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Is It Safe To Have 30mg Of Liquid Morphine Every 4 Hours For Pain?

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Posted on Fri, 16 Jan 2015
Question: my doctor has me on liquid morphine (roxanol) 30mg every 4 hours for pain. i am just wondering if this is to much and if I could overdose from this? I am 29 year old male with a high opiate tolerance and I also take 20 mg of Lexapro once a day, and also smoke medical marijuana.
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Answered by Dr. Shubham Mehta (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
There is no upper limit of morphine dose.

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome here.
I understand your concerns.

The principle of giving morphine is to increase the dose in steps until the patient is pain-free but still alert. There can usually be no maximum safe dose of morphine.

However if you develop following signs on morphine, consult your doctor as soon as possible:
1. Excessive drowsiness and clouding of consciousness.
2. Slow heart rate and difficulty in breathing.
3. Pounding heart and rapid heartbeats.

If your pain is lessened with current dose, continue with same dose.

Lexapro is an enzyme inhibitor. This might inhibit morphine metabolism and can potentiate its effects.

Similarly, marijuana and morphine have synergistic effects on pain.

But do not increase or decrease any of drug doses without your treating doctor's advice.

Hope this answers your query.
Feel free to ask further questions.
Wish you good health.
Thanks.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
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Answered by
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Dr. Shubham Mehta

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2008

Answered : 2145 Questions

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Is It Safe To Have 30mg Of Liquid Morphine Every 4 Hours For Pain?

Brief Answer: There is no upper limit of morphine dose. Detailed Answer: Hello Welcome here. I understand your concerns. The principle of giving morphine is to increase the dose in steps until the patient is pain-free but still alert. There can usually be no maximum safe dose of morphine. However if you develop following signs on morphine, consult your doctor as soon as possible: 1. Excessive drowsiness and clouding of consciousness. 2. Slow heart rate and difficulty in breathing. 3. Pounding heart and rapid heartbeats. If your pain is lessened with current dose, continue with same dose. Lexapro is an enzyme inhibitor. This might inhibit morphine metabolism and can potentiate its effects. Similarly, marijuana and morphine have synergistic effects on pain. But do not increase or decrease any of drug doses without your treating doctor's advice. Hope this answers your query. Feel free to ask further questions. Wish you good health. Thanks.