Morphine is one of the oldest psychoactive substances used for medical and narcotic purposes. It was first synthesized in 1804 and despite the many side effects it causes, it is still widely used in the treatment of severe pain. See how morphine works and what are the symptoms of taking it.

What is morphine?

Morphine is the most important psychoactive compound contained in opium - a substance obtained from poppy seeds from unripe medical poppy. Chemically, morphine is an alkaloid, a plant-based organic chemical that contains nitrogen.

In high doses, alkaloids are toxic, but in smaller doses they may have a healing effect (e.g. inhibit the cough reflex like codeine), analgesic and intoxicating.

Morphine: history

Morphine was first isolated from opium in 1804 by a German pharmacist, Friedrich Sertürner. He attributed the substance he discovered with hypnotic and analgesic properties. He named it morphine after the god of sleep, Morpheus. Soon, the substance began to be sold as an anesthetic, hypnotic, analgesic and used in the treatment of alcohol and opium dependence.

Already in the nineteenth century, many cases of addiction to morphine were noted. It was a drug used during the Civil War - then, according to estimates, around 400,000 American soldiers became addicted.

Morphine was also known in Poland, where addiction to it occurred mainly among doctors and medical staff. The first law prohibiting its possession was issued in the USA in 1914, influenced by the growing problem of opiate addiction. Morphine began to lose popularity as a drug with the discovery of its more powerful derivative, heroin.

Morphine: appearance and serving methods

Morphine is a white powder with a bitter taste, no smell. It is slightly soluble in water.

Morphine tablets

Morphine can be administered orally in the form of tablets (then it starts working after about 30 minutes).

Injectable morphine

Morphine in the form of a solution is intended for injection under the skin (it works after 15 minutes) or intravenously (start after 2-3 minutes, maximum after about 30 minutes).

The total duration of action of the substance is approx. 4 hours.

Morphine: action

Morphine has a strong sedative, analgesic and hypnotic effect. It causes intoxication, relaxation, gives a feeling of bliss and euphoria, sharpens the sense of hearing and touch. It suppresses negative thoughts and emotions, reduces the feeling of anxiety, and brings you into a state of calm.

Physically, morphine depresses the respiratory system, inhibits the cough reflex, and narrows the pupils. In addition, it causes psychomotor slowing down, eliminates the feeling of fatigue and hunger.

Larger doses of the drug may cause the so-called morphine sleep, which differs from normal sleep in being sensitive to external stimuli, especially to sounds.

Morphine as a drug

Morphine is used to treat acute forms of pain in the course of cancer. It is the strongest painkiller that is prescribed for cancer patients - according to the so-called analgesic ladder belongs to the III group of substances used in the treatment of chronic cancer pain. It is also used in patients after operations, after a recent heart attack, in ischemic heart disease, after injuries and accidents.

Although scientists have tried to isolate morphine derivatives that would be devoid of narcotic properties, no substance has yet been invented that is effective at relieving pain without showing side effects. It is worth noting, however, that administering morphine in appropriate doses under medical supervision very rarely leads to addiction.

Morphine: addiction

Morphine used for intoxicating purposes is very addictive very quickly. Already after 1-2 uses, psychological dependence develops, which results in the emergence of a very strong desire to take the next dose of the drug.

After several or a dozen or so administrations, morphine causes physical addiction - then not only the psyche, but also the body demands more and more substances. If you miss a dose, you get a narcotic craving, which is a series of withdrawal symptoms: muscle tremors, watery eyes, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, sneezing, increased sweating, anxiety, anxiety, depression.

In extreme cases, if the addicted person took very high doses of morphine, circulatory disorders and even death as a result of a heart attack may occur.

Generally, however, withdrawal symptoms last for 2-3 days and then disappear. After 8-10 days, the body is completely detoxified, making it sensitive again to even small amounts of the drug.

However, the psychological dependence on morphine remains, so addicts usually quickly return to the addiction. One of the effective ways to fight opioid addiction isswitching to the methadone program, i.e. taking a less harmful substitute for morphine - methadone.

Morphine: symptoms of taking

Following the administration of morphine, the following physical symptoms can be observed:

  • constricted pupils poorly reacting to light,
  • psychomotor slowing down,
  • sleepiness,
  • lifting hunger,
  • pain relief,
  • reduction of sexual needs,
  • gastrointestinal disorders: nausea, vomiting, constipation,
  • drop in blood pressure and heart rate,
  • dementia,
  • slurred speech,
  • urinary retention.

A significant symptom of chronic morphine consumption is a decrease in life motivation, apathy, loss of interests, weakened will, and laziness. As the addiction increases, the addicted person focuses more and more on getting money to buy more portions of morphine. At the same time, he neglects his work, family, personal hygiene, gets rid of all moral restraints and spends all his life energy on getting drugs.

Morphine: overdose

Symptoms of morphine poisoning are:

  • nausea and vomiting,
  • dry mouth,
  • shortness of breath,
  • very tight constriction of the pupils to the size of a pinhead,
  • respiratory failure leading to cyanosis (face and body skin turns blue, pale),
  • lowering body temperature and blood pressure,
  • coma.

In the event of poisoning, first aid usually consists of inducing vomiting, administration of activated charcoal in a water solution (even if morphine has been administered intravenously because it passes into the stomach) or laxatives.

The minimum lethal dose of morphine is approximately 0.2 g, but in case of hypersensitivity, death may occur even after taking 60 mg. Addicted people show increased tolerance to the drug and in their case even doses of 2-3 g per day do not cause symptoms of poisoning.

Category:

Psychology