What it means
The standard opioid analgesicOH-pee-oyd an-ul-JEE-zikA strong drug that relieves moderate to severe pain by acting on the brain and spinal cord.Full entry , given by mouth, IV, IM, subcutaneously or into the spine. It also eases the feeling of breathlessness in some clients at the end of life. Common side effects are drowsiness, constipationkon-stih-PAY-shunBowel movements that happen less often than usual, with hard, dry stool that is difficult to pass.Full entry , nausea, itching and low blood pressure; the most serious is slow, shallow breathing (respiratory depression). It can cause dependence and misuse.
For the nurse
Check the respiratory rate, sedation level and blood pressure before and after each dose; hold it and report if the client is very sleepy or breathing slowly, and keep naloxone at hand. Give a laxative routine with ongoing use. Extended-release tablets are swallowed whole, never crushed or chewed. Write "morphine" out: the abbreviation MS is on the Joint Commission do-not-use list. Do not mix it up with hydromorphonehy-droh-MOR-foneA strong opioid pain medicine, given by mouth, by injection or into a vein.Full entry , which is much stronger per milligram, and do not confuse the brand MS Contin with OxyContin (oxycodoneok-see-KOH-doneAn opioid pain medicine taken by mouth, as quick-acting or long-acting tablets.Full entry ): ISMP lists both pairs as confused names.
In a chart
"Morphine 2 mg IV given for pain 8/10; 15 minutes later pain 4/10, RR 16, easily awakened."
At a glance
| Drug class | opioid analgesic (opioid agonist) |
|---|---|
| Brand names | MS Contin, Duramorph, Infumorph |
| Spanish | morfina |
| Also written | morphine sulfate |
Easy to confuse with
hydromorphone
A strong opioid pain medicine, given by mouth, by injection or into a vein.
oxycodone
An opioid pain medicine taken by mouth, as quick-acting or long-acting tablets.
Related terms
opioid analgesic
A strong drug that relieves moderate to severe pain by acting on the brain and spinal cord.
analgesic
A drug that relieves pain.
MS
An abbreviation that can stand for morphine sulfate, magnesium sulfate or multiple sclerosis.
hydromorphone
A strong opioid pain medicine, given by mouth, by injection or into a vein.
oxycodone
An opioid pain medicine taken by mouth, as quick-acting or long-acting tablets.