February 8, 2021
Morphine addiction can lead to serious physical and mental health issues. As an opioid drug belonging to the same class as heroin, morphine can be highly addictive. Though many use morphine for the first time as a prescribed analgesia, a dependence can be formed after repeated use.
Morphine abuse can lead to negative long term effects and even cause death in the case of a morphine overdose. Knowing the symptoms of morphine overdose could save your life or the lives of those around you.
This article will show you how to recognize and avoid overdose, and reveal the three best treatment methods for getting rid of morphine addiction.
Morphine is an opioid that is used clinically for pain management and is often utilized to provide relief during end-of-life care and during active cancer treatment.
It works by binding to opioid receptors in the central and peripheral nervous system which leads to the activation of inhibitory pathways and the reduction of nociceptive (pain causing) neuron transmissions. Essentially, morphine reduces the perception of pain by triggering receptors in the brain.
Morphine causes the release of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which lends to its ability to relieve pain. As dopamine is released and specific receptors in the nervous system are triggered, this drug can also cause feelings of drowsiness, mental clouding, and euphoria.
Unfortunately, these feel-good effects of dopamine can lead to morphine addiction. When dopamine is released in a high amount due to the use of an opioid like morphine, this can create a chemical imbalance in the brain. It becomes more difficult for the brain to produce dopamine by itself, which causes withdrawal symptoms and can lead to long-term morphine use and addiction.
There are many physical and psychological symptoms of morphine abuse. While many of these are internal, there are also behavioral signs that someone is suffering from a morphine addiction. Being aware of these symptoms and signs ensures that those afflicted get treatment as quickly as possible.
The effects of morphine can be seen outwardly, especially in those with a morphine addiction. The following are physical and psychological symptoms that a morphine abuser may experience:
Due to physical and psychological effects of repeated morphine use, an addict may display behavioral changes and unusual mannerisms. These signs can help people better understand the state of their loved ones, or even help morphine users self-diagnose.
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Short term side-effects of morphine use can occur immediately after first use and last for as long as the morphine is in your system. It usually takes about 12 hours for your blood to be clear of the drug, depending on various factors.
In cases of prolonged morphine abuse and addiction, the long-term side effects change and become more serious.
Even for those who are not abusing morphine, short term side effects of the drug can appear quickly after the first use. These include but are not limited to:
The gastrointestinal tract and the hormonal and chemical balance of the brain can be affected from continued use or addiction to morphine. These long term effects of morphine use on the body include but are not limited to:
With morphine addiction comes the incredibly dangerous possibility of morphine overdose. This can occur due to a high dose of morphine, or when morphine is mixed with another substance such as alcohol or other opioids. Being aware of the signs of an overdose could save a life.
Morphine addiction can sometimes stem from clinical situations in which those recovering from a surgery or going through cancer treatment are prescribed morphine.
Morphine tolerance develops quickly, and patients who once used morphine as a medical solution to relieve pain may find themselves craving more of the substance in higher doses even after their prescription has ended. In these cases, people may jump quickly between doctors in order to have access to prescriptions. This can lead to dependence, and then addiction.
Morphine may also be abused by drug users that have difficulty procuring other forms of opioids such as heroin or opium. As these drugs are not cleared for clinical use, addicts may turn to morphine as a substitute.
The long term effects and overdose risk that comes along with morphine addiction can be dangerous and even deadly. Getting professional treatment as soon as possible is necessary to reduce risk and transition into sobriety safely. When getting off morphine, the symptoms of withdrawal may cause relapse or serious medical complications. For this reason, it is important to seek help from a professional to get treated.
In order to beat addiction, detoxification must take place. As stated above, this traditionally happens under the eyes of medical professionals in a facility where the patient can be monitored and given medication to help with withdrawal symptoms. Outpatient treatment is also available for those that prefer to work on breaking their addiction at home or who desire post-treatment support.
A modern option that is growing in popularity is the ultra-rapid detox program. With this program, the process of body purification is accelerated and the time spent experiencing unpleasant withdrawal symptoms can be greatly reduced, as well as risks related to withdrawal. The majority of pain involved in detoxification and withdrawal can be avoided, and recovery from opioid abuse can be achieved more quickly.
In order to avoid serious long term effects, morphine toxicity, and even fatal overdose, it is necessary to get professional assistance to detox safely.
You can expect to go over the following topics:
There is no shame in getting help with the fight against addiction and its withdrawal symptoms – look into treatment programs today to say goodbye to morphine addiction.
Published on February 8, 2021
by Dr Vorobjev Clinic team
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