There are both pros and cons of using liquid morphine for pain relief. Among the pros are the fact that it offers potent pain relief, acts quickly, and boosts one's general mood. It may be used for people who need pain control medication around the clock. The cons, however, include side effects of the medication and its potential to depress one's respiration. The potential for addiction may be considered a con, but most people are unlikely to become addicted to it.
One of the pros of liquid morphine is its effective pain relief. Liquid morphine is usually prescribed for pain that is moderate to severe in intensity and is often used by individuals who need pain relief around the clock. Doctors often prescribe it for patients who have cancer as well as a range of chronic conditions and serious injuries. Liquid morphine may also prove helpful for treating post-surgery pain and helping patients with acute conditions such as kidney stones. Sometimes, doctors even prescribe this medication for hospice patients who need pain relief in their final days.
This medication works by copying the manner in which natural chemicals from the brain block pain symptoms. It not only dulls the pain a person feels, but also changes the way he responds to it. Patients may still feel some of the pain, and in severe cases, doctors may prescribed additional medications to make them more comfortable.
Another pro of liquid morphine is that it is quick to act. A person can usually expect to begin feeling relief within about 15 minutes of treatment. This may be balanced by a con, which is the fact that a typical dose may only last for a few hours. This means, a patient may have to take more doses in one day in order to maintain his desired level of pain relief.
Side effects are often listed among the cons of using liquid morphine. Among the most common side effects of liquid morphine are slowed digestion, constipation, and upset stomach. An individual may also experience dizziness and confusion as a side effect of the medication. Sometimes urine retention develops when a person is using this medication as well. Many people become drowsy while they are taking it.
The potential for breathing problems is also among the cons of morphine use. This is because morphine acts on the area of the brain that regulates a person’s breathing. As such, it has the potential to depress a person’s breathing rate. Fortunately, however, depressed respiration only occurs in rare cases. An individual is more likely to experience respiratory problems when he has taken an overdose.
Many people consider the habit-forming properties of liquid morphine a con of using it. Fortunately, however, it is less addictive than many other narcotic medications that are derived from opium. As such, most people are unlikely to become addicted while they are using it for pain relief.
