How Long Does Morphine Stay in Your System? Decoding Duration

Morphine is a powerful opioid painkiller derived from the opium poppy plant. People use it to relieve pain from various conditions, such as cancer, surgery, injury, or heart attack. Morphine can be abused for its euphoric and relaxing effects, leading to addiction, overdose, or death. For that, you must know how long does morphine stay in your system?

Morphine can affect other body systems, such as the respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and urinary systems. You can take it in different forms, such as tablets, capsules, liquids, injections, patches, or suppositories. The dosage, frequency, and duration of morphine use vary depending on various factors.

The following blog post will cover all these aspects of morphine.

What is Morphine?

Morphine is a natural alkaloid from the class of drugs called opioids, synthetic or semi-synthetic derivatives of opium. Other opioids include codeine, heroin, oxycodone, fentanyl, and methadone. It was first isolated by a German pharmacist named Friedrich Sertürner in 1804.

Morphine is available in various forms and strengths, such as immediate-release (IR) or extended-release (ER) tablets, capsules, liquids, injections, patches, or suppositories.

Some common brand names of morphine products include MS Contin and Kadian Morphine, classified as Schedule II controlled substances.

How Does Morphine Work?

Although how long does morphine stay in your system depends on multiple factors, morphine mimics the action of endorphins. They are natural chemicals the body produces in response to pain, stress, or exercise. Endorphins bind to opioid receptors in the brain and spinal cord.

By binding to these receptors, morphine blocks the transmission of pain signals from the nerves to the brain and reduces pain perception and emotional distress.

Morphine also affects other brain regions involved in reward, pleasure, mood, motivation, memory, and learning. These effects can make morphine highly addictive, as users may seek to repeat the experience and avoid negative emotions or withdrawal symptoms.

Morphine also affects other body systems, such as the respiratory system. Morphine can slow down breathing and causes respiratory depression, which can be fatal in high doses.

How Is Morphine Metabolized in the Body?

The kidneys and liver both metabolize and eliminate morphine. The metabolism and excretion of morphine can vary depending on the type of morphine product, the route of administration, the dose and frequency of use, and individual factors.

Morphine is mainly metabolized by two enzymes in the liver: CYP3A4 and UGT2B7. CYP3A4 converts morphine into normorphine, which is an inactive metabolite. UGT2B7 transforms morphine into two active metabolites: morphine-3-glucuronide (M3G) and morphine-6-glucuronide (M6G).

Morphine and its metabolites are mainly excreted by the kidneys in urine. About 90% of the dose is eliminated in the urine within 24 hours. The remaining 10% is eliminated in feces or bile. The elimination half-life of morphine is about 2 to 3 hours, meaning it takes about 2 to 3 hours for half of the drug to be cleared from the body. The elimination half-life of M3G and M6G is about 4 hours.

Also Read: How Long Does Percocet Stay in Your System? All You Need to Know

What Does Morphine Abuse Look Like?

Morphine abuse is morphine for non-medical purposes or in ways not prescribed by a doctor. can take many forms, such as:

Taking morphine without a prescription or obtaining it from illegal sources
Taking morphine in combination with other drugs or substances, such as alcohol, cocaine, or heroin
Taking morphine for its euphoric or relaxing effects rather than for pain relief
Taking morphine to cope with stress, anxiety, depression, or trauma
Taking morphine to avoid or relieve withdrawal symptoms

Morphine abuse can severely affect the user’s health, well-being, and quality of life.

Some of the signs and symptoms of morphine abuse include:

Physical Dependence

Physical dependence is when the body adapts to morphine and requires it to function normally. It can develop with regular or prolonged use of morphine, even when taken as prescribed. Physical reliance can cause withdrawal symptoms when morphine is stopped or reduced abruptly.

Psychological Dependence

This is a state in which the user develops an emotional attachment to morphine and relies on it to feel good, cope with problems, or function normally. Psychological dependence can develop with repeated or prolonged use of morphine, especially when taken for its euphoric or relaxing effects.

Tolerance

Tolerance can develop with repeated or prolonged use of morphine as the body adapts to its presence and reduces the number or sensitivity of opioid receptors. It can increase the risk of overdose, as the user may take more morphine than the body can handle.

Overdose

This is life-threatening when the user takes too much morphine or combines it with other depressants, such as alcohol or benzodiazepines. Overdose can cause severe respiratory depression, leading to coma, brain damage, or death. Overdose can cause further complications, such as hypotension (low blood pressure).

