Important information about your medication and things to look out for.
Medication
Oramorph (oral morphine sulfate)
Immediate release medication that takes 30 minutes to take effect and lasts 3-4 hours. This medication is used for breakthrough pain or breathlessness alongside a longer acting medication or for patients who have not used strong opioids before.
Modified Release Morphine Sulfate
Long acting medication which you take twice a day which slowly releases medication over 12 to 24 hours.
Other
You may have been prescribed some other medication which will be specified to you.
You may have been prescribed this medication for one or more of the following
Pain
Opioids can be used for the management of pain due to conditions requiring palliative care. They can be taken alongside other pain killers.
Breathlessness
Opioids have been found to improve the symptoms of breathlessness associated with certain illnesses or chronic diseases, such as COPD and pulmonary fibrosis.
What should I do if I miss a dose?
If you are taking an opioid regularly and it is nearly time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the usual time. Otherwise, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Do not take two doses at the same time.
Will I become addicted to opioids?
The small amount of opioids used to treat breathlessness does not cause addiction. It can be safely weaned and stopped if it does not benefit you, or if you no longer need it.
Will opioids always relieve my breathlessness completely?
Although opioids are usually very effective for controlling symptoms of breathlessness, other treatments may also be needed. Please let your doctor or nurse know if your breathlessness is not being well controlled.
Important side effects to look out for:
Your doctor may prescribe you oxycodone instead of morphine for breathlessness for medical reasons. The advice on this sheet focuses on morphine but side-effects and driving advice is largely the same.
What if I experience side effects?
If you become drowsy or confused, contact a doctor for advice as soon as you can. Severe drowsiness due to opioids is rare – if this happens, dial 999 for an ambulance.
If an ambulance is called, please remember to keep any medicines that have been taken and their containers, to show the doctor, nurse or paramedic.
Driving advice and Opioids
- It is not against the law to drive if you are taking opioids as prescribed and your driving is not affected; however, it is against the law to drive if your driving ability is affected by this medicine.
- You are advised not to drive for five days after starting or changing the dose of your opioid medication.
- You should not drive within three hours of taking an extra dose of your medication.
- You should not drive if you feel dizzy, sleepy or unable to concentrate.
- You do not need to inform the DVLA that you are taking opioid medications but there may be other information about your condition that you need to let the DVLA know.
- It is your responsibility to judge whether you are fit to drive.
Your doctor may prescribe you oxycodone instead of morphine for breathlessness for medical reasons. The advice on this sheet focuses on morphine but side-effects and driving advice is largely the same.