Morphine is a narcotic analgesic. Morphine was first isolated from opium in 1805 by a German pharmacist, Wilhelm Sertürner. Sertürner described it as the Principium Somniferum. He named it morphium - after Morpheus, the Greek god of dreams. Today morphine is isolated from opium in substantially larger quantities - over 1000 tons per year - although most commercial opium is converted into Codeine by methylation. On the illicit market, opium gum is filtered into morphine base and then synthesized into heroin.

Morphine can be taken orally in tablet form, and can also injected subcutaneously, intramuscularly, or intravenously; the last is the route preferred by those who are dependent on morphine.

What are the side effects of Morphine use?

Codeine is absorbed quickly from the GI tract and it's first pass through the liver results in very little loss of the drug. This contrasts with morphine in which over 90% of the drug is metabolized in the first pass through the liver resulting in a considerable loss of potency when administered orally.

• anxiety
• constipation
• depressed or irritable mood
• dizziness
• drowsiness
• exaggerated sense of well-being
• light - headedness
• nausea
• sedation
• sweating
• vomiting
• agitation
• allergic reaction
• appetite loss
• apprehension
• involuntary movement of the eyeball
• "pinpoint" pupils
• itching
• rash
• rigid muscles
• seizure
• swelling due to fluid retention
• tingling or pins and needles
• tremor
• uncoordinated muscle movements
• weakness
• abdominal pain
• abnormal thinking
• accidental injury
• memory loss
• blurred vision / double vision
• chills
• cramps
• diarrhea
• inability to urinate
• dreams
• dry mouth
• facial flushing
• fainting / faintness
• floating feeling
• hallucinations
• headache
• high/low blood pressure
• hives
• insomnia

What are the symptoms of a Morphine overdose?

• cold clammy skin
• flaccid muscles
• fluid in the lungs
• lowered blood pressure
• "pinpoint" or dilated pupils
• sleepiness
• stupor
• coma
• slowed breathing
• slow pulse rate