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Morphine: uses, dosing, side effects & brands

Morphine is an opioid agonist sold in the U.S. under 8 brand and generic names, for dyspnea and intractable pain. Below: what the FDA label says, every product that contains it, what the pills look like, and its recall record.

By the pharmaranks editorial teamReviewed against the FDA (openFDA label, NDC Directory & Enforcement) sourcesUpdated Jul 24, 2026How we research

Key facts

Drug class
Opioid Agonist
Treats (across its forms)
Dyspnea and Intractable Pain
Available as
Capsule, extended release · Injectable · Solution · Tablet, extended release · Tablet
Sold as
8 products — Kadian, Duramorph Pf and Infumorph, and others
Prescription?
Prescription only
Generic available?
Yes
Half-life
about 2 hours
What the pharmacy pays
about $3 per ml — not your price
Boxed warning
Boxed warning

How Duramorph Pf is dosed

From the FDA label for Duramorph Pf (application NDA018565). Other morphine products — different forms, different strengths — are dosed differently. Follow the label for the one you were prescribed.

INFUMORPH should be prescribed only by healthcare professionals who are knowledgeable about the use of opioids and how to mitigate the associated risks. ( 2.1 ) Should be administered by or under the direction of a physician experienced in the techniques of epidural or intrathecal administration. ( 2.1 ) Patients should be observed in a fully equipped and staffed environmentforatleast24hoursaftereachtestdoseand,as indicated, for the first several days after surgery. (2.1) Use the lowest effective dosage for the shortest duration of time consistent with individual patient treatment goals. Reserve titration to higher doses of INFUMORPH for patients in whom lower doses are insufficiently effective and in whom the expected benefits of using a higher dose opioid clearly outweigh the substantial risks. ( 2.1 , 5 ) Initiate the dosing regimen for each patient individually, taking into account the patient’s underlying cause and severity of pain, prior analgesic treatment and response, and risk factors for addiction, abuse, and misuse. ( 2.1 , 5.2 ) Respiratory depression can occur at any time during opioid therapy, especially when initiating and following dosage increases with INFUMORPH. Consider this risk when selecting an initial dose and when making dose adjustments. ( 2.1 , 5.3 ) Initial Dosage: Must be individualized, based upon in-hospital evaluation of the response to serial…

Everything below is the FDA label for Duramorph Pf (injectable, solution). Morphine is also sold as capsule, extended release, tablet, extended release and tablet, and those are different medicines to take — follow the label for the one you were prescribed.

Duramorph Pf side effects

The following serious adverse reactions are described, or described in greater detail, in other sections: Addiction, Abuse, and Misuse [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] Life-Threatening Respiratory Depression [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ] Interactions with CNS Benzodiazepines or Other Depressants [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4) ] Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5) ] Inflammatory Masses [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6) ] Myoclonic Activity [see Warnings and Precautions (5.7) ] Opioid-Induced Hyperalgesia and Allodynia [see Warnings and Precautions (5.8) ] Adrenal Insufficiency [see Warnings and Precautions (5.11) ] Severe Hypotension [see Warnings and Precautions (5.12) ] Gastrointestinal Adverse Reactions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.14) ] Seizures [see Warnings and Precautions (5.15) ] Withdrawal [see Warnings and Precautions (5.16) ] Urinary Retention [see Warnings and Precautions (5.18) ] Orthostatic Hypotension [see Warnings and Precautions (5.19) ] The following adverse reactions associated with the use of morphine were identified in clinical studies or postmarketing reports. Because some of these reactions were reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure. The most serious adverse…

