What is Morphine and how is it used?
Morphine is a narcotic analgesic. Morphine was
first isolated from opium in 1805 by a German pharmacist,
Wilhelm Sertürner. Sertürner described
it as the Principium Somniferum. He named it morphium
- after Morpheus, the Greek god of dreams. Today
morphine is isolated from opium in substantially
larger quantities - over 1000 tons per year - although
most commercial opium is converted into Codeine
by methylation. On the illicit market, opium gum
is filtered into morphine base and then synthesized
into heroin.
Morphine can be taken orally in tablet form,
and can also injected subcutaneously, intramuscularly,
or intravenously; the last is the route preferred
by those who are dependent on morphine.
What are the side effects of Morphine use?
- anxiety
- constipation
- depressed or irritable mood
- dizziness
- drowsiness
- exaggerated sense of well-being
- light - headedness
- nausea
- sedation
- sweating
- vomiting
- agitation
- allergic reaction
- appetite loss
- apprehension
- involuntary movement of the eyeball
- "pinpoint" pupils
- itching
- rash
- rigid muscles
- seizure
- swelling due to fluid retention
- tingling or pins and needles
- tremor
- uncoordinated muscle movements
- weakness
- abdominal pain
- abnormal thinking
- accidental injury
- memory loss
- blurred vision / double vision
- chills
- cramps
- diarrhea
- inability to urinate
- dreams
- dry mouth
- facial flushing
- fainting / faintness
- floating feeling
- hallucinations
- headache
- high/low blood pressure
- hives
- insomnia
What are the symptoms of a Morphine overdose?
- cold clammy skin
- flaccid muscles
- fluid in the lungs
- lowered blood pressure
- "pinpoint" or dilated pupils
- sleepiness
- stupor
- coma
- slowed breathing
- slow pulse rate
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