Comprehensive Nursing Pharmacology Q 194
Which of the following statements about morphine is correct?
A. Morphine is contraindicated in pain relief caused by head injury.
B. Morphine's withdrawal symptoms cannot be relieved by methadone.
C. Morphine is most effective by parenteral administration.
D. Morphine quickly enters all body tissues.
Correct Answer: D. Morphine quickly enters all body tissues.
Morphine quickly enters all body tissues. Morphine is considered the classic opioid analgesic with which other painkillers are compared. Like other medications in this class, morphine has an affinity for delta, kappa, and mu-opioid receptors. This drug produces the majority of its analgesic effects by binding to the mu-opioid receptor within the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS).
Option A: Morphine is not contraindicated for head-injured clients. FDA-approved usage of morphine sulfate includes moderate to severe pain that may be acute or chronic. Most commonly used in pain management, morphine provides significant relief to patients afflicted with pain. Clinical situations that benefit significantly by medicating with morphine include management of palliative/end-of-life care, active cancer treatment, and vaso-occlusive pain during sickle cell crisis.
Option B: Withdrawal symptoms can be relieved by methadone. Morphine can potentially be a lethal medication when not used properly. It causes a host of symptoms related to depression of the CNS. Severe respiratory depression is the most feared complication of morphine in cases of overdose. Immediate injection of naloxone is required to reverse the effects of morphine.
Option C: Morphine is equally effective by all routes when the proper dose is prescribed. Morphine administration can occur through various vehicles. Its administration is most often via the following routes: orally (PO), intravenously (IV), epidural, and intrathecal. Infusion dosing can vary significantly between patients and largely depends on how naive or tolerant they are to opiates. It is interesting to point out that IV morphine formulation is also commonly given intramuscularly (IM). Morphine is also available as a suppository.