Symptoms of Morphine Addiction

Morphine addiction is a chronic and relapsing condition characterized by compulsive morphine use despite negative consequences. Morphine addiction can affect the user’s physical, mental, social, and occupational functioning.

Some of the symptoms of morphine addiction include:

Craving morphine and spending a lot of time and money obtaining, using, or recovering from it
Neglecting other responsibilities, interests, or activities because of morphine use
Continuing to use morphine despite knowing the harm it causes to oneself or others
Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when morphine use is stopped or reduced
Developing tolerance and needing higher doses or more frequent doses to achieve the same effect
Failing to control or stop morphine use despite repeated attempts

The number of symptoms present determines the severity of opioid use disorder. A mild opioid use disorder is diagnosed when two to three symptoms are present, a moderate opioid use disorder is diagnosed when four to five symptoms are present, and a severe opioid use disorder is diagnosed when six or more symptoms are present.

Effects of Morphine

Morphine can have various effects on the user’s body and mind, depending on the dose, route of administration, duration of use, and individual factors.

Some of the effects of morphine include:

Analgesia

Morphine can reduce or eliminate pain by blocking pain signals from reaching the brain. However, morphine can mask the underlying cause of pain and delay proper diagnosis and treatment.

Euphoria

Morphine can induce a state of intense pleasure and well-being by stimulating the release of dopamine in the brain. It can appeal to people seeking to escape stress, anxiety, depression, or trauma.

However, morphine can also impair the user’s ability to cope with negative emotions and create a psychological dependence on the drug.

Sedation

Morphine can cause drowsiness, relaxation, and reduced alertness by depressing the central nervous system. However, morphine can also impair the user’s cognitive skills.

Constipation

Morphine can reduce the activity of the gastrointestinal tract and cause difficulty passing stools. The user may take laxatives, stool softeners, or fiber supplements to prevent or treat constipation.

Nausea and Vomiting

Morphine can stimulate the chemoreceptor trigger zone in the brain and cause nausea and vomiting. It can be unpleasant for the user and lead to dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, or aspiration pneumonia. To prevent or treat nausea and vomiting, the user may need to take antiemetics, such as ondansetron or metoclopramide.

Also Read: How Long Does Meth Stay in Urine? What You Need to Know

How Long Does Morphine Stay in Your System?

How long does morphine stay in your system depends on multiple factors, such as the type of morphine product, the route of administration, the dose and frequency of use, your age, weight, health status, genetics, and other drugs or substances you may be taking.

In general, morphine can be detected in different biological samples for various periods after the last dose.

Some of the typical biological samples and detection times for morphine are:

Blood

Morphine can be detected in blood for up to 12 hours after the last dose. Blood tests are usually used to measure the level of morphine in the bloodstream and are typically used to monitor overdose or poisoning cases. Blood tests are more invasive and expensive than urine tests and have a shorter detection window.

Saliva

Morphine can be detected in saliva for up to 4 days after the last dose. Saliva tests are less invasive and more convenient than blood tests and can see recent morphine use. Saliva tests are also less likely to be adulterated or tampered with than urine tests.

Hair

Morphine can be detected in hair up to 90 days after the last dose. Hair tests are more sensitive and accurate than urine or saliva tests and can provide a long-term history of morphine use. Hair tests require a small sample cut close to the scalp and sent to a laboratory for analysis.

How Long Can You Detect Morphine in a Drug Test?

Drug tests are used to detect the presence of morphine or its metabolites in biological samples, such as urine, blood, saliva, or hair. Drug tests have different cutoff levels, the minimum concentrations of morphine or its metabolites that need to be present in the sample for the test to be positive.

What Are Morphine Withdrawal Symptoms?

Morphine withdrawal symptoms are the physical and psychological effects that occur when a person physically dependent on morphine stops or reduces their morphine use. They are caused by the rebound of the body’s natural pain-modulating system, suppressed by chronic morphine use.

Morphine withdrawal symptoms can vary in intensity and duration depending on multiple factors. Morphine withdrawal symptoms can be classified into two phases: acute and protracted.

Acute withdrawal symptoms are the initial and most severe symptoms that occur within hours or days after the last dose of morphine.

