Talk:Morphine

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I've read in another article that there have been people allegedly executed by morphine injection; perhaps this article could benefit from covering that topic a little bit-- or at least mentioning that such a thing is possible. ekedolphin July 6, 2005 04:12 (UTC)

Google for a reference. Without that, it will sound strange - morphine would need to be given in a massive dose to cause immediate respiratory depression and death. JFW | T@lk 6 July 2005 15:38 (UTC)

Is there an LD-50 for morphine? If so, why is it not here? In a Tom Clancy book (Rainbow Six), clancy writes that pateints in pain can be given more than the lethal dose and suffer no ill effects, as long as they are in sufficeint pain. Is this true? --2tothe4 22:12, 13 August 2005 (UTC)

I know from first hand experience that even though I am opioid tolerant, I recently had a bout with extreme pain, and I was able to handle an amount of heroin that would normally floor me, so I believe this is true. Plus the pain makes you more alert. -Azrayl PS Can some one tell me how to add a timestamp?

There isn't a definitive LD₅₀ for morphine, because the lethal dose depends on the patient. The lethal dose in an opioid-naïve patient is much lower than for a person who has developed pharmacological tolerance to opioids. Therefore, it is true that morphine doses can be escalated, in certain patients, beyond what might be considered a "lethal" dose. -Techelf 12:49, 14 August 2005 (UTC)

The LD-50 is a dose that will, on average, kill 50% of the people who take it. So it's certainly true that roughly half the population can take more than the LD-50 and survive. (You probably already knew that, but I thought I'd clarify)--Superluser 20:28, 17 October 2006 (UTC)

Movingturtle 11:52, 27 September 2006 (UTC)== can be produced, or is produced? ==

"According to recent research, it is also be produced naturally by the human brain."

As is above, the sentence is wrong. Is it can be produced or is produced? Gakrivas 09:43, 29 September 2005 (UTC)

I'd also dispute the correctness of the fact. The brain does not produce morphine but DOES produce neurotransmitters called opiods that act in the same places as morphine. User:Movingturtle

Morphine IS produced in the human brain, there are other entheogenic opioids in the body but they have found that small traces of morphine itself are produced and not from outside sources. Look for yourself. http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/abstract/0405430101v1?view=abstract --Five- 19:56, 7 December 2006 (UTC)

Contents 1 2 year old daughter 2 Discovery and isolation 3 morphine replacement 4 Erm... disambigious link? 5 The study in switzerland saying morphine is stronger than heroin 6 Morphine Pharmacology 7 legally where? 8 Morphine Pharmacology

[edit] 2 year old daughter

My daughter recieved 7mg of morphine when she was supposed to recieve .7mg. There were no immediate side effects. Are there any long term effects that can arise?

Not really. The risks are associated with the immediate effects. Immediate risks are respiratory depression (slow or absent breathing) and coma (which predisposes to aspiration pneumonia). Provided these do not occur any long-term harm is very unlikely. JFW | T@lk 20:01, 30 January 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Discovery and isolation

In the History section dates for isolation and discovery need proper research and references. A cursory glance at Google results shows there are discrepancies in dates and the inventor. Kpjas 08:26, 22 February 2006 (UTC)

[edit] morphine replacement

Could it be theoretically possible to synthesize a compound that is 100 times stronger than morphine and not addictive? Specifically at the receptor level? Filly

The first part of your question is possible (and already done), but probably not the second. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid approximately 100-times the potency of morphine. Unfortunately, current understanding of opioid-receptor pharmacology is that μ-opioid receptor activation, responsible for most of the analgesia, is also associated with the dependence-liability of opioids. -Techelf 08:07, 28 February 2006 (UTC)

There is a way to use opioids and avoid addiction according to a few studies, using small doses of opioid/NMDA antagonists in conjunction with the opioid agonist. Magnesium has also been shown to prevent tolerance and psychological addiction to opioids.(as well as other drugs) --Five- 9:57 9 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Erm... disambigious link?

The disambigious link to Morphia, a dutch band seems non-related to me, anyone in favor? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 213.89.140.71 (talk • contribs) .

[edit] The study in switzerland saying morphine is stronger than heroin

"In a randomised double-blind study with crossover at an outpatient clinic in Bern, Switzerland, morphine was proven to have stronger effects than heroin at equianalgesic doses. Respiratory depression, miosis, sedation, itchiness, and euphoria were more pronounced with morphine." --Azrayl 09:12, 15 July 2006 (UTC)

This is just plain wrong. If anything the study probably proved the exact opposite. Anyone versed in opiates knows that diacetylmorphine has more euphoria than morphine. If the opposite was true morphine would be more sought after than heroin, and people would not conver morphine sulphate pills to morphine hcl, then diamoprhine hcl using a home-bake process, as commonly found in the netherlands. Unless several sources can be found to validate that morphine is stronger than heroin (ridiculous) then I am going to remove this. --Azrayl 09:12, 15 July 2006 (UTC)

UPDATE: okay after reading the quote several times I realize it should say "stronger side-effects" rather than "stronger effects" and this is why I got confused as to why it was in there. I will put it back with the changed "side-effects" --Azrayl 09:12, 15 July 2006 (UTC)