Who shouldn’t take Duramorph Pf

INFUMORPH is contraindicated in patients with: Significant respiratory depression [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] Acute or severe bronchial asthma in an unmonitored setting or in the absence of resuscitative equipment [see Warnings and Precautions (5.9) ] Concurrent use of monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) or use of MAOIs within the last 14 days [see Warnings and Precautions (5.10) , Drug Interactions (7) ] Known or suspected gastrointestinal obstruction, including paralytic ileus [see Warnings and Precautions (5.14) ] Hypersensitivity to morphine (e.g., anaphylaxis) [see Adverse Reactions (6) ] Neuraxial administration of INFUMORPH is contraindicated in patients with: Infection at the injection microinfusion site [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] Concomitant anticoagulant therapy [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)] Uncontrolled bleeding diathesis [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] The presence of any other concomitant therapy or medical condition which would render epidural or intrathecal administration of medication especially hazardous. Significant respiratory depression ( 4 ) Acute or severe bronchial asthma in an unmonitored setting in absence of resuscitative equipment ( 4 ) Concurrent use of monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) or use of MAOIs within the last 14 days ( 4 ) Known or suspected gastrointestinal obstruction, including paralytic ileus ( 4 ) Hypersensitivity or intolerance to morphine ( 4 ) Neuraxial administration of INFUMORPH is contraindicated in patients with: Infection at the injection microinfusion site ( 4 ) Concomitant anticoagulant therapy ( 4 ) Uncontrolled bleeding diathesis ( 4 ) The presence of any other concomitant therapy or medical condition which would render epidural or intrathecal administration of medication especially hazardous. ( 4 )

Duramorph Pf drug interactions

Table 1 includes clinically significant drug interactions with INFUMORPH. Table 1. Clinically Significant Drug Interactions with INFUMORPH Benzodiazepines and Other Central Nervous System (CNS) Depressants Clinical Impact: Due to additive pharmacologic effect, the concomitant use of benzodiazepines or other CNS depressants, including alcohol, can increase the risk of hypotension, respiratory depression, profound sedation, coma, and death. The depressant effects of morphine are potentiated by the presence of other CNS depressants. Use of neuroleptics in conjunction with neuraxial morphine may increase the risk of respiratory depression [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4) ] . Intervention: Reserve concomitant prescribing of these drugs for use in patients for whom alternative treatment options are inadequate. Limit dosages and durations to the minimum required. Monitor patients closely for signs of respiratory depression and sedation [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4) ] . Examples: Benzodiazepines and other sedatives/hypnotics, anxiolytics, tranquilizers, muscle relaxants, general anesthetics, antipsychotics, psychotropic drugs, antihistamines, neuroleptics, gabapentinoids (gabapentin or pregabalin), other opioids, alcohol . Serotonergic Drugs Clinical Impact: The concomitant use of opioids with other drugs that affect the serotonergic neurotransmitter system has resulted in serotonin syndrome. Intervention: If concomitant use is warranted, carefully observe the patient, particularly during treatment initiation and dose adjustment. Discontinue INFUMORPH if serotonin syndrome is suspected. Examples: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), triptans, 5-HT3 receptor antagonists, drugs that effect the serotonin neurotransmitter system (e.g., mirtazapine, trazodone, tramadol), certain muscle relaxants (i.e., cyclobenzaprine, metaxalone), monoamine oxidase inhibitors (those intended to treat psychiatric disorders and also others, such as linezolid and intravenous methylene blue). Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs) Clinical Impact: MAOI interactions with opioids may manifest as serotonin syndrome or opioid toxicity (e.g., respiratory depression, coma) [see Warnings and Precautions (5.10)]. Intervention: Do not use INFUMORPH in patients taking MAOIs or within 14 days of stopping such treatment. If urgent use of an opioid is necessary, use test doses and frequent titration of small doses of other opioids (such as oxycodone, hydromorphone, oxymorphone, hydrocodone, or buprenorphine) to treat pain while closely monitoring blood pressure and signs and symptoms of CNS and respiratory depression. Examples: phenelzine, tranylcypromine, linezolid Mixed Agonist/Antagonist and Partial Agonist Opioid Analgesics Clinical Impact: May reduce the analgesic effect of INFUMORPH and/or precipitate withdrawal symptoms. Intervention: Avoid concomitant use. Examples: Butorphanol, nalbuphine, pentazocine, buprenorphine. Muscle Relaxants Clinical Impact: Morphine may enhance the neuromuscular blocking action of skeletal muscle relaxants and produce an increased degree of respiratory depression. Intervention: Monitor patients for signs of respiratory depression that may be greater than otherwise expected and decrease the dosage of INFUMORPH and/or the muscle relaxant as necessary. Examples: Cyclobenzaprine, metaxalone. Diuretics Clinical Impact: Opioids can reduce the efficacy of diuretics by inducing the release of antidiuretic hormone. Intervention: Monitor patients for signs of diminished diuresis and/or effects on blood pressure and increase the dosage of the diuretic as needed. Anticholinergic Drugs Clinical Impact: The concomitant use of anticholinergic drugs may increase risk of urinary retention and/or severe constipation, which may lead to paralytic ileus. Intervention: Monitor patients for signs of urinary retention or reduced gastric motility when INFUMORPH is used concomitantly with anticholinergic drugs. Oral P2Y 12 Inhibitors Clinical Impact: The co-administration of oral P2Y 12 inhibitors and intravenous morphine sulfate can decrease the absorption and peak concentration of oral P2Y 12 inhibitors and delay the onset of the antiplatelet effect. Intervention: Consider the use of parenteral antiplatelet agent in the setting of acute coronary syndrome requiring co-administration of intravenous morphine sulfate. Examples: clopidogrel, prasugrel, ticagrelor Serotonergic Drugs: Concomitant use may result in serotonin syndrome. Discontinue INFUMORPH if serotonin syndrome is suspected. ( 7 ) Mixed Agonist/Antagonist and Partial Agonist Opioid Analgesics: Avoid use with INFUMORPH because they may reduce the effect of INFUMORPH or precipitate withdrawal symptoms. ( 7 )

