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Is Memory Loss And Hallucination A Side Effect Of Morphine?
My 86-year old mother has been taking the oral form of morphine for about 4 weeks. After about two weeks she started becoming very confused (not knowing the day of the week, forgetting she had spoken to me on the phone, believing we were going on a trip, etc.) and hallucinating (believing people were at her home when they were not, believing she had held a phone conversation with someone when she had not, etc). Could this be a side effect of the morphine?
posted on
Sat, 8 Feb 2014
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Sat, 8 Feb 2014
Answered on
Tue, 11 Feb 2014
Last reviewed on
Hi
Morphine is definitely known to cause hallucinations and confusion. In fact that is one of the reasons that morphine is given very carefully.
Having said that, I would like to know the entire medical/surgical history because a large number of conditions, drugs and their side effects can cause this kind of pattern.
I would suggest checking sugars and electrolytes at least.
Best of luck
Hope that helps
Morphine is definitely known to cause hallucinations and confusion. In fact that is one of the reasons that morphine is given very carefully.
Having said that, I would like to know the entire medical/surgical history because a large number of conditions, drugs and their side effects can cause this kind of pattern.
I would suggest checking sugars and electrolytes at least.
Best of luck
Hope that helps
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