Morphine Facts
Opioid;
Dose and durationby route · individual sensitivity varies
Oral(mg)
Threshold< 5 mgLight5 – 15 mgCommon15 – 30 mgStrong30 – 60 mgHeavy60+ mg
Starts in 10 – 30 minLasts 4 – 6 hoursAfter-effects 2 – 4 hours
Also recorded: Intravenous · Intramuscular. See full page: psychedex.org/substances/morphine
Body and dependence
- Acute toxicity
- Critical
- Chronic toxicity
- High
- Physical dependence
- High
- Psychological dependence
- High
- Withdrawal
- Severe · medical supervision
- Compulsive redosing
- High
Tolerance
- Builds
- Rapid
- Fully resets after
- 14 days
- Carries over to
- heroin;
oxycodone; hydromorphone; fentanyl; methadone; hydrocodone; codeine; buprenorphine
Effectslikely at a common dose
- Perception
- none likely · 6 possible, including Spatial disorientation, Visual acuity suppression, Visual haze / noise
- Body
- Sedation;
Tactile euphoria; Constipation; Respiratory depression; Spontaneous body sensations; Pain suppression; Pupil constriction; Bodily heaviness; Body high; +16 possible, including Nausea, Dizziness, Motor control impairment - Thinking
- Cognitive euphoria;
Thought deceleration; Cognitive impairment; +11 possible, including Compulsive redosing urge, Information processing suppression, Analysis suppression - Feeling
- Anxiety suppression;
Euphoria; +4 possible, including Anhedonia, Depression - Self
- Craving;
+4 possible, including Communication suppression, Social disconnection - Time
- none likely · 1 possible, including Temporal disorientation
Who shouldn't take it
Absolute
Severe respiratory depression; Paralytic ileus; Morphine hypersensitivity
Relative
Raised intracranial pressure; Hepatic impairment; Renal insufficiency; Pregnancy and breastfeeding; Concurrent MAOI therapy
Combinations62 recorded
Lethal (6)
Benzodiazepines, Barbiturates; GHB, Baclofen; GHB, GBL; Ketamine; Local anesthetics; Tramadol
Dangerous (39)
Antihistamines; Benzodiazepines; Buprenorphine, Kratom; Cannabis, THC; Gabapentin, Pregabalin; MDMA, Amphetamines; Naltrexone; NRIs; Stimulants; THC; 5-HTP, Tryptophan; Alpha-2 adrenergic receptor antagonist; Amphetamines; Anticholinergics; Antipsychotics; Atypical antipsychotics; Buspirone; Caffeine; Cannabis; CBD; Dopamine agonists; DXM; Ephedrine, Pseudoephedrine; Glutamate modulator; and 15 more, see full page
Caution (12)
See full page: psychedex.org/substances/morphine
Not graded (5)
Not listed never means safe.
Seek help immediately if
- Unresponsive / can't be woken, even to a firm sternal rub
- Slow, shallow, or stopped breathing
- Pinpoint pupils
- Blue/grey lips, fingertips, or skin (cyanosis)
- Limp body; pale, clammy skin
- Choking or gurgling sounds ("death rattle")
- Slow, erratic, or absent pulse
What to do
- Try to wake them — shout their name, firm sternal rub
- Call emergency services immediately
- Administer naloxone if available
- Give rescue breaths (or CPR if there is no pulse)
- Place them in the recovery position
- Stay with them; re-dose naloxone every 2–3 minutes if there is no response
- Reversal agent
- Naloxone (Narcan) — opioid antagonist. May require repeated doses; its effect can wear off before the opioid does.
With prompt naloxone and rescue breathing, reversal is usually rapid. Because naloxone can wear off before the opioid — especially with long-acting opioids (methadone) or high-potency ones (fentanyl) — a period of monitoring is needed even after the person revives.
988 Suicide & Crisis LifelineFireside Project: 62-FIRESIDE
psychedex.org/substances/morphine · Version r1 · Not medical adviceValues as of