Half Life of Morphine
Morphine has truly stood the test of time. Few medicines can claim such a lengthy tenure in the world of medicine. Morphine fundamentally changed the way we approach pain management. Everyone feels pain differently, depending on many factors — from genetics to personal experience. Morphine created a benchmark from which pain management and treatment can branch out from.
Ironically, morphine was, at first, the stepping stone to the creation of other painkillers, yet now it has become a stepping stone to painkiller misuse. This issue of transitioning to other opioids from morphine can be traced back to tolerances, which develop when someone continuously uses a drug. The half-life of morphine is tied to tolerance because the shorter the half-life, the more of the drug a person may be tempted to take to treat their symptoms continuously. The more morphine is taken, the more likely that person is to develop a tolerance to the drug.
Chemically speaking, morphine only lasts a short amount of time in the body. After a few hours, the pain returns and if the individual has been taking the drug for months, withdrawal symptoms may also begin to develop. This difficulty often results in the continued use of the drug to alleviate the pain, which gradually requires larger doses than previously. The half-life of morphine is responsible for the length of time that the drug stays in a person’s system.

Seeking addiction treatment can feel overwhelming. We know the struggle, which is why we're uniquely qualified to help.
Your call is confidential, and there's no pressure to commit to treatment until you're ready. As a voluntary facility, we're here to help you heal -- on your terms. Our sole focus is getting you back to the healthy, sober life you deserve, and we are ready and waiting to answer your questions or concerns 24/7.
Speak to an Intake Coordinator now.352.771.2700The half-life of morphine sulfate is anywhere between two and four hours. Patients who are taking lower doses, such as 15 mg, will have to take an additional pill or two throughout the day.
Morphine’s half-life after the intravenous application is even shorter than that of oral use. The half-life is 90 to 180 minutes for IV morphine.
If you or someone you know needs help for a morphine addiction call The Recovery Village at 855.832.4308 to speak with a representative who can help.
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See more topicsSeeking addiction treatment can feel overwhelming. We know the struggle, which is why we're uniquely qualified to help.
Your call is confidential, and there's no pressure to commit to treatment until you're ready. As a voluntary facility, we're here to help you heal -- on your terms. Our sole focus is getting you back to the healthy, sober life you deserve, and we are ready and waiting to answer your questions or concerns 24/7.
Speak to an Intake Coordinator now.352.771.2700