The discovery of morphine, which occurred in 1803, transformed the medical treatment of pain and chronic diseases (Levinthal, 2005). Morphine, a narcotic or opioid, is widely used in the medical field today and is specifically used therapeutically to treat moderate to severe pain in individuals. The most common routes of administration for morphine are oral and intravenous administration (Angel, Gould, Carey, 1998). Morphine acts by binding to opioid receptors in the brain and thus reduces the perception of pain and emotional responses to pain (Weil and Winifred, 2004). The paper will focus on the therapeutic uses of morphine for individuals. Morphine is used in the treatment of pain with individuals suffering from cancer and acute myocardial infarction. Morphine is also administered to patients after surgery to decrease pain and is even thought to decrease the chances of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (Busse, 2006; Herlitz, Hjalmarson, and Waagstein, 1989; Levin, 2010).
Morphine Administration to Cancer Patients
According to World Health Organization, cancer pain can be controlled effectively with oral morphine in up to 90% of individuals with cancer (Ahmed, et al. 2010). Cancer patients benefit significantly from the effects of morphine on severe or chronic pain (Weil and Winifred 2004). A common treatment plan for cancer patients is to follow the “analgesic ladder” approach. The first step in this approach is to administer a non-opioid analgesic, such as aspirin, paracetamol, or a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (Hanks, et al., 1996). Secondly, a week opioid is administered to the individual. Once the weak opioid is proven inadequate the third step is followed and a strong opioid is administered. ...
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...tic efferent discharge. (Zelis, et al., 1974). The capacity of the peripheral vascular bed is increased and has reduced systemic venous return (Vasko, 1966). “Medical Phlebotomy” is a term that is commonly used to describe the effects of morphine of pulmonary edema (Vismara, Leaman, and Zelis, 1976).
Unfortunately, morphine can have side effects that may result in suppression of the central nervous system and ventilator failure. In addition, morphine may aggravate bradycaradia, hypotension, and in small cases respiratory depression. Naloxone is given to patients in order to aid in reversing these negative effects of morphine. With large doses of morphine, nausea and vomiting are potential side effects and may be treated with a phenothiazine. For theses reasons, morphine continues to be researched for the treatment of pulmonary edema (Cotter, et al., 2001).
In my opinion cancer patients can alternative pain management and higher dose of pain medicine so that they can have some comfort during their stage of dying.
Almost one hundred years ago, prescription drugs like morphine were available at almost any general store. Women carried bottles of very addictive potent opiate based pain killers in their purse. Many individuals like Edgar Allen Poe died from such addictions. Since that time through various federal, state and local laws, drugs like morphine are now prescription drugs; however, this has not stopped the addiction to opiate based pain killers. Today’s society combats an ever increasing number of very deadly addictive drugs from designer drugs to narcotics to the less potent but equally destructive alcohol and marijuana. With all of these new and old drugs going in and out of vogue with addicts, it appears that the increase of misuse and abuse is founded greater in the prescription opiate based painkillers.
If the drug is being used primarily to treat severe pain not responsive to other analgesics, in a painful terminal condition, (such as advanced widespread cancer), it may ...
Opiods are the most popular class of drugs used for post-cesarean analgesia. They are most useful in treatment of somatic pain. Use of morphine, diamorphine, fentanyl, sufentanil, meperidine, nalbuphine and buprenorphine is well documented. The various opiods differ in their potency and severity of side effects. A discussion of the merits and de-merits of each is beyond the scope of this article. The common minor side effects include nausea, vomiting, pruritus, shivering and urinary retention. Respiratory depression, especially late-onset, is a more dreaded complication.
Opiates are a class of drugs that are used for chronic pain. Opioids are substances that are used to relieve pain by binding opiate receptors throughout the body, and in the brain. These areas in the brain control pain and also emotions, producing a feeling of excitement or happiness. As the brain gets used to these feelings, and the body builds a tolerance to the opioids, there is a need for more opioids and then the possibility of addiction. There are different forms of opioids manufactured such as Morphine, Oxycodone, Buprenorphine, Hydrocodone, and Methadone.
In medical school/pharmacology school, medical professionals are taught to treat severe pain with opioids. However, opioids should be prescribed with the possibility of future dependency in mind. Physicians often struggle with whether they should prescribe opioids or seek alternative methodologies. This ethical impasse has led may medical professionals to prescribe opioids out of sympathy, without regard for the possibility of addiction (Clarke). As previously stated, a way to address this is use alternative methods so that physicians will become more acquainted to not not treating pain by means of opioid
The pain-killing and pleasurable effects of morphine, the narcotic drug derived from the opium poppy, is widely known. Endorphins are surprising similarity to morphine. It was termed “endorphin” from endogenous (meaning within) and morphine (morphine being a pain killer). It was wondered why morphine and other opiate drugs should produce such powerful effects on the nervous system. Thus, the discovery of endorphins followed the realization that certain regions of the brain bound opiate drugs with high affinity. Endorphins were discovered nearly on accident in the 1970s by scientists doing research on drug addiction. It was found that the brain produces its own set of neurochemicals far more powerful than morphine but share the same receptors.
In the late 1800’s it was discovered that papa-amino-phenol, could reduce fever, but the drug was too toxic to use. A less toxic extract called phenacetin was later found to be just as effective but also had pain-relieving properties. In 1949, it was learned that phenacetin was metabolized into an active but also less toxic drug, acetaminophen. Since then, acetaminophen has been sold under many over the counter brand names, most popular being Tylenol.
Potent pain medication contains the aspects of utilizing medications such as morphine or demerol, how the medications are dispensed, and t...
Morphine has been used for many years in different cultures, and for different reasons. It has been abused, demolished, revived, and manufactured. It has saved many lives and ruined many more. It is the drug of choice for many who feel they need something to numb out the bad, and forget about the real. It is also the prescription of choice for men and women who just want to have their lives back. Although morphine addicts go through hell during their withdrawal stages, and how awful the drug can be through abuse, it offers very much to a wide array of patients suffering from diseases such as cancer, severe back pain, kidney stones, and pain associated in trauma.
Effective treatment of cancer pain is essential for ensuring the best outcomes for cancer patients, in terms of physical, psychological and social aspects. Although there are no NICE guidelines for management of cancer pain, WHO guidance should be used to inform clinical practice. Careful assessment is a critical element of the process to ensure that patients are offered the treatment which is likely to offer the best outcomes, yet without providing a greater than necessary risk of complications such as tolerance and addiction to opioids. The main outcome that this paper highlights is that “Pain is what the patient says it is and exists when he says it does” (McCaffery 1983
In 1805, morphine and codeine were isolated from opium, and morphine served as a cure for opium addiction since its addictive characteristics were not known. Morphine’s use as a treatment for opium addiction was initially well received, as morphine has about ten times more euphoric effects than the equivalent amount of opium. Over the years, however, morphine abuse has increased. Heroin was synthesized from morphine in 1874 by an English chemist, but was not made commercially until 1898 by the Bayer Pharmaceutical Company. Attempts were proposed to use heroin in place of morphine due to problems of morphine abuse.
the left of a pair of crystals that are a mirror image of each other.
Ferrell, B., Levy, M. H., & Paice, J. (2008). Managing pain from advanced cancer in the
Aranella, Cheryl, MD., M.P.H. Use of Opiates to Manage Pain in the Seriously and Terminally Ill Patient. American Hospice Foundation, 2006. Web. 7 November 2011.