What is a Patient Information Leaflet and why is it useful?

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.

PDF icon Download Leaflet View the patient leaflet in PDF format

Below is a text only representation of the Patient Information Leaflet. The original can be viewed in PDF format using the link above.

The text only version may be available from RNIB in large print, Braille or audio CD. For further information call RNIB Medicine Leaflet Line on 0800 198 5000. The product code(s) for this leaflet is: PL 01883/6138.

Morphine Sulfate 10mg/ml, 15mg/ml, 20mg/ml & 30mg/ml Solution for Injection

PACKAGE LEAFLET: INFORMATION FOR THE USER

Morphine Sulfate 10mg/ml, 15mg/ml, 20mg/ml & 30mg/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.

  • Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
  • If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
  • If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.

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 it is 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 used for the relief of severe pain. It is also used to treat breathlessness caused by fluid in the lungs and as a pre-medication before operations.

2. Before you are given Morphine Sulfate Solution for Injection

You should not be given Morphine Sulfate Solution for Injection if:

  • you are allergic to Morphine or any of the other ingredients of this medicine listed in section 6
  • you are currently taking drugs used to treat depression known as monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) or have taken them in the last 2 weeks
  • you suffer from breathing difficulties (asthma attack or chronic obstructive airways disease)
  • you have suffered a head injury
  • you suffer from alcoholism
  • you suffer from heart problems
  • you are suffering from stomach pains
  • you are suffering from a tumour of the adrenal gland known as phaeochromocytoma
  • you suffer from severe diarrhoea.

Warnings and precautions

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before being given Morphine Sulfate Solution for Injection if you:

  • suffer from low blood pressure
  • suffer from underactive thyroid or adrenal gland
  • suffer from problems with your prostate gland and have difficulty passing urine
  • suffer from any liver or kidney diseases
  • suffer from fits
  • suffer from asthma
  • have bowel disease, such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis
  • suffer from blockages of the bowel
  • have problems with your bile duct

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:

  • medicines used to treat severe depression known as monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) e.g. moclobemide. Tell your doctor even if you have stopped taking them within the last two weeks
  • medicines used to help you to sleep (hypnotics) e.g. chloral and barbiturates
  • medicines used to treat anxiety (anxiolytics) e.g. diazepam
  • medicines used to treat bacterial infections e.g. ciprofloxacin and linezolid
  • medicines used to control heart rhythm e.g mexiletine
  • medicines used to treat pain e.g. pethidine
  • medicines used in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease e.g. selegiline
  • medicines used to treat depression e.g. tricyclic antidepressants
  • medicines used to treat mental illness including schizophrenia e.g. chlorpromazine, haloperidol
  • medicines used to treat allergies, hay fever and asthma e.g. antihistamines
  • medicines used to treat diarrhoea e.g. Loperamide, kaolin
  • medicines used as premedication before operations and after heart attacks e.g. atropine
  • medicines used to treat nausea and vomiting e.g. metoclopramide, domperidone

Pregnancy, breast-feeding and fertility:

This medicine should not be used if you are pregnant, trying for a baby or breast-feeding.

Morphine is known to cross the placenta.

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.

  • Do not drive while taking this medicine until you know how it affects you.
  • It is an offence to drive if this medicine affects your ability to drive.
  • However, you would not be committing an offence if:
    • The medicine has been prescribed to treat a medical or dental problem and
    • You have taken it according to the instructions given by the prescriber or in the information provided with the medicine and
    • It was not affecting your ability to drive safely

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 and sodium metabisulfite (E223)

This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per ml, that is to say essentially ‘sodium-free’ and the sodium metabisulfite may rarely cause severe hypersensitivity reactions and bronchospasm.

3. How Morphine Sulfate Solution for Injection will be given

This medicine is an injection and will be given to you by your doctor. Your doctor will determine the dose you need.

The usual adult dose for relief of pain by subcutaneous injection (an injection underneath the skin) or intramuscular injection (an injection into a muscle) is 10mg every four hours, if necessary.

However, this can vary between 5mg and 20mg depending on your size and response to the drug.

For severe pain your doctor may give you a slow intravenous injection (an injection given slowly into a vein). The usual dose is quarter to half of the intramuscular dose.

  • If you are elderly, severely run down including feeling weak and feeble, or have liver and kidney problems the dose will be lower. You may also be given a reduced dose if you suffer from any of the conditions listed in section 2 entitled
    “Talk to your doctor before Morphine Injection is given to you if you:”
  • Your doctor will decide the dose that is best for you. If you do not understand what you are being given, or are in any doubt, ask your doctor or nurse.

If you are given too much of Morphine Sulfate Injection:

This medicine will be given to you by your doctor so it is unlikely you will receive too much. Your doctor has information on how to recognise and treat an overdose.

If you experience any of the following, tell your doctor immediately:

  • difficulty in breathing
  • pinpoint pupils
  • low blood pressure
  • feeling cold
  • fits
  • confusion
  • severe drowsiness
  • slow heartbeat
  • severe nervousness or restlessness

If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.

4. Possible Side Effects

Like all medicines Morphine Sulfate Solution for Injection can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

Tell your doctor or nurse immediately if you experience any of the following serious side effects:

  • severe allergic reaction, with a rash, swelling of the eyes, lips and throat, and difficulty breathing
  • fits
  • physical and psychological dependence

Other side effects include:

  • hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t real)
  • confusion
  • mood changes
  • headaches
  • dizziness
  • drowsiness
  • sweating
  • feeling faint when getting up from a seated position
  • pinpoint pupils
  • a fast, slow or irregular heartbeat
  • feeling your heart beat (palpitations)
  • facial flushing
  • constipation
  • feeling or being sick
  • dry mouth
  • spasms in the lower abdomen
  • rashes and itching
  • difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection
  • difficulty in passing urine
  • blurred vision
  • stiff muscle
  • pain irritation at injection site

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 out of the sight and reach of children.

You should not be given Morphine Sulfate Solution for Injection after the expiry date on the ampoule 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.

Do not store above 25°C.

Keep the ampoule 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 Solution for Injection contains:

The active ingredient: morphine sulfate.

Each ampoule contains 10, 15, 20 or 30 mg morphine sulfate.

The other ingredients: sodium chloride, sodium metabisulfite (E223) and water for injections. This medicine may also contain sodium hydroxide solution or sulfuric acid solution.

What Morphine Sulfate Solution for Injection looks like and contents of the pack:

Morphine Sulfate Injection is a sterile solution, supplied in clear, colourless 1ml glass ampoules. This medicine is supplied to your doctor in packs of 10 ampoules.

Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer:

Martindale Pharma
Bampton Road
Harold Hill
Romford
RM3 8UG
United Kingdom

Product Licence Numbers:

PL 01883/6138. PL 01883/6176. PL 01883/6177. PL 01883/6178

This leaflet was last revised in January 2018

Martindale Pharma
Bampton Road
Harold Hill
Romford
RM3 8UG
United Kingdom

D04080