Morphine is a potent pain reliever which is chemically similar to opium, and which has a similar narcotic effect on the brain. Morphine can be taken orally or as a rectal suppository, or can be administered intravenously for the treatment of severe or chronic pain. Although effective as a pain reliever, the long-term use of morphine can result in a number of negative side effects.
Constipation
Morphine works to decrease nerve activity. As a result, patients who take morphine for extended periods of time often experience constipation, EMedTV notes. This is a result of morphine blocking the nerve signals which promote the movement of digested food through the gastrointestinal tract, causing fecal matter to progress more slowly and become more compacted.
Sexual
Patients who take morphine for long periods of time can experience a number of sexual side effects. Men may experience impotence or abnormal ejaculation. Both men and women may also experience a decrease in their sex drives.
Dependence
Dependence can result from long-term use of morphine, the National Institute on Drug Abuse reports. Morphine is able to mimic some of the chemicals present in the brain, producing a sense of euphoria in addition to relieving pain. Repeated use of morphine causes the chemistry in the brain to alter as the brain adapts to these chemical changes. This altered chemistry means that the natural balance of signaling in the brain depends on the presence of morphine. If patients go for a period of time without morphine, they begin to experience withdrawal symptoms, which are marked by restlessness, diarrhea, sweating, irritability and an intense desire for the drug.
Tolerance
One major effect of long-term use of morphine is tolerance, the Partnership for a Drug-Free America explains. Tolerance is a result of the brain adapting to the effects of morphine. When morphine gets to the brain, it binds to special proteins on brain cells called receptors. The binding of morphine to its receptors is responsible for the effects morphine has on the brain. When morphine is used for extended periods of time, the parts of the brain that respond to morphine produce more receptors, which means that more morphine is needed to have the same effect on the brain that it used to have. Consequently, people who use morphine for long periods of time may find themselves needing to increase their dosage over time.
Immune System
Morphine use over time can cause suppression of the immune system, the National Institute on Drug Abuse states. When morphine is taken, it causes an increase in the levels of the chemical dopamine. Increased quantities of dopamine slow the production of three kinds of cells in the immune system: known as T, B and natural killer cells. The decreased levels of these cells weakens the immune system, making long-term users of morphine more likely to develop infections.
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