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 are: PL 16950/0040, PL 16950/0039, PL 16950/0038, PL 16950/0041, PL 16950/0035, PL 16950/0036, PL 16950/0037.
MST Continus tablets 5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg, 30 mg, 60 mg, 100 mg, 200 mg
Package leaflet: Information for the user
MST® Continus® 5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg, 30 mg, 60 mg, 100 mg and 200 mg prolonged release tablets
Morphine sulfate
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.
In this leaflet:
1. What MST Continus tablets are and what they are used for
2. What you need to know before you take MST Continus tablets
3. How to take MST Continus tablets
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store MST Continus tablets
6. Contents of the pack and other information
1. What MST Continus tablets are and what they are used for
These tablets have been prescribed for you by your doctor to relieve severe pain over a period of 12 hours. They contain the active ingredient morphine which belongs to a group of medicines called strong analgesics or ‘painkillers’.
2. What you need to know before you take MST Continus tablets
Do not take MST Continus tablets if:
If you are going to have an operation, please tell the doctor at the hospital that you are taking these tablets.
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking these tablets if you:
You may experience hormonal changes while taking these tablets. Your doctor may want to monitor these changes.
Other medicines and MST Continus tablets
Concomitant use of MST Continus tablets and sedative medicines, such as benzodiazepines or related drugs, increases the risk of drowsiness, difficulties in breathing (respiratory depression), coma and may be life-threatening. Because of this, concomitant use should only be considered when other treatment options are not possible.
However if your doctor does prescribe MST Continus tablets together with sedative medicines, the dosage 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 dosage 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.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription. If you take these tablets with some other medicines, the effect of the tablets or the other medicine may be changed.
These tablets must not be used together with a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, or if you have taken this type of medicine in the last two weeks (see section 2 ‘Do not take…’).
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any of the medicines mentioned below:
Also tell your doctor if you have recently been given an anaesthetic.
Taking MST Continus tablets with alcohol
Drinking alcohol whilst taking MST Continus tablets may make you feel more sleepy or increase the risk of serious side effects such as shallow breathing with a risk of stopping breathing, and loss of consciousness. It is recommended not to drink alcohol while you are taking MST Continus tablets.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Do not take these tablets if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine.
Prolonged use of morphine during pregnancy may cause withdrawal symptoms in newborns, which should be treated by a doctor. Withdrawal (abstinence) symptoms in babies born to mothers who have used MST Continus tablets in pregnancy may include high-pitched crying, irritability and restlessness, shaking (tremor), feeding difficulties and sweating.
Driving and using machines
These tablets may cause a number of side effects such as drowsiness which could affect your ability to drive or use machinery (see section 4 for a full list of side effects). These are usually most noticeable when you first start taking the tablets, or when changing to a higher dose. If you are affected, you should not drive or use machinery.
This medicine can affect your ability to drive as it may make you sleepy or dizzy.
Details regarding a new driving offence concerning driving after drugs have been taken in the UK may be found here: https://www.gov.uk/drug-driving-law
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure whether it is safe for you to drive while taking this medicine.
MST Continus tablets contain lactose and sunset yellow (E110)
The 5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg, 30 mg and 60 mg tablets contain lactose which is a form of sugar. If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking these tablets.
The 30 mg and 60 mg tablets contain sunset yellow (E110) which may cause allergic reactions.
3. How to take MST Continus tablets
Always take the tablets exactly as your doctor has told you. The label on your medicine will tell you how many tablets to take and how often.
Swallow your tablets whole with a glass of water. Do not break, crush or chew them.
MST Continus tablets are designed to work properly over 12 hours when swallowed whole. If a tablet is broken, crushed or chewed, the entire 12-hour dose may be absorbed rapidly into your body. This can be dangerous, causing serious problems such as an overdose, which may be fatal.
You must only take the tablets by mouth. The tablets should never be crushed or injected as this may lead to serious side effects, which may be fatal.
You should take your tablets every 12 hours. For instance, if you take a tablet at 8 o’clock in the morning, you should take your next tablet at 8 o’clock in the evening.
