Category:

• Analgesic

Description:

• Opiate agonist analgesic

Indications:

• Severe, acute pain

• Moderate to severe chronic pain

• Anesthesia adjunct for preoperative sedation

Contraindications:

• Patients with impaired respiratory function.

Precautions:

• Pregnancy Category C

• In patients with myocardial infarction, morphine decreases systemic vascular resistance which may lead to severe hypotension.  To minimize, administer minimum effective dose and elevate patient’s legs.

• Rapid administration may induce respiratory depression, therefore monitor patient’s respiratory function.

• Patients will experience CNS effects of drowsiness and dizziness, therefore use caution with motor vehicle operation or other hazardous tasks.

• Avoid prolonged, sustained usage to decrease addiction potential.

• Use with caution with other CNS depressive medications.

Adverse Reactions (Side Effects):

• Sedation

• Dizziness

• GI effects (nausea, vomiting, constipation)

Dosage:

Administered in smallest effective dose, as infrequently as possible and titrated to pain control

Administered orally, rectally, SQ, IM, slow IV, slow IV infusion, epidural and intrathecal (IT) injection

Adult:

• Normal oral: 10-30mg 14h as needed

• Normal rectal: 10-20mg q4h as needed

• Normal SQ or IM: 10mg (range 5-20mg) q4h as needed

• Normal IV: 2.5-15mg diluted in 4-5 mL sterile water for injection, slowly injected over 4-5 minutes

Labor anesthesia:

• 10mg SQ or IM