Morphine

The name Morphine originates from the Morpheus, the Greek God of dreams

·         Morphine is an alkaloid of opium a white, shining crystals, having a bitter taste and alkaline reaction.

·         It is very sparingly soluble in cold water, but is soluble in boiling water.

·         Morphine hydrochloride and morphine sulfate are medicinal preparations and morphine acetate is a non-official preparation, the dose of each being 8 to 20 mg. These salts are bitter in taste, neutral in reaction and are five to eight times more powerful than opium.

·         Morphine has a depressant action on the cortex, the respiratory and cough centers in the medulla are depressed but the vagus and vomiting centers are stimulated.

·         The spinal cord is also stimulated. Its most outstanding effect is relief of pain, partly due to depression of the cerebral area of pain perception and partly due to its euphoric effect.