your doctor right away if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: severe stomach/abdominal pain, mental/mood changes, vision changes, difficulty urinating.
Get medical help right away if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: slow/shallow breathing, fainting, slow/fast heartbeat, seizures.
A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.
This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
In the US -
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

Before using morphine, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to other narcotic pain medications (such as codeine); or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: brain disorders (such as head injury, tumor, seizures), breathing problems (such as asthma, sleep apnea, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-COPD), kidney disease, liver disease, mental/mood disorders (such as confusion, depression), personal or family history of regular use/abuse of drugs/alcohol, stomach/intestinal problems (such as blockage, constipation, diarrhea due to infection, paralytic ileus), difficulty urinating (such as due to enlarged prostate).
This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do any activity that requires alertness until you are sure you can perform such activities safely. Avoid alcoholic beverages.
Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products).
Older adults may be more sensitive to the effects of this drug, especially dizziness, drowsiness, or urinary problems.
Before using this medication, women of childbearing age should talk with their doctor(s) about the risks and benefits. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or if you plan to become pregnant. During pregnancy, this medication should be used only when clearly needed. It may slightly increase the risk of birth defects if used during the first two months of pregnancy. Also, using it for a long time or in high doses near the expected delivery date may harm the unborn baby. To lessen the risk, use the smallest effective dose for the shortest possible time. Tell the doctor right away if you notice any symptoms in your newborn baby such as slow/shallow breathing, irritability, abnormal/persistent crying, vomiting, or diarrhea.
This drug passes into breast milk and may rarely have undesirable effects on a nursing infant. Tell the doctor immediately if your baby develops unusual sleepiness, difficulty feeding, or trouble breathing. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without your doctor\'s approval.
Some products that may interact with this drug include: certain pain medications (mixed narcotic agonist/antagonists such as pentazocine, nalbuphine, butorphanol), narcotic antagonists (such as naltrexone).
Other medications can affect how morphine works and your risk for side effects. Examples include cimetidine, quinidine, rifampin, among others.
The risk of serious side effects (such as slow/shallow breathing, severe drowsiness/dizziness) may be increased if this medication is used with other products that may also affect breathing or cause drowsiness. Therefore, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking other products such as alcohol, allergy or cough-and-cold products, anti-seizure drugs (such as phenobarbital), medicine for sleep or anxiety (such as alprazolam, diazepam, zolpidem), muscle relaxants, other narcotic pain relievers (such as codeine), and psychiatric medicines (such as risperidone, amitriptyline, trazodone). Your medications or doses of your medications may need to be changed.
Check the labels on all your medicines (such as cough-and-cold products) because they may contain drowsiness-causing ingredients. Ask your pharmacist about using those products safely.
This medication may interfere with certain laboratory tests, possibly causing false test results. Make sure laboratory personnel and all your doctors know you use this drug.

If overdose is suspected, contact a poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call the US National Poison Hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center. Symptoms of overdose may include: slow/shallow breathing, slow heartbeat, extreme drowsiness, loss of consciousness.

NOTES:
Do not share this medication with others. It is against the law.

MISSED DOSE:
Not applicable.

STORAGE:
Store at room temperature away from light and moisture. Do not freeze. Keep all medications away from children and pets.
Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company.
Information last revised September 2011. Copyright(c) 2011 First Databank, Inc.