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Morphine
About Morphine
The gold standard opioid analgesic, isolated from opium by Friedrich Serturner in 1804. Morphine treats severe pain from surgery, cancer, and trauma. It works by binding to mu opioid receptors in the brain and spinal cord. Morphine can cause respiratory depression, which is the main cause of opioid overdose death. Despite risks, morphine is essential for pain management and is on the WHO essential medicines list. It remains the opioid against which all others are compared.
Related Medications
Codeine
A naturally occurring opioid found in opium in smaller amounts than morphine. Codeine treats mild to moderate ...
Oxycodone
A semisynthetic opioid derived from thebaine, a component of opium. Oxycodone treats moderate to severe pain. ...
Fentanyl
A synthetic opioid roughly 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. Fentanyl treats breakthrough cancer pain...
Hydrocodone
Long one of the most prescribed opioids in the United States. Hydrocodone treats moderate to severe pain and i...