Restlessness
Agitation
Anxiety
Insomnia
Muscle aches
Sweating
Yawning
Runny nose
Tearing
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhea

Protracted withdrawal symptoms are the long-term and less severe symptoms that occur after the acute withdrawal phase. Prolonged withdrawal symptoms can last for weeks or months and may include:

Depression
Anxiety
Irritability
Mood swings
Cravings
Fatigue
Insomnia
Poor concentration
Poor memory
Low libido
Low self-esteem

Morphine withdrawal symptoms can be uncomfortable and distressing but not life-threatening. However, some complications may arise from morphine withdrawal, such as dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, infection, or injury. Therefore, seeking medical supervision and support is advisable when undergoing morphine withdrawal.

Factors That Affect How Long Morphine Remains in Your System

Type of Morphine Product

Different morphine products have different formulations, strengths, and routes of administration, which can affect how quickly or slowly morphine is absorbed. For example, immediate-release morphine products have a faster onset and shorter duration of action than extended-release morphine products.

Similarly, injectable morphine products have a quicker onset and shorter course of action than oral morphine products.

Dose and Frequency of Use

The higher the dose or the more frequent the help of morphine, the more morphine accumulates in the body, and the longer it takes to be eliminated. Regular or chronic morphine use can also lead to tolerance and dependence, affecting how the body responds to and metabolizes morphine.

Age

Older people tend to have slower metabolism and excretion of drugs than younger people due to age-related changes in liver and kidney function, blood flow, body composition, and hormone levels. Therefore, older people may have higher or longer-lasting levels of morphine in their system than younger people.

Weight

Heavier people tend to have more body fat than lighter people, affecting how drugs are distributed and stored in the body. Morphine is a lipophilic drug that can dissolve in fat and accumulate in fatty tissues. Therefore, heavier people may have higher or longer-lasting levels of morphine in their system than lighter people.

Health Status

People with liver or kidney diseases or impairments may have slower metabolism and excretion of drugs than healthy people due to reduced enzyme activity or filtration capacity. Therefore, people with liver or kidney problems may have higher or longer-lasting levels of morphine in their system than healthy people.

Treatment of Morphine Addiction

Morphine addiction is a treatable condition that requires a comprehensive and individualized approach. The treatment of morphine addiction may involve a combination of pharmacological and psychosocial interventions, such as:

Detoxification

Detoxification is the process of safely and gradually reducing or eliminating morphine from the body. It can be assisted by medications that ease withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings, such as methadone, buprenorphine, naltrexone, or clonidine. Detoxification is not a sufficient treatment, but it is a necessary first step to prepare the user for further treatment.

Medication-assisted Treatment (MAT)

MAT uses medications in combination with behavioral therapies to treat opioid use disorder. It can help prevent relapse, reduce cravings, block the effects of opioids, and restore normal brain function. MAT can be done in an inpatient or outpatient setting, depending on the needs and preferences of the user.

Behavioral Therapies

Behavioral therapies are psychological interventions that aim to modify the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that contribute to morphine addiction. They can help the user cope with stress, triggers, cravings, and negative emotions and develop new skills, habits, and goals.

Behavioral therapies can be done in an individual or group setting, depending on the needs and preferences of the user.

12-step Facilitation (TSF)

TSF therapy introduces and prepares the person for participation in 12-step programs, such as Narcotics Anonymous (NA) or Morphine Anonymous (MA). It can help to increase the person’s acceptance of morphine addiction as a chronic and progressive disease that requires abstinence and spiritual recovery.

TSF can also help to increase the person’s involvement in 12-step activities, such as attending meetings, reading literature, working the steps, or finding a sponsor.

Psychosocial Support

Psychosocial support provides emotional, social, and practical assistance to a person with morphine addiction. It can help to address the underlying or co-occurring issues that may affect morphine addiction or recovery, such as trauma, stress, family conflict, or social isolation. Psychosocial support

Conclusion

Morphine is a powerful opioid medication used to treat moderate to severe pain. It can have various effects on the body and mind, depending on the dose, route of administration, duration of use, and individual factors. Morphine can also interact with other drugs or substances that can alter its levels or effects. But how long does morphine stay in your system depends on various factors.

Morphine can cause physical dependence and addiction in some people who use it for a long time or in high doses. But, it can be treated with a comprehensive and individualized approach involving pharmacological, behavioral, and psychosocial interventions.

Morphine addiction is a treatable condition that requires ongoing care and support. Recovery from morphine addiction is a lifelong process that involves personal commitment, motivation, and change. The recovery from morphine addiction can also affect various sources of support, such as family, friends, peers, or professionals.