MORPHINE ADDICTION CAUSES, SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT METHODS

What is morphine?

Morphine is a naturally occurring substance extracted from the opium poppy plant, commonly used for pain management. The substance belongs to a class of drugs called narcotic analgesics as they act directly on the central nervous system to reduce the sensation of both acute (short-term) and chronic (long-term) pain arising from things like injury, trauma, post-operation, and illness such as cancer. Morphine can be taken orally, rectally, intramuscularly, or intravenously, available in tablet, syrup, and slow-release transdermal patch forms. In cases of morphine abuse, the drug is commonly consumed orally or intravenously.

When used in a controlled environment such as a hospital, morphine is generally safe and well tolerated by patients. However, when individuals use it outside of controlled settings or differently from how it was prescribed, there is potential for abuse due to its highly pleasurable effects, such as:

• Euphoria
• Pain relief
• Reduced anxiety
• Relaxed, calm feeling
• Sleepiness, drowsiness
• False or unusual sense of well-being

How does morphine work?

Morphine works directly on the central nervous system as a depressant, reducing or preventing pain signals from reaching the brain. Morphine also leads to the production of endorphins, resulting in feeling good while providing effective pain relief to the individual.

As with all prescribed medications, morphine can have some unpleasant side effects. These include:

• Anxiety
• Agitation
• Hallucinations
• Brain fog
• Constipation
• Dry mouth and eyes
• Demotivation
• Nausea and vomiting
• Memory problems
• Respiratory depression
• Seizures

What is morphine addiction?

Morphine has the potential to be highly addictive as tolerance to the drug develops rapidly. Bearing similar effects to those of heroin, morphine is highly addictive due to its strong pain-relieving (analgesic) effect and associated euphoric feelings. Morphine affects the brain’s reward circuitry with creating a false sense of euphoria by triggering the release of dopamine. Surges of dopamine neurons in the brain reinforce the associated behaviours and encourage their repetition, even if the activity is maladaptive and unhealthy.

With prolonged use of a substance, the body commonly develops tolerance and dependence. Tolerance is the body's response to repeated exposure to a substance over time. When individuals develop a tolerance, they require larger doses of the substance in order to experience the same effects. An individual is said to be dependent on a substance when they feel like they cannot function normally without taking it. This can be physical or psychological, or both and can have many negative effects on someone's life. Addiction occurs when an individual is unable to stop or control the use of the substance despite the negative consequences they cause for the individual.

The crossover from tolerance or dependence to addiction may not be obvious, but there are some telltale signs of addiction:

• Taking prescription medications when you don't need them anymore. For example, still taking morphine despite no longer being in pain.
• Needing higher doses of a substance more often to get the same effects.
• Thinking about taking the drug constantly and where you can get more.
• Lying or stealing to obtain the drug.
• Engaging in more risky behaviour as a result of the drug use.
• Having trouble engaging in regular daily tasks without feeling a need to use them.

Tolerance does not always lead to dependence and addiction. However, it is noteworthy to mention that this does often occur. Morphine, along with its analgesic properties, can help relieve anxiety and depression. While many become physiologically dependent on the drug, some may also develop a psychological dependence as a result of the feel-good effects of morphine.

Over time, the brain and body undergo changes to adapt to having morphine in the system. As with any substance addiction, morphine addiction can be difficult to overcome as people often get trapped in a cycle of abuse to avoid unpleasant symptoms associated with reduced or halted use.

Symptoms of morphine addiction

Symptoms of morphine addiction are similar to the symptoms of addiction to other drugs and prescription medications, such as:

• Feeling an urgent need for medication
• Feeling anxious
• Constant tension
• Loss of appetite
• Nervousness
• Loss of passion for life activities
• Depressive symptoms

While it may be difficult to identify morphine addiction in an individual, abuse of the drug has the power to change the way people look, act, and feel. These changes can include:

Aggressive and nervous behaviour

Individuals who are addicted to morphine may often undergo behavioural changes, causing them to be more aggressive or nervous than before. Often, behavioural changes are one of the first noticeable signs of addiction. Addiction affects the part of the brain responsible for pleasure and reward, leading individuals with addictions to experience intense mood swings. Individuals often go from deep feelings of depression or aggression to periods of elation and joy. This shift can be an indication that the individual is using substances to help induce their positive mood.

