📋 Indications & Clinical Dosage
*Pain:*
BY SC INJ: Child 1-5 months: Initially 100-200 mcg/kg every 6 hrs. Child 6 months-1 yr: Initially 100-200 mcg/kg
every 4 hrs. Child 2-11 yrs: Initially 200 mcg/kg every 4 hrs. Child 12-17 yrs: Initially 2.5-10 mg every 4 hrs. Doses to be adjusted according to response
BY IV INJ: Child 1-5 months: 100 mcg/kg every 6 hrs, Child 6 months-11 yrs: 100 mcg/kg every 4 hrs. Child 12-17 yrs: 5 mg every 4 hrs. Dose to be adjusted
according to response, dose to be administered over at least 5 minutes.
ORAL OR BY RECTUM: Child 1-2 months: Initially 50-100 mcg/kg every 4 hrs, Child 3-5 months: 100-150 mcg/kg every 4 hrs, Child 6-11 months: 200 mcg/kg every 4 hours. Child 1 yr: Initially 200-300 mcg/kg every 4 hrs, Child 2-11 yrs: Initially 200-300 mcg/kg every 4 hrs (max. per dose 10 mg), Child 12-17 yrs: Initially 5-10 mg every 4 hrs. Dose to be adjusted adjusted according to response.
*Acute pain:*
ORAL, BY SC INJ, OR BY IM INJ: Adult: Initially 10 mg every 4 hours, adjusted according to response.
Elderly and frail patients: Initially 5 mg every 4 hrs, adjusted according to response. Subcutaneous injection not suitable for oedematous patients, dose can be given more frequently during titration.
BY SLOW IV INJ: Adult: Initially 5 mg every 4 hrs, adjusted according to response, dose can be adjusted more frequently
during titration, reduced dose in frail
and elderly patients.
*Chronic pain:*
ORAL BY SC INJ, OR BY IM INJ: Adult: Initially 5-10 mg every 4 hrs, adjusted
according to response, subcutaneous injection not suitable for oedematous patients.
BY RECTUM: Adult: Initially 15-30 mg every 4 hrs, adjusted according to response.
*Pain (with modified-release 12-hourly):*
Adult: MR Tab every 12 hrs, dose adjusted according to daily morphine requirements.
*Pain (with modified-release 24-hourly preparations):*
Adult: MR Tab every 24 hours, dose adjusted according to daily morphine requirements.
*Pain management in palliative care:*
Adult: 20-30 mg daily in divided doses, using immediate-release preparation 4-hourly or a 12-hourly modified-release preparation, adjusted according to response.
*Premedication:*
BY SC INJ, OR BY IM INJ: Adult: Up to 10 mg, administered 60-90 mins before operation.
*Myocardial infarction:*
BY SLOW IV INJ: Adult: 5-10 mg, followed by 5-10 mg if required, administered at a rate of 1-2 mg/minute. Elderly: 2.5-5 mg, followed by 2.5-5 mg if required, administered at a rate of 1-2 mg/minute.
*Acute pulmonary oedema:*
BY SLOW IV INJ: Adult: 5-10 mg, administered at a rate of 2 mg/minute, Elderly and frail patients: 2.5-5 mg, administered at a rate of 2 mg/minute.
*Dyspnoea at rest in palliative care:*
Adult: Initially 5 mg every 4 hours, to be given in carefully titrated doses.
💊 Mode of Administration
For continuous intravenous
infusion, dilute with Glucose 5%or 10% or Sodium
Chloride 0.9%
⛔ Contraindications
Heart failure, secondary to chronic lung disease,
Phaeochromocytoma, acute respiratory depression,
comatose patients, head injury, raised intracranial pressure,
risk of paralytic ileus
⚠️ Precautions & Warnings
Hepatic impairment; avoid oral preparations in acute impairment cardiac arrhythmias, pancreatitis . severe cor
Pulmonale, Avoid use or reduce dose renal impairment; opioid
effects increased and prolonged; increased cerebral
sensitivity. Close monitoring for acute
chest syndrome symptoms during treatment in patients with sickle cell
disease treated with morphine during a vaso-occlusive
crisis.
🔄 Drug Interactions
Opioid antagonists, MAOis or CNS depressants, TCADs, rifampicin, cimetidine, muscle relaxants, antihypertensive drugs, metoclopramide, mexiletine, gabapentin, voriconazole, ritonavir
⚠️ Adverse Reactions / Side Effects
Appetite decreased, neuromuscular dysfunction, GI discomfort, asthenic conditions, insomnia, agitation, bronchospasm, ileus, mood altered, alertness decreased, myoclonus, peripheral oedema, pulmonary oedema, taste altered, vision disorders, sexual dysfunction.
Rare: Seizure, sensation abnormal, syncope, bile duct disorders, vertigo, ureteral
spasm, urinary disorders.
🤰 Pregnancy & Lactation Safety
Pregnancy Risk:
Not recommended
Lactation / Breastfeeding:
Caution advised