As with other narcotics, a dose reduction may be appropriate in elderly patients, in patients with Hypothyroidism, renal and chronic hepatic disease.
Addictive agent. Take extreme caution when prescribing this drug. The dose may need to be reduced in bronchial asthma or in case of excessive presence of bronchial secretions, cyanosis, head injuries, hypotension associated with hypovolaemia, hypothyroidism, impaired hepatic and renal function (see also section 4.2), inflammatory bowel diseases and ileus, pancreatitis, bile duct spasm or after biliary duct surgery and after surgical anastomosis, urinary tract spasm, coma, convulsive disease, delirium tremens and in the treatment of elderly patients.
Morphine hydrochloride injection should be used with caution in debilitated patients; hypopituitarism; prostatic hypertrophy; shock; diabetes mellitus; diseases of the biliary tract; myasthenia gravis; cardiac arrhythmias; excessive obesity; hypotension and severe cardiac failure. It should also be used with caution post-operatively following total joint arthroplasty (colonic pseudo-obstruction).
Morphine should not be used in idiopathic or psychopathological pain conditions.
For the treatment with MAO inhibitors, see section 4.5 Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction.
Concomitant use of other opioid analgesics such as codeine, administered orally or by some other route of administration, increases the CNS depressant effect of morphine (see section 4.5 – Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction).
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.
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 or drug abuse.
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.
Sendolor contains sodium
Sendolor 1 mg/ml, solution for infusion contains 354.5 mg sodium per 100 ml, equivalent to 17.7% of the WHO recommended maximum daily intake of 2 g sodium for an adult.
Sendolor 10 mg/ml, solution for infusion contains 295.4 mg sodium per 100 ml, equivalent to 14.8% of the WHO recommended maximum daily intake of 2 g sodium for an adult.
Sendolor 20 mg/ml, solution for infusion contains 236.3 mg sodium per 100 ml, equivalent to 11.8% of the WHO recommended maximum daily intake of 2 g sodium for an adult.
Paediatric population
Respiratory depression is a risk in all children.
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 vaso-occlusive crisis, close monitoring for ACS symptoms is warranted.
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 sex hormones and increased prolactin
Long-term use of opioid analgesics may be associated with decreased sex hormone levels and increased prolactin. Symptoms include decreased libido, impotence or cessation of amenorrhea.
Hyperalgesia
Hyperalgesia may be diagnosed if the patient on long-term opioid therapy presents with increased pain. This might be qualitatively and anatomically distinct from pain related to disease progression or to breakthrough pain resulting from development of opioid tolerance. Pain associated with hyperalgesia tends to be more diffuse than the pre-existing pain and less defined in quality. Symptoms of hyperalgesia may resolve with a reduction of opioid dose.
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 (see section 4.5).
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).
Risk from concomitant use of sedative medicines such as benzodiazepines or related drugs
Concomitant use of and sedative medicines such as benzodiazepines or related drugs may result in sedation, respiratory depression, coma and death. Because of these risks, concomitant prescribing with these sedative medicines should be reserved for patients for whom alternative treatment options are not possible. If a decision is made to prescribe concomitantly with sedative medicines, 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).
Drug dependence, tolerance and potential for abuse
For all patients, prolonged use of this product may lead to drug dependence (addiction), even at therapeutic doses. The risks are increased in individuals with current or past history of substance misuse disorder (including alcohol misuse) or mental health disorder (e.g., major depression).
Additional support and monitoring may be necessary when prescribing for patients at risk of opioid misuse.
A comprehensive patient history should be taken to document concomitant medications, including over- the-counter medicines and medicines obtained on-line, and past and present medical and psychiatric conditions.
Patients may find that treatment is less effective with chronic use and express a need to increase the dose to obtain the same level of pain control as initially experienced. Patients may also supplement their treatment with additional pain relievers. These could be signs that the patient is developing tolerance.
The risks of developing tolerance should be explained to the patient.
Overuse or misuse may result in overdose and/or death. It is important that patients only use medicines that are prescribed for them at the dose they have been prescribed and do not give this medicine to anyone else.
Patients should be closely monitored for signs of misuse, abuse, or addiction. The clinical need for analgesic treatment should be reviewed regularly.
Dependence and withdrawal (abstinence) syndrome
Use of opioid analgesics may be associated with the development of physical and/or psychological dependence or tolerance. The risk increases with the time the drug is used, and with higher doses. Symptoms can be minimised with adjustments of dose or dosage form, and gradual withdrawal of morphine. For individual symptoms, see section 4.8.
Prior to starting treatment with any opioids, a discussion should be held with patients to put in place a withdrawal strategy for ending treatment with morphine.
Drug withdrawal syndrome may occur upon abrupt cessation of therapy or dose reduction. When a patient no longer requires therapy, it is advisable to taper the dose gradually to minimise symptoms of withdrawal.
Tapering from a high dose may take weeks to months.
The opioid drug withdrawal syndrome is characterised by some or all of the following: restlessness, lacrimation, rhinorrhoea, yawning, perspiration, chills, myalgia, mydriasis and palpitations. Other symptoms may also develop including irritability, agitation, anxiety, hyperkinesia, tremor, weakness, insomnia, anorexia, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, increased blood pressure, increased respiratory rate or heart rate.
However, when doses of morphine are carefully titrated against pain, clinically significant respiratory depression, dependence, rapid tolerance and euphoria rarely develop. Clinically significant tolerance to morphine is unusual in cancer patients with severe pain.
If women take this drug during pregnancy, there is a risk that their newborn infants will experience neonatal withdrawal syndrome.