Active ingredient
- morphine sulfate
Legal Category
POM: Prescription only medicine
POM: Prescription only medicine
The Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) is the leaflet included in the pack with a medicine. It is written for patients and gives information about taking or using a medicine. It is possible that the leaflet in your medicine pack may differ from this version because it may have been updated since your medicine was packaged.
Below is a text only representation of the Patient Information Leaflet. The original leaflet can be viewed using the link above.
The text only version may be available in large print, Braille or audio CD. For further information call emc accessibility on 0800 198 5000. The product code(s) for this leaflet is: PL 12064/0008.
Morphine Sulfate 1mg/ml & 2mg/ml Solution for Injection
PACKAGE LEAFLET: INFORMATION FOR THE USER
Morphine Sulfate 1mg/ml & 2mg/ml Solution for Injection
Morphine Sulfate
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start using this medicine because it contains important information for you.
This medicine will be referred to as Morphine Sulfate Solution for Injection in the rest of this leaflet.
What is in this leaflet
1. What Morphine Sulfate Solution for Injection is and what is it used for
2. Before you are given Morphine Sulfate Solution for Injection
3. How Morphine Sulfate Solution for Injection will be given
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Morphine Sulfate Solution for Injection
6. Contents of the pack and other information
1. What Morphine Sulfate Solution for Injection is and what it is used for
Morphine is an alkaloid with powerful pain relieving properties.
This medicine is a solution for injection that has been prepared in water so that it can be used with specially designed pumps which provide a continuous injection into the body. It is used in the long term relief of moderate to severe pain, such as the pain caused by surgery, heart attacks and cancer. This medicine also helps to reduce the anxiety and sleeplessness which may be caused by the pain.
2. Before you are given Morphine Sulfate Solution for Injection
You should not be given Morphine Sulfate Solution for Injection if:
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before being given Morphine Sulfate Solution for Injection if:
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you experience any of the following symptoms while being given Morphine Sulfate Solution for Injection:
Other medicines and Morphine Sulfate Solution for Injection
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines including medicines obtained without prescription.
Please tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:
However, if your doctor does prescribe Morphine Sulfate Injection together with sedative medicines the dose and duration of concomitant treatment should be limited by your doctor.
Please tell your doctor about all sedative medicines you are taking, and follow your doctor’s dose recommendation closely. It could be helpful to inform friends or relatives to be aware of the signs and symptoms stated above. Contact your doctor when experiencing such symptoms.
Pregnancy, breast-feeding and fertility:
If you are pregnant, trying for a baby or breast-feeding you should ask your doctor for advice before you are given this medicine. You should not be given morphine if you are pregnant or think you might be pregnant unless you have discussed this with your doctor first. If you are given morphine during pregnancy and become dependent on it, there is a risk that the new-born baby may also be dependent and suffer from withdrawal symptoms following delivery. If you are given morphine during labour there is a risk that you could be sick and have breathing difficulties, or the baby could have difficulty starting breathing. If you are breast-feeding, ask your doctor for advice before taking this medicine.
Driving and using machines
This medicine may cause drowsiness. If you are affected do not drive or use machines.
This medicine can affect your ability to drive and operate machinery as it may make you sleepy or dizzy.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure whether it is safe for you to drive while taking this medicine.
Having Morphine Sulfate Solution for Injection with alcohol
You are advised not to drink alcohol during your treatment with this medicine.
Morphine Sulfate Solution for Injection contains sodium
This medicine contains 3.54 mg sodium (main component of cooking/table salt) in each dose . This is equivalent to 0.18 % of the recommended maximum daily dietary intake of sodium for an adult.
3. How Morphine Sulfate Solution for Injection will be given
Morphine Sulfate Injection is given to you as a slow infusion (drip) into the vein. It is given as Patient Controlled Analgesia (PCA), meaning that you will be able to administer pain relief to yourself rather than your doctor or nurse doing it for you.
Your doctor will still determine the dose you need however you will be able to give yourself pain relief as and when you need it. You will not be able to give yourself more than the maximum dose.
Under some circumstances your doctor may prescribe a dose higher than those stated here.
Adults
Loading dose
Loading doses of typically between 1mg and 10mg (maximum 15mg) of morphine sulfate may be given by intravenous infusion over four or five minutes. The loading dose used will depend upon the patient’s diagnosis and conditions.
PCA demand dose
An initial demand dose of 1mg Morphine Sulfate Injection with a lockout period of 5 to 10 minutes is recommended. Dosages may vary depending on the loading dose, the tolerance and condition of the patient, and whether a background infusion of morphine sulfate is being given.
The patient should be specifically monitored for pain, sedation and respiratory rate during the first few hours of treatment to ensure that the dosage regimen is suitable.
The duration of treatment should be kept to a minimum, although dependence and tolerance are not generally a problem when morphine is used legitimately in patients with opioid-sensitive pain.
Use in Children
Not recommended for children under 12 years
The elderly and ill
It is recommended that a reduced dose be used
If you are given too much of Morphine Sulfate Injection:
This medicine will be given to you in hospital so it is unlikely you will receive too much. Your doctor has information on how to recognise and treat an overdose.
People who have taken an overdose may get pneumonia from inhaling vomit or foreign matter, symptoms may include breathlessness, cough and fever.People who have taken an overdose may also have breathing difficulties leading to unconsciousness or even death.
If you experience any of the following, tell your doctor immediately:
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.
If you stop using Morphine Sulfate Solution for Injection
Do not stop treatment with Morphine Sulfate Solution for Injection unless agreed with your doctor. If you want to stop the treatment with Morphine Sulfate Injection, ask your doctor how to slowly decrease the doses so you avoid abstinence symptoms. Abstinence symptoms may include body aches, tremors, diarrhoea, stomach pain, nausea, flu-like symptoms, fast heartbeat and large pupils. Psychological symptoms include an intense feeling of unsatisfaction, anxiety and irritability.
4. Possible Side Effects
Like all medicines Morphine Sulfate Solution for Injection can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Repeated use of morphine can result in tolerance and addiction
If any of the following symptoms occur tell your doctor or nurse immediately. These are symptoms of a serious allergic reaction.
Other side effects include:
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via Yellow Card Scheme. Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. How to Store Morphine Sulfate Solution for Injection
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
You should not be given Morphine Sulfate Injection after the expiry date on the vial and carton label. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.The doctor or nurse will check that the product has not passed this date.
Store below 25°C. Keep the vials in the outer carton in order to protect from light. Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment
6. Contents of the pack and other information
What Morphine Sulfate Injection contains
The active ingredient: morphine sulfate 0.1 %w/v or 0.2%w/v.
The other ingredients: sodium chloride 0.9% and water for injections.
What Morphine Sulfate Injection looks like and contents of the pack:
Morphine Sulfate Injection is a sterile solution, supplied in clear glass vials. Each vial contains 50ml or 100ml of the solution.
Marketing Authorisation Holder:
Manufacturer:
Product Licence Number(s):
PL 12064/0007
PL 12064/0008
This leaflet was last revised in November 2019
D05129
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