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Morphine overdose signs include drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, slow or labored breathing, pinpoint pupils, and unresponsiveness.
An estimated 15 million people worldwide misuse opioids like morphine every year.[1]
While some overdoses are a result of taking illicit morphine, sometimes morphine can cause an overdose even if taken exactly as prescribed by a doctor, which is why all narcotic medications carry risk. The risk of overdose even on routine doses of prescribed morphine is also elevated if taken in combination with other sedatives (like alcohol or benzodiazepines).
Understanding morphine overdose signs and symptoms is critical, as these episodes are life-threatening. With quick medication intervention, you can survive an overdose. Keep reading to learn more about the signs and symptoms of morphine overdose.
Yes, you can overdose on morphine.
Morphine is a prescription opioid available in both generic and brand-name versions. Your doctor might use this medication to help manage your pain either short time or, more rarely, for long term use.
Morphine is a central nervous system depressant in the sense that it decreases your body’s natural drive to breathe. If taken in excess, it can cause such a degree of respiratory suppression that the person spontaneously stops breathing, causing what we call an overdose.
It entirely depends. Opioid tolerance varies from person to person, and can change with time. If you've never taken morphine before, a dose that's safe for an experienced person could cause an overdose for you.
Approach all opioids, including morphine, with caution. Many people believe these drugs are safe because they are prescribed by doctors. But even prescription drugs like morphine are the source of about 50% of all misused opioids.[2]Even normal or routine doses of prescribed morphine can cause overdose in some individuals.
Common early overdose symptoms include the following:[3]
Without treatment, these symptoms can worsen. The person may be impossible to awaken, even if you shake them or call their name. Their lips or fingernails may appear bluish or purplish. They may feel cold to the touch, and they may not be breathing.
Anyone can overdose on morphine, including people who have used the drug for years. While some factors can increase your risk, no one is truly safe from an overdose of this drug.
People with a higher risk of overdose share the following factors:[4]
In 2021, more than 98,000 people died due to drug overdoses — an all-time high.[5] The opioid category that includes morphine was responsible for more than 12,000 of these deaths.[6]
The medication naloxone can quickly reverse an overdose, and it's available over the counter for any bystander to administer. One quick puff of fluid into the nose delivers naloxone to brain cells, which kicks morphine off its receptors. If you have naloxone, don’t hesitate to administer it.
After naloxone administration, people awaken very quickly, but they don't feel well. With all morphine rendered inactive in minutes, people develop severe and uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms, including the following:
Some people take so much morphine that they slip back into an overdose when one naloxone dose wears off. They may need monitoring in a hospital to ensure they get the long-term help they need. If you have a second naloxone dose on hand, administer it while you wait for emergency medical professionals to arrive.
Never use morphine alone. Ask someone to stay with you or check in with you regularly, and intervene if you overdose. You can't generally medicate yourself, but someone else can offer lifesaving assistance.
If you think someone is overdosing, take these steps:
Your quick thinking during an overdose could save someone's life. If you or someone you love uses morphine, keep naloxone on hand for emergencies like this.
Elena Hill, MD; MPH received her MD and Masters of Public Health degrees at Tufts Medical School and completed her family medicine residency at Boston Medical Center. She is currently an attending physician at Bronxcare Health Systems in the Bronx, NY where she works as a primary care physician as well as part time in pain management and integrated health. Her clinical interests include underserved health care, chronic pain and integrated/alternative health.