Every morphine product we track (8)

Same active ingredient — different manufacturer, form, price and FDA recall record. That last one is what our independent score measures.

Morphine products
#DrugRatingPharmacy pays
1
Kadian
72/100$3View →
2
Duramorph PfBoxed warning
70/100$3View →
3
InfumorphBoxed warning
70/100$3View →
4
Avinza
Not yet rated$3View →
5
Morphabond ER
Not yet rated$3View →
6
Morphine SulfateBoxed warning
Not yet rated$3View →
7
Ms ContinBoxed warning
Not yet rated$3View →
8
Oramorph SR
Not yet rated$3View →

Combination products containing morphine

A combination is a different drug — different dosing, different warnings. It is listed here so you can find it, not so you can substitute it.

Morphine recalls

From the FDA Enforcement database. A recall covers specific lots — not the drug as a whole.

Can you crush or split morphine?

At least one morphineproduct is labelled to be swallowed whole — crushing an extended-release tablet releases the whole day’s dose at once. Which applies depends on the form you were given.

What each morphine label says about crushing, splitting and chewing

Morphine and breastfeeding

From LactMed, the US National Library of Medicine’s Drugs and Lactation Database — quoted, not rewritten.

Epidural morphine given to mothers for postcesarean section analgesia results in trivial amounts of morphine in their colostrum and milk. Intravenous or oral doses of maternal morphine in the immediate postpartum period result in higher milk levels than with epidural morphine. Labor pain medication may delay the onset of lactation. Maternal use of oral opioids during breastfeeding can cause infant drowsiness, which may progress to rare but severe central nervous system depression, although low-dose morphine might be preferred over other opiates. Newborn infants seem to be particularly sensitive to the effects of even small dosages of narcotic analgesics. Extended-release morphine products (such as MSContin) are not recommended in nursing mothers. If morphine is required by the mother of a newborn, it is not a reason to discontinue breastfeeding; however, once the mother's milk comes in, it is best to provide pain control with a nonnarcotic analgesic and limit maternal intake of morphine to 2 to 3 days at a low dosage with close infant monitoring, especially in the outpatient setting. If the baby shows signs of increased sleepiness (more than usual), difficulty breastfeeding, breathing difficulties, or limpness during maternal morphine use, a physician should be contacted immediately. Withdrawal symptoms can occur in breastfed infants when maternal administration of an opioid analgesic is stopped, or when breastfeeding is stopped.

Full LactMed record for morphine: levels in milk, effects in breastfed infants, and the drugs it would consider instead

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, record revised May 15, 2026. LactMed states its information is not a substitute for professional judgement.

What people report to the FDA about morphine

The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) collects reports from patients and clinicians. It holds 84,922 reports naming morphine, and the FDA flagged 79% of those reports as serious. The effects reported most often — leaving out reports about overdose, misuse or the condition being treated, which dominate the raw list for common medicines:

  • drug hypersensitivity10,519 reports
  • emotional distress6,958 reports
  • nausea5,170 reports
  • vomiting3,740 reports
  • fatigue3,680 reports
  • anxiety3,274 reports
  • headache3,270 reports
  • constipation2,930 reports

Read these as a signal, not a rate. A report does not mean morphine caused the effect — anyone can file one, and many describe people taking several medicines for several conditions. Crucially there is no denominator: FAERS does not record how many people took the drug, so these counts cannot be turned into “X% of patients” — a bigger number often just means a more widely used or more talked-about drug. Duplicates exist, and publicity drives reporting. For what is actually established, read the FDA label section above.

