Morphine Rectal

Morphine Rectal
Morphine Rectal

Uses

Morphine rectal is used to relieve moderate to severe pain. Morphine is in a class of medications called opiate (narcotic) analgesics. It works by changing the way the body senses pain.

Side Effects Of Morphine Rectal

Morphine may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

  • lightheadedness
  • drowsiness
  • difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
  • constipation
  • stomach pain
  • dry mouth
  • headache
  • vision problems
  • decreased urination
  • flushing

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

  • slowed, shallow, or irregular breathing
  • changes in heartbeat
  • agitation, hallucinations (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist), fever, sweating, confusion, fast heartbeat, shivering, severe muscle stiffness or twitching, loss of coordination, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
  • nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, weakness, or dizziness
  • inability to get or keep an erection
  • irregular menstruation
  • decreased sexual desire
  • blue or purple color to the skin
  • fainting
  • hives
  • rash
  • itching
  • swelling of the arms, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs

Morphine may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while using this medication.

Warnings & Precautions

Before using rectal morphine:

  • tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to morphine, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in morphine suppositories. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients.
  • do not use rectal morphine if you are taking a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), linezolid (Zyvox), methylene blue, phenelzine (Nardil), procarbazine (Matulane), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), and tranylcypromine (Parnate) or if you have stopped taking any of these medications within the past 2 weeks. Your doctor will probably tell you not to use rectal morphine if you are taking one or more of these medications.
  • tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: anticoagulants (‘blood thinners’) such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven); antihistamines (found in cold and allergy medications); medications for seizures; barbiturates such as phenobarbital and primidone (Mysoline); beta-blockers such as propranolol (Hemangeol, Inderal, Innopran); butorphanol; chloral hydrate, chlorpromazine, dextromethorphan (found in many cough medications; in Nuedexta); lithium (Lithobid), medications for migraine headaches such as almotriptan (Axert), eletriptan (Relpax), frovatriptan (Frova), naratriptan (Amerge), rizatriptan (Maxalt), sumatriptan (Imitrex, in Treximet), and zolmitriptan (Zomig); methocarbamol (Robaxin), mirtazapine (Remeron); nalbuphine; pentazocine (Talwin); 5HT3 serotonin blockers such as alosetron (Lotronex), dolasetron (Anzemet), granisetron (Kytril), ondansetron (Zofran, Zuplenz), or palonosetron (Aloxi); selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors such as citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem, in Symbyax), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Brisdelle, Prozac, Pexeva), and sertraline (Zoloft); serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors such as desvenlafaxine (Khedezla, Pristiq), duloxetine (Cymbalta), milnacipran (Savella), and venlafaxine (Effexor); tramadol (Conzip, Ultram, in Ultracet), and tricyclic antidepressants (‘mood elevators’) such as amitriptyline, clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin (Silenor), imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), protriptyline (Vivactil), and trimipramine (Surmontil). Many other medications may also interact with rectal morphine, so be sure to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking, even those that do not appear on this list. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
  • tell your doctor what herbal products you are taking, especially St. John’s wort and tryptophan.
  • tell your doctor if you drink or have ever drunk large amounts of alcohol or have had biliary tract or stomach surgery. Also, tell your doctor if you have or have ever had a head injury; a brain tumor, or any condition that increases the amount of pressure in your brain; seizures; serious or life-threatening breathing problems; asthma; an irregular heartbeat; or heart failure. Your doctor will probably tell you not to use rectal morphine.
  • tell your doctor if you have ever had major surgery. Also, tell your doctor if you have or have ever had a mental illness; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD; a group of diseases that cause a gradual loss of lung function) or other breathing problems; prostatic hypertrophy (enlargement of a male reproductive gland); urethral stricture (blockage of the tube that allows urine to leave the body); urinary problems; low blood pressure; Addison’s disease (a condition in which the body does not make enough of certain natural substances); or thyroid, liver, kidney, pancreatic, intestinal, or gallbladder disease.
  • tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. If you become pregnant while using morphine, call your doctor.
  • you should know that this medication may decrease fertility in men and women. Talk to your doctor about the risks of using rectal morphine.
  • if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are using morphine.
  • you should know that morphine may make you drowsy. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you.

Dosage Of Morphine Rectal

Morphine rectal comes as a suppository to insert in the rectum. It is usually inserted every 4 hours. Use rectal morphine at around the same times every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Use morphine exactly as directed.

Your doctor may adjust your dose of morphine during your treatment to control your pain as well as possible. If you feel that your pain is not controlled, call your doctor. Do not change the dose of your medication without talking to your doctor.

Do not stop using morphine without talking to your doctor. Your doctor may decrease your dose gradually. If you suddenly stop using morphine, you may experience withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety; sweating; difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep; chills; shaking of a part of your body that you cannot control; nausea; diarrhea; runny nose, sneezing, or coughing; the hair on your skin standing on end; or hallucinating (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist).

To use the suppositories, follow these steps:

  • Remove the wrapper.
  • Dip the tip of the suppository in water.
  • Lie down on your left side and raise your right knee to your chest (a left-handed person should lie on the right side and raise the left knee.)
  • Using your finger, insert the suppository about 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) into the rectum.
  • Hold it in place with your finger for a few moments
  • Stand up after about 15 minutes. Wash your hands thoroughly and resume normal activities.

Other

Keep all appointments with your doctor and laboratory. Your doctor may order certain lab tests to check your body’s response to morphine.

Before having any laboratory test (especially those that involve methylene blue), tell your doctor and the laboratory personnel that you are using morphine rectal.

This prescription is not refillable. If you are using morphine to control your pain on a long-term basis, be sure to schedule appointments with your doctor so that you do not run out of medication. If you are using morphine on a short-term basis, call your doctor if you continue to experience pain after you finish the medication.

It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.

Source

All information has been provided courtesy of MedLinePlus from the National Library of Medicine and from the FDA.