Morphine addiction symptoms, treatment and consequences

Morphine is an analgesic opioceous that is used to relieve pain. It is available in different forms: pills, injection ... often used by doctors to treat very intense pain in the short and long term. Being a very powerful substance to relieve very intense pain and, in addition, generate euphoria and excessive relaxation make it possible to become a potentially addictive substance. In this psychology-online article, we show The symptoms, treatment and consequences of morphine addiction.

1. Morphine addiction symptoms
2. Consequences of morphine addiction
3. Morphine abstinence symptoms
4. Treatment for morphine addiction

Morphine addiction symptoms

At the beginning of addiction, the symptoms are not very notable, but over time they become more visible. We can divide the Symptoms of morphine addiction In three categories: physical, psychological and behavioral.

Physical symptoms

These symptoms affect the body, either internally (constipation or fainting) or external (skin rashes).

The most common physical symptoms are:

• Small skin spots, eruptions.
• Excessive fatigue.
• Excessive sleepiness (which does not disappear).
• Muscle contractions.
• Decrease in sudden and inexplicable appetite.
• Difficulty breathing.

Psychological or emotional symptoms

It is difficult to identify these symptoms because in some cases they can be confused with other psychological disorders, such as depression. Some of the most common symptoms are:

• Paranoia increase.
• Depression.
• Sudden humor changes.
• Anxiety.
• Great emotional instability.

Behavioral symptoms

Over time, people with morphine addiction show sudden and inexplicable behavioral changes. Some of the most common symptoms are:

• Excessively reserved behavior, hide things, long and inexplicable absences ..
• Get away from friends or family.
• Avoid social situations, especially if family or friends go to those events.
• Decrease in interest in activities that were previously very rewarding.
• Great discussions with family or friends.

Consequences of morphine addiction

Occasional morphine consumption does not usually have any side effect, but prolonged use may present both physical and mental consequences.

The side effect of prolonged consumption of morphine is the most common is constipation and other digestive alterations. Other consequences are:

• Full loss of muscle tone.
• Heart attack.
• Extreme confusion.
• Eat.

The loss of muscle tone or confusion may disappear when the person leaves morphine consumption, but other consequences such as cardiac arrest may have an impact on the person's life, although it no longer consumes.

Morphine abstinence symptoms

When morphine is consumed for a long period of time, the body begins to develop a dependency. This dependence is dangerous because the body deceives itself by believing that morphine needs to work properly. Unfortunately, this type of dependence makes it difficult to leave morphine consumption.

Morphine abstinence symptoms occur when an individual stops consuming the addictive substance. In the case of morphine, the symptoms can last from a few days to several weeks, as the body learns to re -adapt to life without morphine.

Some of the most common symptoms of abstinence to morphine are:

• Difficulty to maintain adequate body temperature, oscillating between fever and chill.
• Crying eyes.
• Runny nose.
• Restless legs or a sense of restlessness.
• Intense muscle aches.
• Very unstable mood.
• Accelerated heart.
• Intense stomach pain.
• Nausea with vomiting.

The severity of abstinence symptoms varies from one person to another. Some people only have a kind of mild flu, while others have such serious abstinence symptoms that need medical attention.

Due to the complexity of the manifestation of abstinence symptoms, it is recommended that the person stop the consumption of morphine under the supervision of a doctor who will be responsible for monitoring the symptoms and ensuring that there are no problems.

Treatment for morphine addiction

1. Detoxification

The first step of treatment to leave morphine is detoxification. The duration of this process depends on how much the consumption of the person has lasted, oscillating between approximately days and three weeks.

It is recommended that this process be supervised by a doctor who will manifest as possible symptoms and that, therefore, the process is as complicated as possible within the circumstances.

Many people trust metadona as a support drug for the detoxification process. Methadone is known for helping to reduce abstinence symptoms associated with the consumption of opioceous, such as morphine, replacing this substance. Over time, the metadona dose is reduced until the person completely cleanses their morphine body.

There are times when metadona cannot be used during the detoxification process because the person has previously presented an addiction to this substance or by allergy. In those cases, the use of another substance must be considered.

2. Rehabilitation

After the detoxification process, something fundamental is that the person begins to rebuild their new life (without substance consumption).

Rehabilitation focuses on overcoming morphine addiction. It can be done internally (the person enters a center) or external (goes to a certain center at a center).

In this process, the person receives individual therapy (behavioral) sessions, support groups, etc. The objective of these sessions is to provide the person with strategies that help them lead a life without drugs.

Some people find very difficult to lead a normal life after having suffered an addiction. Therefore, after finishing the rehabilitation program, some people need to maintain certain therapy sessions that serve as a reminder of their new lifestyle.

This article is merely informative, in psychology-online we have no power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

If you want to read more articles similar to Morphine addiction: symptoms, treatment and consequences, We recommend that you enter our category of addictions.