Morphine is one of the strongest opiates prescribed to patients, which makes it highly addictive and can lead to drug dependency. Morphine is so strong in fact that it can cause intense morphine withdrawal if a patient that becomes highly dependent tries to quit. This is why many attend a morphine addiction rehab center.
Withdrawal symptoms for morphine can become both mentally and physically overbearing for a large number of patients without specialist help. This means that families and caretakers watching over loved ones need to be careful when it comes to morphine withdrawal symptoms. For example, trying to get someone to get off of morphine cold turkey can lead to significant harm unless a specialist can assist.
So what should you know about morphine withdrawal if you have a close friend or family member struggling with addiction? What types of specialists will you need to consult with to address these symptoms?
What are Some of the Side Effects of Morphine?
Before a patient goes through withdrawal symptoms they are likely to experience a number of side effects from prolonged morphine use. These side effects include a variety of mild to more serious health complications:
- Drowsiness or excessive sleepiness
- Stomach pain and gastrointestinal issues, in addition to dry mouth and headache
- Mood changes and seizures
- Breathing difficulty
- Chest pain, irregular heartbeat
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, hallucinations and unprompted agitation
The side effects, as well as the withdrawal symptoms, make dealing with morphine addiction incredibly difficult. As you’ll soon learn, withdrawal symptoms after quitting morphine can be just as difficult.
What are Some of the Main Morphine Withdrawal Symptoms?
Morphine withdrawal symptoms include the following conditions after 8 to 12 hours and peak after 32 hours with high intensity. The main symptoms include:
- Anxiety and sweating
- Goosebumps and hot flashes
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Insomnia
- Intense physical pain
The last symptom is usually the most common for patients going through morphine withdrawals. Quitting cold turkey will usually increase the frequency and scale of these symptoms unless a professional can facilitate treatment.
While patients may try and quit on their own, it could lead to unintended consequences such as relapse, tremendous physical pain, and overwhelming mental anxiety. So what should parents do instead?
The best course of treatment when dealing with morphine withdrawals is usually a local rehab center or addiction specialist. For patients located in Portland, Oregon there is one nearby option that can help loved ones curb intense morphine withdrawals.
Treat Morphine Withdrawal Symptoms
If you or a loved one is struggling with opioid dependency and morphine dependency, then it may help to take them to a morphine addiction rehab center. The specialist team at Crestview Recovery is ready to provide withdrawal relief and treatment for patients with even the most intense symptoms.
Patients that have any questions about our services should call us directly at 866.262.0531 to see what treatment and rehab options work for their needs.
Morphine withdrawal is not a necessary encumbrance for struggling addicts to go through. Rehab treatment is a significant benefit to curb even the roughest withdrawals.
Since 2016, Dr. Merle Williamson, a graduate of Oregon Health Sciences University, has been the Medical Director at Crestview Recovery, bringing a rich background in addiction medicine from his time at Hazelden Treatment Center. He oversees outpatient drug and alcohol treatments, providing medical care, setting policies, detox protocols, and quality assurance measures. Before specializing in addiction medicine, he spent 25 years in anesthesiology, serving as Chair of Hospital Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and Chief of Anesthesia at Kaiser Permanente. This experience gives him a unique perspective on treating prescription drug addiction.