Adults
The usual starting dose is one 30 mg tablet every 12 hours. However, the dose will depend on your age, weight and the severity of your pain. If you are elderly or weigh less than 70 kg your doctor may suggest a lower starting dose. Your doctor will decide how many tablets you should take.
Children over one year of age
Children over one year of age can take the tablets. The required dose will depend on their weight and severity of pain. This should be discussed with your doctor or pharmacist.
If you find that you are still in pain whilst taking these tablets discuss this with your doctor.
Do not exceed the dose recommended by your doctor. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
If you take more MST Continus tablets than you should or if someone accidentally swallows your tablets
Call your doctor or hospital straight away as you may need emergency treatment. People who have taken an overdose may feel very sleepy, sick, dizzy or 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. When seeking medical attention make sure that you take this leaflet and any remaining tablets with you to show to the doctor.
If you forget to take MST Continus tablets
If you remember within 4 hours of the time your tablet was due, take your tablet straight away. Take your next tablet at your normal time. If you are more than 4 hours late, please call your doctor for advice. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten tablet.
If you stop taking MST Continus tablets
Do not stop treatment with these tablets unless agreed with your doctor. If you want to stop the treatment with these tablets, ask your doctor how to slowly decrease the dose so you avoid abstinence symptoms. Abstinence (withdrawal) 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.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
4. Possible side effects
Like all medicines, these tablets can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
All medicines can cause allergic reactions, although serious allergic reactions are uncommon. Tell your doctor immediately if you get any sudden wheeziness, difficulties in breathing, swelling of the eyelids, face or lips, rash or itching especially those covering your whole body.
The most serious side effect, although uncommon, is a condition where you breathe more slowly or weakly than expected (respiratory depression). Tell your doctor immediately if this happens to you.
As with all strong painkillers, there is a risk that you may become addicted or reliant on these tablets.
The following side effects may also occur:
Very common side effects
(may affect more than 1 in 10 people)
Common side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)
Uncommon side effects (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)
Frequency not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data)
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at 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 MST Continus tablets
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use any tablets after the expiry date which is stated on the blister and carton. EXP 08 2020 means that you should not take the tablets after the last day of that month i.e. August 2020.
Do not store your tablets above 25°C.
Do not take your tablets if they are broken or crushed as this can be dangerous and can cause serious problems such as overdose.
Do not throw away medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help to protect the environment.
6. Contents of the pack and other information
What MST Continus tablets contain
The active ingredient is morphine sulfate. Each tablet contains 5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg, 30 mg, 60 mg, 100 mg or 200 mg of morphine sulfate.
The other ingredients are:
The tablets also contain the following colourants:
10 mg – Iron oxide (E172)
15 mg – Iron oxide (E172), brilliant blue (E133), quinoline yellow (E104) and indigo carmine (E132)
30 mg – Erythrosine (E127), indigo carmine (E132) and sunset yellow (E110)
60 mg – Erythrosine (E127), quinoline yellow (E104) and sunset yellow (E110)
100 mg – Iron oxide (E172) and indigo carmine (E132)
200 mg – Brilliant blue (E133) and quinoline yellow (E104)
What MST Continus tablets look like and the contents of the pack
The tablets are marked with NAPP on one side and the strength (e.g. 5 mg, 10 mg etc) on the other.
The tablets are coloured as follows: 5 mg - white, 10 mg – golden brown, 15 mg - green, 30 mg – dark purple, 60 mg - orange, 100 mg – grey, 200 mg – teal green.
In each box there are 60 tablets.
Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer
The tablets are made by
for the marketing authorisation holder
This leaflet is also available in large print, Braille or as an audio CD. To request a copy, please call the RNIB Medicine Information line (free of charge) on:
0800 198 5000
You will need to give details of the product name and reference number.
These are as follows:
Product name: MST Continus tablets
Reference number: 16950/0035
This leaflet was last revised in August 2018.
® MST, Continus, MST Continus and the NAPP logo are registered trade marks.
© 2009 - 2018 Napp Pharmaceuticals Limited.
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