Morphine poisoning is a serious condition caused by overdose, leading to life-threatening effects on organ systems and heightened risk of abuse among users. Symptoms include apnea, depressed consciousness, reduced respiration, and possible death, necessitating immediate management with ventilation support and antidotes like naloxone. Treatment focuses on reversing toxicity and includes measures such as activated charcoal and counseling for addiction recovery.

1. Morphine Poisoning
By
Koppala RVS Chaitanya
Department of Pharmacology

2. Morphine Poisoning: Morphine Poisoning: Morphine the alkaloid of opium, obtained from
the poppy seeds was used for pain relief or calming effect but its use is limited because of its
induction of tolerance and high risk of abuse. Its overdose can be life-threatening affecting
multiple organ systems and pharmacokinetic properties which prolongs intoxication. Overdose
of this drug can occur if a person intentionally or accidentally takes too much of the medicine.
Nowadays its abuse and illicit selling are on the rise. Its misuse is mainly observed among
regular heroin injectors. According to data collected from the Kharar lab (Punjab), of the 104
viscera samples, morphine traces were found in 84 samples. The presence of morphine indicated
that the individuals consumed morphine directly in its powdered form. A known example of
morphine poisoning is the case of famous international singer Michael Jackson who took an
overdose of morphine in 2003 but was saved by doctors and died in 2009 due to cardiac arrest
Clinical symptoms shown by the person with morphine overdose are
 Apnea i.e. potentially a serious sleep disorder in which breathing temporarily stops and
starts.
 The consciousness of the patients will be depressed ranging from drowsiness to coma.
 Respiration rate will be depressed i.e. if a person has 12 breaths/min or fewer followed by
stupor suggests morphine toxicity.
 Pupil size will be reduced, vision will become blurred.
 Low blood pressure and heart rate also decrease.
 Possibly if symptoms persist death may occur.
Management of Morphine poisoning
 In morphine toxicity, the main aim is to reverse the toxicity by a reversal agent or
antidote followed by securing respiration.
 Patients having a stupor with breaths 12/min should be given BVM Ventilation (Big
mask valve) in which a self-inflating bag is attached to a non-rebreathing valve and then
to a face mask that comply with the soft tissues of the face and in the opposite end
oxygen source (100% oxygen) is attached. The mask is held tightly against the face, and
squeezing the bag ventilates the patient through the nose and mouth.
 Apart from BMV Ventilation, a jaw-thrust maneuver is also performed as it allows
clearing off the tongue from the airway with minimal neck movement, allowing rescue
breaths to be administered. To achieve this patient is approached so that we are facing the
patient’s top of their head after that hand is placed on both sides of the face so that the
thumbs are on the cheekbone and the fingers are below the jawbone. Then the lower jaw
is pulled forward by lifting our fingers while pushing slightly down with the thumbs.
Alternatively, for more force, palms can push down on the cheeks as the jawbone is
lifted.

3.  Most cases of morphine poisoning are treated with activated charcoal to prevent the
further absorption of the drug in the stomach.
 In severe cases, the antidote Naloxone is used for morphine overdose, which is
a competitive mu-opioid–receptor antagonist that reverses all signs of intoxication it is
the treatment of choice. It is active when the parenteral, intranasal, or pulmonary route of
administration is used but has negligible bioavailability after oral administration because
of extensive first-pass metabolism.
 The standard Naloxone dose is (0.4 mg) and for reversing toxicity in children, the initial
dose of Naloxone is 0.01 mg/kg.
 If the patient is in a coma, prompt intubation is strongly recommended because of the fear
of impending, worsening respiratory failure.
 Fluids are given to correct blood pressure levels.
In the case of drug addiction individual counseling, group therapy, family therapy, skills
building, and education should be given to patients.