Neglect of work and important social activities

Morphine addiction can lead to complete neglect and dropout from work or failure to meet obligations with school or family. As the person with the addiction spends a lot of their time and energy either using the drug or seeking out more of the substance they are using, they may end up disregarding many of their social obligations. Addiction may also lead individuals to distance themselves from family members and friends and either self-isolate or surround themselves with others who use drugs.

Weight loss

A person suffering from morphine addiction will undergo rapid weight loss. Often, individuals using morphine consume less food as a result of drug-use-induced constipation, nausea, and vomiting. Excessive weight loss and changes to digestive health can lead to other health problems unrelated to the reason for starting medication in the first place.

Lethargy and extreme drowsiness

As morphine is a depressant, it works to slow down the nervous system. Those with a morphine addiction often feel drowsy and can often sleep almost anywhere, even if the place is not intended for sleep. Constant feelings of sleepiness also make the person lose focus easily and contribute to them sleeping more hours than usual, sometimes failing to meet personal or work responsibilities.

Financial problems

Addicts can also suffer from financial problems. As obtaining the drug illegally can be very expensive, and neglecting work affects their income, a person addicted to morphine can drive themselves towards financial difficulties.

The risk of morphine

Those who abuse morphine in high doses put themselves at risk of overdosing. Signs of a Morphine overdose include:

• Slurred speech
• Inattention
• Intense drowsiness
• Fever
• Elevated blood pressure
• Increased thirst
• Decreased responsiveness
• Extreme sleepiness
• Swelling of the face and extremities
• Lack of movement
• Slowed breathing
• Muscle cramps
• Spasms
• Pain
• Stiffness

As morphine depresses the central nervous system (CNS), overdose can lead to unconsciousness, slowed heart rate or breathing to the point of death.

When taking morphine, individuals should be aware of and have naloxone readily available. While Naloxone is not a treatment for morphine addiction, it is a drug that is used to reverse the life-threatening effects of an overdose.

How is morphine addiction treated?

Treatments for morphine addiction include a combination of medication to manage withdrawal symptoms, therapy, and support groups. Using such a comprehensive approach can help increase the chances of a successful recovery.

Morphine detox is more than just uncomfortable. Quitting cold turkey can actually be dangerous for the individual as this can lead to inflammation which can damage brain cells. Once someone is addicted to morphine, they will feel the need to use the drug to feel ‘normal’. In the first 6-12 hours of an individual’s last opioid use, they will experience withdrawal symptoms. These often include:

• Irritability
• Abdominal cramps
• Muscle spasms
• Chills and sweating
• Diarrhoea
• Tremors
• Body aches

A person who is addicted generally needs to go to a specialised treatment centre as their needs cannot be provided for at home. Often, the first step of treatment is a medically supervised detox. This includes a tapering down of doses to slowly get the individual to stop using the drug. This tapering can be done with morphine itself or with a substitute drug that has similar effects.

For some, withdrawal symptoms can last a long time. Medication-assisted treatment can help individuals who require long-term maintenance of withdrawal. This is done with buprenorphine, a mild narcotic that binds with the same opioid receptors as morphine. Other medications can be used in addiction treatment to help control cravings or to help with some side effects of morphine addiction, like nausea.

Alongside the drug detox, psychotherapeutic sessions with a psychologist are also recommended as a treatment for morphine addiction. Psychotherapy can help individuals with addiction problems understand their behaviour and motivations. Individuals can also benefit from working on issues related to self-esteem and learning coping mechanisms for life stressors. An individual can gain further support from participating in group sessions with others experiencing the same problem.

The Kusnacht Practice provides a 360-degree approach to individualised care tailored to your specific needs and goals. Our team of specialists in psychiatry and psychotherapy, as well as the team of in-house doctors, are dedicated to your well-being, helping foster a positive environment for recovery.

As specialists in treating addictions and other mental health disorders, we can help you to recover safely. The Kusnacht Practice provides treatments including a full medical detox with Medical treatment and care, Psychotherapeutic care and Biomolecular Restoration and Rejuvenation (BIO-R®) to help re-empower you to get your life back.

If you feel that you have a problem with morphine that you cannot control or resolve, get in touch to find out how we can help.