Menu
1-877-565-0123
1-877-565-0123
1-877-565-0123
Parent Testimonials Video

Morphine Overdose

There is the possibility of a morphine overdose, as there is the possibility of overdosing on any drug, prescription medication, or alcohol substances which are addictive substances to many individuals. Whether the morphine overdose is accidental or incidental to one's use will vary from patient to patient, therefore the symptoms, treatment options, and the amount of the morphine overdose is also going to vary, depending on each individual, and each case by case diagnosis of the patient. If you feel you have overdosed on morphine, or if you are the caretaker, parent, friend, or notice an individual who may have overdosed, making sure you seek out the right treatment right away, is something that has to be done. Due to the fact that the diagnosis is on a case by case basis, the treatment methods, medications, and hospitalization which might be needed is also going to vary for each individual that is involved in a morphine overdose case.

Taking too much morphine -
Due to the fact that morphine is a narcotic (opioid drug), the morphine overdose is a possibility for those who are taking the drug, and depending on the severity and how much of an overdose it was, the case can be very dangerous, and has to be treated right away. The effects on each individual which overdoses are going to vary, and they can depend on several factors including the dosage which was prescribed (against the amount that was actually taken), when it was taken, how often, the form, and a mixture of other drugs, substances, or alcohol that is found in the system. If you believe that a morphine overdose has taken place, seeking medical attention immediately is something that has to be done, whether the morphine overdose was intentional or whether it was accidental. Although not always the case (and only in rare circumstances is it the case if not properly treated), death may ensue from a morphine overdose. Therefore, making sure you contact the right emergency number right away, and get the treatment that is required right away, are two things which must be done to lessen the severity of the morphine overdose, and to protect the individual who has overdosed to the best of your ability.

Symptoms of a morphine overdose -
Although they are not all likely to occur, and although they are going to vary from case to case, there are certain symptoms which are common to a morphine overdose, as are common to many other drug or alcohol overdoses that take place. So, if any of these symptoms are noticed following a morphine overdose, making sure to contact an emergency unit immediately is the next step. Some of the most common symptoms are:
- slower than normal heart rate;
- lower blood pressure, or slowly reduced blood pressure (hypotension);
- difficulty breathing, whether it is slow breaths, shortness of breath, or shallow breathing patterns;
- extreme drowsiness is something which may occur in some;
- limp muscles along with cold and clammy skin;
- pupils seeming smaller than normal, fluid in the lungs; and, in the worst case scenario, death may ensue from a morphine overdose depending on the external conditions, whether other drugs or alcohol was involved, or depending on whether the individual who overdosed had any other medical conditions which may have made the morphine overdose too difficult for the body to be able to handle.

Treatment options for morphine overdose -
Making sure that the treatment starts right away following a morphine overdose episode is something that is critical to care. In some cases, if the morphine overdose was recent, and emergency units were called to transport the individual to the hospital right away, the option of pumping the stomach, inducing the individual to vomit, or administering activated charcoal (prevents the body from further absorbing the drug after a morphine overdose), are all options which might do the job if treated right away. In some cases, doctors will prefer administering an antidote to help counteract the morphine overdose, and any effects which may ensue due to the overdose.

After the initial treatment at the hospital, or with a doctor, the individual who has overdosed might also want to seek treatment which involves some kind of supportive care. This option can consist of speaking to a specialist, or going to an inpatient facility, in the event you are addicted to the morphine, or other drugs, in order to help get past those addictive habits, after the initial treatment for the morphine overdose has been completed. Having a strong support system for those who did intentionally overdose, and for the individuals who may have addiction problems, is something that is going to go a long way in the proper treatment of the morphine overdose, and as a preventive measure to ensure another morphine overdose does not take place again sometime down the road.

As there are so many addictive behaviors, the fact that morphine is an extremely strong pain killer, might make certain individuals grow a need for the drug, and in many instances, after continual use, they might morphine overdose on the drug due to the unnecessary ingestion of it. Whether you feel you may be addicted, or whether you believe an accidental morphine overdose may have occurred due to the fact that you did not properly track the times you were taking the morphine, either way, one has to seek out the medical attention for the morphine overdose right away. Due to the many dangers, and due to the fact that it can cause death if not taken care of immediately, it is better to be on the safe side if you believe a morphine overdose has taken place, and contact the emergency personnel to take you to the hospital, rather than run the risk of letting things get worse in the event you did overdose, and you did not get the immediate attention and care that was needed, in order to properly treat the overdose, and get the drug out of the system as quickly as possible.