Source: openFDA drug/event (FAERS), retrieved August 25, 2026.

How long morphine stays in your system

The elimination half-life of morphine is about 2 hours. Morphine has an active metabolite (morphine-6-glucuronide, M6G) with analgesic activity, and in people with kidney or liver impairment morphine and its metabolites clear more slowly and can accumulate, prolonging effects; some studies with longer plasma sampling report a longer terminal half-life of roughly 15 hours.

MORPHINE SULFATE tablet — DailyMed (FDA label), Section 12.3 Pharmacokinetics ↗

Half-life is how long the body takes to clear half a dose. It is not the same as how long a drug test can detect it, and it varies with age, kidney and liver function.

Related guides

DEA drug schedule explained →

Related calculators

Opioid MME calculator (morphine-equivalent dose) →How long it stays in your system →

Frequently asked questions

What is Duramorph Pf?

INFUMORPH (preservative-free morphine sulfate sterile solution) is an opioid agonist, available as a sterile, nonpyrogenic, isobaric, high potency solution of morphine sulfate in strengths of 10 mg or 25 mg morphine sulfate per mL, free of antioxidants, preservatives or other potentially neurotoxic additives. INFUMORPH is intended for use in continuous microinfusion devices for intraspinal administration in the management of pain. Morphine is the most important alkaloid of opium and is a phenanthrene derivative.

What kind of drug is morphine?

The FDA classifies morphine as an opioid agonist. Opioid agonists bind opioid receptors (mainly mu receptors) on nerves in the brain and spinal cord, dampening the release of pain-signaling chemicals so fewer pain messages reach the brain, which relieves moderate to severe pain. If you are checking whether it is safe to combine with something else, the class is what matters — two drugs from the same class usually should not be stacked.

How long does morphine stay in your system?

The elimination half-life of morphine is about 2 hours — that is how long the body takes to clear half of a dose. Morphine has an active metabolite (morphine-6-glucuronide, M6G) with analgesic activity, and in people with kidney or liver impairment morphine and its metabolites clear more slowly and can accumulate, prolonging effects; some studies with longer plasma sampling report a longer terminal half-life of roughly 15 hours. Half-life is not the same as how long a drug test can detect the drug, and it varies with age, kidney and liver function.

Can you take morphine with other medicines?

It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run morphine against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.

What brand names is morphine sold under?

We track 8 morphine-containing products in the U.S.: Kadian, Duramorph Pf, Infumorph, Avinza, Morphabond ER, Morphine Sulfate, Ms Contin and Oramorph SR. They are the same active ingredient; they differ in form, manufacturer, price and FDA recall record.

What forms does morphine come in?

Across the brands we track, morphine is currently marketed as capsule, extended release, injectable, solution, tablet, extended release and tablet, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.

Is there a generic morphine?

Yes. Our catalog lists 1 generic morphine product alongside the brand versions. A generic has the same active ingredient and must meet the FDA's bioequivalence standard; it usually costs less. Ask your pharmacist which one your plan covers.

Has morphine been recalled?

The FDA's Enforcement database lists at least 5 recall records whose product description mentions morphine. The most recent: Morphine Sulfate Oral Solution 100 mg / 5 mL (20 mg* / mL) (Nov 26, 2025). A recall applies to specific lots, not to the drug as a whole — check the record for the affected lot numbers.

What are the most common side effects of oral morphine?

For morphine sulfate tablets (the oral form most people mean, immediate-release or extended-release such as MS Contin), the most frequent side effects when starting are constipation, nausea, and drowsiness. Also commonly reported: lightheadedness, dizziness, sedation, vomiting, and sweating. These are dose-dependent. Constipation is the one that usually does not improve as your body adjusts, so most people need a stool softener or laxative plan from day one. The serious reactions the label flags are respiratory depression and apnea, and less often circulatory depression, respiratory arrest, shock, and cardiac arrest.

