Morphine is primarily used to treat severe pain that requires continuous, around-the-clock opioid treatment, especially when other pain medicines are not effective or cannot be tolerated
. It is prescribed for both acute pain (such as pain from major trauma, surgery, or childbirth) and chronic pain conditions, including cancer pain and pain during sickle cell crisis
. Morphine works by acting on opioid receptors in the central nervous system, altering the way the brain and nervous system respond to pain signals, thereby providing significant pain relief
. It is available in various formulations, including immediate-release for acute pain and extended-release for persistent, severe pain requiring long- term management
. Besides pain management, morphine is also used in palliative and end-of-life care to improve quality of life by controlling pain
. In emergency settings, it may be used off-label for conditions like musculoskeletal pain, abdominal pain, chest pain, and during acute coronary syndrome to reduce pain and associated stress on the heart
. In summary, morphine is used to:
- Relieve severe acute pain from injury, surgery, or childbirth
- Manage chronic severe pain, including cancer-related pain and sickle cell crisis
- Provide pain relief in palliative and end-of-life care
- Occasionally manage pain in emergency situations like myocardial infarction
