Pain Relievers, Medical & Psychological Drugs

Morphine is given for the relief of moderate to severe pain. It can be given in tablet form, or injection, or intravenous infusion, depending on the severity of pain and the duration of administration necessary. Morphine provides analgesia and sedation.

The precise method of analgesic action of morphine is unknown, but central nervous system opiate receptors have been found throughout the brain and spinal cord, and are likely to play a role in the analgesic effects of morphine. Once absorbed, morphine is distributed to skeletal muscle, kidney, liver intestinal tract, lungs, spleen, and brain. Virtually all of the dose is converted to glucuronide metabolites. Approximately 50 percent of the dose which will reach the central compartment intact will do so within 30 minutes. Elimination of morphine is primarily by renal excretion of 3-morphine glucuronide.

Morphine produces respiratory depression by direct interaction with brain stem respiratory centers, where it causes a decreased responsiveness to increased carbon dioxide levels. It depresses the cough reflex by direct action on the medulla.

Morphine causes miosis, even in total darkness. Gastric, biliary, and pancreatic secretions are depressed by morphine, and there is a decrease in gastrointestinal motility. Digestion of food in the small intestine is delayed, and propulsive contractions are reduced. All these gastrointestinal effects can lead to constipation. In the cardiovascular system, morph

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sorption of Lopressor is rapid and complete. Elimination is mainly by biotransformation in the liver, and its plasma half life is three to seven hours. Approximately five percent of a given dose is excreted in the urine unchanged, and the rest is excreted by the kidneys as inactive metabolites. Patients need to be told to take Lopressor regularly and continuously as directed with, or immediately after, meals. Missed doses should not be combined with subsequent doses, and the medication should not be stopped without the advice of a doctor. Tasks requiring alertness should be avoided until a patient=s response to Lopressor is determined. Catecholamine-depleting drugs may have an additive effect when taken together with Lopressor. Patients who have a history of anaphylactic reactions to allergens may be more reactive to repeated doses and may be less responsive to epinephrine while taking Lopressor. The safety and effectiveness of Lopressor in children has not been established. It should be prescribed with caution in nursing mothers since it can be transferred in the milk, and since its effects in pregnancy are not well known, it should only be given to pregnant mothers if absolutely necessary. LASIX Lasix is given to ad

Category: Medical - P