What does the morphine boxed warning say?

Six things. Morphine exposes users to addiction, abuse, and misuse, which can lead to overdose and death. It can cause serious, life-threatening, or fatal respiratory depression, especially when starting or after a dose increase — and extended-release tablets must be swallowed whole, because crushing, chewing, or dissolving them releases a potentially fatal dose all at once. Accidental ingestion of even one tablet, especially by a child, can be fatal. Combining morphine with a benzodiazepine, alcohol, or another CNS depressant can cause profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma, and death. Extended use in pregnancy causes neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome, which can be life-threatening if it is not recognized and treated. And prescribers are urged to complete Opioid Analgesic REMS education and to go through the Medication Guide with you at every prescription.

Who should not take morphine?

The label lists five absolute contraindications. Do not take morphine if you have significant respiratory depression; if you have acute or severe asthma in an unmonitored setting or without resuscitative equipment on hand; if you are taking an MAO inhibitor now or have taken one in the last 14 days (this includes MAOI antidepressants such as phenelzine, tranylcypromine, and selegiline); if you have known or suspected gastrointestinal obstruction, including paralytic ileus; or if you have had a hypersensitivity reaction such as anaphylaxis to morphine. The MAOI rule is a hard stop with a 14-day washout, not a "monitor closely."

Is it safe to take morphine with a benzodiazepine, a sleep aid, or alcohol?

No, unless your prescriber has specifically decided no alternative works. The boxed warning states that combining an opioid with a benzodiazepine or other CNS depressant, including alcohol, may cause profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma, and death — that combination should be reserved for patients with no adequate alternative, at the lowest doses and shortest duration. Muscle relaxants, sedating sleep medicines, gabapentinoids, and sedating antihistamines count too. Ask your prescriber about having naloxone, an opioid overdose reversal agent, at home; the current label has a dedicated section on patient access to it.

What happens if I stop morphine suddenly, or take it while pregnant?

Do not stop abruptly on your own — the label instructs prescribers to taper morphine rather than discontinue it, because sudden withdrawal in a physically dependent patient causes a withdrawal syndrome. Physical dependence is expected with regular use and is not the same thing as addiction, but both are covered in the label. In pregnancy, prolonged opioid use causes neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome in the newborn, which can be life-threatening if it is not recognized and treated, so delivery needs to be planned somewhere neonatology support is available. Tell your obstetric team you are on morphine before delivery, not after.

How long does morphine stay in your system and show up on a urine drug test?

Morphine is usually detectable in urine for about 1 to 3 days after the last dose. It is a naturally occurring opiate and is exactly what standard "opiate" immunoassays are built to detect, so it commonly triggers a positive opiate screen. Detection times are approximate and depend on dose, frequency of use, formulation (extended-release lasts longer than immediate-release), metabolism, and kidney function. This is general information, not medical or legal advice.

How long is morphine detectable in blood, saliva, and hair?

Approximate toxicology ranges: blood about 12 hours to 1 day, oral fluid (saliva) roughly 1 to 3 days, and hair up to about 90 days. Blood has the shortest window and hair the longest. These are estimates that vary from person to person based on dose and metabolism.

Can other drugs cause a positive morphine result?

Yes. Codeine is metabolized to morphine in the body, and heroin also breaks down to morphine, so a morphine-positive screen does not by itself identify which opioid was taken — confirmatory GC-MS or LC-MS testing distinguishes the source. Large amounts of poppy seeds can also raise urine morphine. If you take prescription morphine, tell the lab or Medical Review Officer so the result is interpreted correctly. Detection windows vary between individuals.

Cite this page
APA
pharmaranks. (2026, July 24). Morphine: uses, dosing, side effects & brands. https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/morphine
MLA
“Morphine: uses, dosing, side effects & brands.” pharmaranks, 24 July 2026, https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/morphine.

We summarise public FDA and NIH sources — for a clinical claim, cite the primary source we link to as well.

Sources: FDA openFDA drug label, National Drug Code Directory, and Enforcement (recall) database. This page reproduces public FDA data and is not medical advice. Dosing is set by your prescriber.

Read the full FDA label for morphine on DailyMed (NIH) ↗ — including its boxed warning in full.