A particularly careful medical supervision and if necessary dose reduction is recommended in the following cases:
- Dependence on opioids, patients with a history of substance abuse,
- Impaired respiratory function,
- Respiratory depression (see below),
- Sleep apnoea,
- Cor pulmonale,
- Head injury, intracranial lesions or conditions with increased intracranial pressure, if ventilation is not performed,
- Impaired consciousness,
- Hypotension with hypovolemia,
- Prostatic hyperplasia with residual urine formation (risk of bladder rupture due to urinary retention),
- Urinary tract narrowing or colic of the urinary tract,
- Biliary tract disorders,
- Obstructive and inflammatory bowel disease,
- Constipation,
- Pheochromocytoma,
- Adrenocortical insufficiency,
- Pancreatitis,
- Severely impaired renal function,
- Severely impaired hepatic function,
- Hypothyroidism,
- Epileptic seizure disorders or increased susceptibility to seizures,
- Elderly patients.
Respiratory depression
The major risk of opioid overdose is respiratory depression.
Sleep-related breathing disorders
Opioids can cause sleep-related breathing disorders including central sleep apnoea (CSA) and sleep-related hypoxemia. Opioid use increases the risk of CSA in a dose-dependent fashion. In patients who present with CSA, consider decreasing the total opioid dosage.
Risk from concomitant use of sedative medicinal products such as benzodiazepines or related medicinal products
Concomitant use of Actimorph Orodispersible tablets and sedative medicinal products, such as benzodiazepines or related medicinal products, may result in sedation, respiratory depression, coma and death. Because of these risks, concomitant prescribing with these sedative medicinal products should be reserved for patients for whom alternative treatment options are not possible. If a decision is made to prescribe Actimorph Orodispersible tablets concomitantly with sedative medicinal products, the lowest effective dose should be used, and the duration of treatment should be as short as possible.
The patients should be followed closely for signs and symptoms of respiratory depression and sedation. In this respect, it is strongly recommended to inform patients and their caregivers to be aware of these symptoms (see section 4.5).
Morphine has an abuse potential similar to other strong agonist opioids and should be used with particular caution in patients with a history of alcohol and drug abuse.
Opioid Use Disorder (abuse and dependence)
Tolerance and physical and/or psychological dependence may develop upon repeated administration of opioids such as Actimorph.
Repeated use of Actimorph can lead to Opioid Use Disorder (OUD). A higher dose and longer duration of opioid treatment, can increase the risk of developing OUD. Abuse or intentional misuse of Actimorph may result in overdose and/or death. The risk of developing OUD is increased in patients with a personal or a family history (parents or siblings) of substance use disorders (including alcohol use disorder), in current tobacco users or in patients with a personal history of other mental health disorders (eg. major depression, anxiety and personality disorders).
Before initiating treatment with Actimorph and during the treatment, treatment goals and a discontinuation plan should be agreed with the patient (see section 4.2). Before and during treatment the patient should also be informed about the risks and signs of OUD. If these signs occur, patients should be advised to contact their physician.
Patients will require monitoring for signs of drug-seeking behavior (e.g. too early requests for refills). This includes the review of concomitant opioids and psycho-active drugs (like benzodiazepines). For patients with signs and symptoms of OUD, consultation with an addiction specialist should be considered.
Abuse of oral pharmaceutical forms by parenteral administration can be expected to result in serious adverse events, which may be fatal.
Severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs)
Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP), which can be life-threatening or fatal, has been reported in association with morphine treatment. Most of these reactions occurred within the first 10 days of treatment. Patients should be informed about the signs and symptoms of AGEP and advised to seek medical care if they experience such symptoms.
If signs and symptoms suggestive of these skin reactions appear, morphine should be withdrawn and an alternative treatment considered.
Acute chest syndrome (ACS) in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD)
Due to a possible association between ACS and morphine use in SCD patients treated with morphine during a vasoocclusive crisis, close monitoring for ACS symptoms is warranted.
Hepatobiliary disorders
Morphine may cause dysfunction and spasm of the sphincter of Oddi, thus raising intrabiliary pressure and increasing the risk of biliary tract symptoms and pancreatitis.
Pre- and postoperative use
Actimorph Orodispersible tablets should be used with caution, pre- and postoperatively, due to the increased risk of ileus or respiratory depression in the postoperative period compared to patients who are not having surgery. Due to the analgesic effect of morphine serious intra-abdominal complications such as bowel perforation can be masked.
Patients who are going to undergo additional procedures to relieve pain (eg plexus block surgery) should not receive Actimorph Orodispersible tablets within 4 hours prior to the intervention. If treatment with Actimorph Orodispersible tablets is indicated, a dose adjustment should be made based on the new post-operative requirements.
Hyperalgesia
Hyperalgesia that does not respond to a further dose increase of morphine may occur in particular in high doses. A morphine dose reduction or change in opioid may be required.
Adrenal insufficiency
Opioid analgesics may cause reversible adrenal insufficiency requiring monitoring and glucocorticoid replacement therapy. Symptoms of adrenal insufficiency may include e.g. nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, fatigue, weakness, dizziness, or low blood pressure.
Decreased levels of sex hormones and increased prolactin levels
Opioids, such as morphine, may have a pharmacological action on the hypothalamic-pituitary or gonadal axis.
Long-term use of opioid analgesics may be associated with decreased levels of sex hormones and increased prolactin levels. Symptoms include decreased libido, impotence, or amenorrhea.
Concomitant use with rifampicin
Plasma concentrations of morphine may be reduced by rifampicin. The analgesic effect of morphine should be monitored and doses of morphine adjusted during and after treatment with rifampicin.
Oral P2Y12 inhibitor antiplatelet therapy
Within the first day of concomitant P2Y12 inhibitor and morphine treatment, reduced efficacy of P2Y12 inhibitor treatment has been observed (see section 4.5).
Actimorph 1 mg Orodispersible tablets: This medicinal product contains 0.1 microgram benzyl alcohol in each orodispersible tablet.
Benzyl alcohol may cause allergic reactions.
This medicinal product should not be used for more than a week in young children (less than 3 years old).
High quantities should be used with caution and only if necessary, especially in pregnant or breast-feeding women and in subjects with liver or kidney impairment because of the risk of accumulation and toxicity of benzyl alcohol (metabolic acidosis).
This medicinal product contains sulphites.
May rarely cause severe hypersensitivity reactions and bronchospasm.
This medicinal product contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per orodispersible tablet, that is to say essentially 'sodium-free'.
This medicinal product contains morphine, which is listed as a doping substance, and its use can lead to positive results in anti-doping tests.