Morphine long term side affects

[dylan]

Hi

I have a question about the long term affects of morphine! Since this power-full drug is extracted from the opium poppy it seems to be a favorite choice for pain reduction used by medical practitioners.
My mother has been on morphine for a number of years to reduce the pain for a back operation that had went bad. In the last few years she has been developing non malignant
cysts.Last year they found one in her abdomen and just lately she had her thyroid removed because they found an abnormal mass if you will growing in her neck.When they removed this ,it immediately exploded.The doctors took it to the lab and they do not think it was cancerous, so they deemed it inconclusive.

So my question is ? can opiates causes cysts in the body especially when taking the drug for an extended period of time

thx very much

[Maria RN]

Hi Dylan. I didn't find any studies that link morphine to cysts.
Here's a link regarding the side effects of morphine: http://www.medicinenet.com/morphine_extended-release_capsules-oral/page2.htm#SideEffects

[sharencaster]

Morphine addiction is a huge problem in America. Morphine is prescribed for chronic bodily pain and is also sold illegally as a street drug. The drug provides strong analgesic effects and has an accompanying euphoria when first used. Full-blown addiction can ensue rapidly. When the user tries to stop morphine, long-lasting effects can occur, making the user sick, dependent on morphine, and unable to stop the vicious cycle of tolerance, higher dosing and withdrawal attempts.

Tolerance begins as the user experiences his first "high." A rush of euphoria occurs and then the analgesic effects take hold. Morphine also causes severe drowsiness, so the user may slip in and out of consciousness. As time goes on, the user's relationship with morphine changes dramatically. Unable, though still wanting to experience that first "high" and rush of intense euphoria, the user may up his dosage without consulting his doctor. Soon after this occurs, physical and psychological dependence strikes.