Actually, I have read that study and I can safely say that it did indeed say that morphines effects were stronger at equanalgesic doses. I have to say that I myself was surpised as I have always thought morphine is second fiddle to heroin among the opiates. Now, after reading it a few times, I realized the key words and they were EQUANALGESIC DOSE (which basically translates to doses of morphine and heroin that would bring about equal pain relief, but morphines effects were more intense in doing so - this in turn translates to "heroin being safer as there is less incidence of respiratory depression, miosis, and euphoria")! This means about 10mg morphine IM and 5mg diamorphine IM. Granted, heroin is MORE POTENT, but the study seems to indicate (and they were adament) that morphine is more intense in it's effects. Unfortunately, I cannot seem to find the study report published by the scientists online (where I had originally read it). It was in a Medical Journal online and they seem to have taken it off. TheGoodSon 06:12, 19 July 2006 (UTC)

I strongly agree with Azray on this one that that particular article needs to be found. It may in fact be quite possible that that side effects of morphine are more pronounced, but euphoria is probably more likely to occur in heroin use, as diacetyl morphine has direct action on mu receptors, but then is also metabolised into morphine, which then in turn also activates mu receptors, and is then further metabolised. It is possible though, that heroin's effects are not any different than morphine, but just has a much faster onset. This may reduce the body's down-regulation process in regards to endorphin (the neurohormone morphine mimicks), which may cause fewer side effects, as the action potential takes place before the body can "fight it" so to speak. Of course, all of this is complete speculation without hard evidence. Please find that article. Thank you. iownutopia 21 July 06

Well if you think about it, heroin is only just a pro-drug, meaning it exists only in the external form. Heroin is actually converted into morphine (almost 100% of it) and morphine is the molecule which causes all the side-effects of heroin. The only difference, as mentioned above, is that heroin has a quicker onset of effects. Think about it like this: heroin is a boat carrying morphine to it's destination because morphine would take longer to get there by just swimming. This is really just what it is. The two drugs are exchangeable. Also I should mention that POTENCY does not automatically mean "stronger". Oxycodone and hydromorphone are "more potent" than morphine, but morphine has a higher liability to be abused and is much more intense in it's effects. So I am no longer surprised that morphine maybe more intense than heroin is - it's just that heroin has been all over the place and in peoples minds, it's on the news all the time, it gets more attention, it's more taboo, it's more chic, "cooler" and people just get shocked when they hear that heroin may not be what they thought it was (i think this is what happened here to myself at first, Azray and the rest)...you get my drift? It is LEGAL for prescription in the UK and some other countries. In fact, heroin is used much in the same way morphine is used in British hospitals - it is considered safer and I've heard from doctors who think it is a better alternative to morphine (which is well known and documented to cause morbid psychological conditions including a sense of "not being real", low self-esteem, sense that death is immenent, etc etc). There have been cases where people have literally become crazy from long term morphine use, especially terminally ill patients. Basically, morphine degrades the human soul and mind even in the medical setting, which heroin does not. TheGoodSon 22 July 2006 09:26am (UTC)

TheGoodSon writes "morphine degrades the human soul and mind even in the medical setting,"

Huh? There is no basis for that claim. Sure there have been cases where people on long term morphine use have become "crazy." People on long-term apple use have become crazy too, not to mention people on long-term use of figs. There is no basis for thinking that morphine "degrades" the human soul or mind, whatever on earth "degrades" is supposed to mean, anyway. It has more pejorative connotation than any sort of denotation. It means little more than the existance of people on morphine doesn't meet with your approval.

[edit] Morphine Pharmacology

The morphine pharmacology has been changed from what I originally put to say specific receptors were associated with various effects opposed to thought to be responsible for their effects. It is not proven what receptors mediate what effects a hundred percent and this should be specified. Also, the mu receptor is abbereviated while kappa receptor is not. The whole pharmacology section should be expanded on and not so simple and general.

[edit] legally where?

The article has the phrase "Morphine is used legally" without a statement of where these uses are legal. I wouldn't be surprised if some countries (e.g. Afghanistan) have no laws restricting the use of morphine. I propose that this be changed to describe where these uses are legal. I don't know the laws in every country, or else I'd do it myself. --Superluser 20:21, 17 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Morphine Pharmacology

This part really needs fixed. It currently is a few random facts and a little misinformation, over-generalizations, etc.

The same anonymous user to leave the above line left some similar complaints in the article itself. I have removed them. I know nothing about morphine so I don't know if any further changes to the article are needed or appropriate, but I do know there is a right and a wrong way to go about requesting changes to an article. I would suggest that the anonymous user who feels that changes need to be made should actually make those changes himself. If he knows enough to see that the information is incorrect, he should know enough to improve it. --Suttkus 14:47, 29 November 2006 (UTC)

Okay, I have made a few changes but somebody who knows more about neuropharmacology needs to work on it, I know enough to say that some of it is misleading or just incorrect. I will continue to keep making it better. If I made a change someone doesn't agree with, please just revert that one part, I added a lot of correct information. Feel free to reword any of it as long as it remains accurate. Also if something I put doesn't sound right just ask in here and I will put sources. --Five- 23:35 7 December 2006 (UTC)

Your edits look very good, Five. Please feel free to continue making any corrections or alterations you feel are necessary. I know anyone who disagrees with your edits won't hesitate to let you know! Welcome to the 'pedia. :) Sarah Ewart 10:23, 8 December 2006 (UTC)

Oops, glad someone fixed that, I put the wrong enzyme --Five-