Micromedex Detailed Drug Information for the Consumer [Internet]. Truven Health Analytics; 1974-2016.

Morphine (Epidural route)

MOR-feen SUL-fate LYE-poh-some

Brand Name(s)

In the US: DepoDur

Dosage forms

Suspension, Extended Release

Classifications

Therapeutic: Analgesic; Chemical: Opioid

Uses of This Medicine

Morphine epidural injection is used to relieve pain following a major surgery. It is given right before a surgery or during a cesarean section delivery right after the baby’s umbilical cord is clamped.

Morphine belongs to the group of medicines called narcotic analgesics (pain medicines). It acts on the central nervous system (CNS) to relieve pain.

This medicine is available only with your doctor’s prescription and will be given by or under the immediate supervision of your doctor.

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Pregnancy

Pregnancy Category Explanation All Trimesters C Animal studies have shown an adverse effect and there are no adequate studies in pregnant women OR no animal studies have been conducted and there are no adequate studies in pregnant women.

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receiving this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

Naltrexone

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

Abiraterone Acepromazine Alfentanil Alprazolam Alvimopan Amiodarone Amisulpride Amobarbital Anileridine Aripiprazole Asenapine Azithromycin Baclofen Benperidol Brofaromine Bromazepam Buprenorphine Buspirone Butabarbital Butalbital Butorphanol Captopril Carbinoxamine Carisoprodol Carphenazine Carvedilol Chloral Hydrate Chlordiazepoxide Chlorpromazine Chlorzoxazone Cimetidine Clarithromycin Clobazam Clonazepam Clorazepate Clorgyline Clozapine Cobicistat Codeine Conivaptan Cyclobenzaprine Cyclosporine Dexmedetomidine Dezocine Diacetylmorphine Diazepam Dichloralphenazone Difenoxin Dihydrocodeine Diltiazem Diphenhydramine Diphenoxylate Doxorubicin Doxorubicin Hydrochloride Liposome Doxylamine Dronedarone Droperidol Enflurane Erythromycin Estazolam Eszopiclone Ethchlorvynol Ethopropazine Ethylmorphine Felodipine Fentanyl Flibanserin Flunitrazepam Fluphenazine Flurazepam Fluspirilene Fospropofol Furazolidone Halazepam Haloperidol Halothane Hexobarbital Hydrocodone Hydromorphone Hydroxyzine Iproniazid Isocarboxazid Isoflurane Itraconazole Ivacaftor Ketamine Ketazolam Ketobemidone Ketoconazole Lazabemide Levorphanol Linezolid Lomitapide Lopinavir Lorazepam Lormetazepam Loxapine Meclizine Medazepam Melperone Meperidine Mephobarbital Meptazinol Mesoridazine Metaxalone Methadone Methdilazine Methocarbamol Methohexital Methotrimeprazine Methylene Blue Methylnaltrexone Midazolam Moclobemide Molindone Moricizine Morphine Morphine Sulfate Liposome Nalbuphine Nalmefene Nalorphine Naloxone Nialamide Nicomorphine Nilotinib Nitrazepam Nitrous Oxide Olanzapine Opium Opium Alkaloids Orphenadrine Oxazepam Oxycodone Oxymorphone Papaveretum Paregoric Pargyline Pentazocine Pentobarbital Perazine Periciazine Perphenazine Phenelzine Phenobarbital Pimozide Piperacetazine Pipotiazine Piritramide Prazepam Primidone Procarbazine Prochlorperazine Promazine Promethazine Propofol Propoxyphene Quazepam Quercetin Quetiapine Quinidine Ramelteon Ranolazine Rasagiline Remifentanil Remoxipride Ritonavir Safinamide Samidorphan Secobarbital Selegiline Sertindole Simeprevir Sodium Oxybate Sufentanil Sulpiride Sunitinib Suvorexant Tapentadol Telaprevir Temazepam Thiethylperazine Thiopropazate Thioridazine Ticagrelor Tilidine Tizanidine Tocophersolan Tolonium Chloride Toloxatone Topiramate Tramadol Tranylcypromine Triazolam Trifluoperazine Trifluperidol Triflupromazine Trimeprazine Verapamil Zaleplon Zolpidem Zopiclone Zotepine

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

Chloroprocaine Epinephrine Esmolol Gabapentin Lidocaine Rifampin Somatostatin Yohimbine

Other Interactions

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following is usually not recommended, but may be unavoidable in some cases. If used together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use this medicine, or give you special instructions about the use of food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Ethanol

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

Asthma, severe or Head injury, suspected or known or Increased pressure in the head or Paralytic ileus (intestine stops working and may be blocked) or Respiratory depression (very slow breathing) or Shock (serious condition with very little blood flow in the body)—Should not be used in patients with these conditions. Breathing problems, severe (e.g., hypoxia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD) or Enlarged prostate (BPH, prostatic hypertrophy) or Heart disease or Problems with passing urine—Use with caution. May increase risk for more serious side effects. Gallbladder disease or Hypotension (low blood pressure) or Sleep apnea syndrome (breathing problems during sleep) or Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) or Seizures, history of—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.

Proper Use of This Medicine

A nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medicine in a hospital. This medicine is given through a needle or catheter in your back (epidural).

Precautions While Using This Medicine

It is important that your doctor check your progress after you receive this medicine. This is to make sure that the medicine is working properly, and to allow your doctor to check for any unwanted effects.

This medicine will add to the effects of alcohol and other CNS depressants (medicines that can make you drowsy or less alert). Some examples of CNS depressants are antihistamines or medicine for allergies or colds; sedatives, tranquilizers, or sleeping medicine; other prescription pain medicine or narcotics; medicine for seizures or barbiturates; muscle relaxants; or anesthetics, including some dental anesthetics. Check with your doctor before taking any of the medicines listed above after you receive this medicine.

Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting may occur when you get up suddenly from a lying or sitting position. Getting up slowly may help lessen this problem. Also, lying down for a while may relieve the dizziness or lightheadedness.

Side Effects of This Medicine

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

Blurred vision confusion decrease in the frequency of urination decrease in urine volume difficulty in passing urine (dribbling) dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position drowsiness fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse painful urination pale skin shortness of breath sweating unusual tiredness or weakness

Less common

Abdominal or stomach cramps or pain bloating constipation convulsions diarrhea difficult or labored breathing dry mouth increased thirst irregular, fast, slow, or shallow breathing loss of appetite mood changes muscle pain or cramps pale or blue lips, fingernails, or skin restlessness shakiness sleepiness slow to respond slurred speech tightness in the chest unconsciousness vomiting wheezing

Incidence not known

Bluish lips or skin disorientation hallucinations lethargy low blood pressure or pulse severe drowsiness slowing of the heartbeat unresponsiveness very slow breathing

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

Bloated or full feeling excess air or gas in the stomach or intestines fever headache nausea passing gas skin itching sleeplessness trouble sleeping troubled breathing with exertion unable to sleep unusual bleeding or bruising

Less common

Back pain burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, “pins and needles”, or tingling feelings chest pain or discomfort fear or nervousness feeling unusually cold lower abdominal or stomach pain or pressure pounding in the ears pressure in the stomach shivering slow or irregular heartbeat swelling of the abdominal or stomach area

Incidence not known

Not alert trouble with coordination

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.