How Long Does Morphine Stay in Your System

How Long Does Morphine Stay in Your System Addiction Drug Use Opioids Print How Long Does Morphine Stay in Your System? Morphine in Your Blood, Urine, Hair, Saliva By Buddy T facebook twitter Buddy T is an anonymous writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Learn about our editorial policy Buddy T Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on July 14, 2019 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on December 06, 2019 Verywell / Gary Ferster More in Addiction Drug Use Opioids Cocaine Heroin Marijuana Meth Ecstasy/MDMA Hallucinogens Prescription Medications Alcohol Use Addictive Behaviors Nicotine Use Coping and Recovery In This Article Table of Contents Expand Effects Duration Detection Times Elimination Symptoms of Overdose Getting Help View All Back To Top Morphine is in a class of medications known as opiate (narcotic) analgesics. It works by changing the way the brain and nervous system respond to pain. It is prescribed to relieve moderate to severe pain, especially for around-the-clock relief of pain that cannot be controlled by other pain medications. Morphine is a Schedule II controlled substance, which means that it has accepted medical uses and a high risk for people developing unhealthy use patterns. Brand names for morphine include Avinza, Kadian, Morphabond, MS Contin, Oramorph SR, and  Roxanol-T. Most workplaces rely on SAMHSAs 5-panel urine test which can detect the presence of morphine used within the last four days. Knowing how long the effects of morphine last, can help prevent accidental overdose or dangerous interactions with other medications or alcohol. How Long Does Morphine Stay in Your System? Blood: Up to 3 daysUrine: Up to 4 daysSaliva: Up to 3 daysHair: Up to 90 days How Long Does It Take to Feel Effects? Morphine is prescribed in several different forms, including a liquid solution and extended-release tablets and capsules. The timing of dosage is important for it to reach therapeutic levels but not a level that could cause an overdose. Different formulations of morphine have different onset times and durations: Extended-release morphine delivers the dosage in stages, the effects lasting for 12â€"24 hoursInstant-release morphines effects begin within 15 to 60 minutes and last 4 to 6 hours Other effects of morphine besides pain suppression include: EuphoriaDepressing breathingConstricted pupilsReducing gastrointestinal activityDrowsinessDysphoriaAltered mental status The body becomes tolerant when morphine is used over time and dosage may need to be adjusted to provide the desired effects. Morphine also leads to dependence and the body can have withdrawal symptoms if it is stopped.?? For this reason, it is important to follow the schedule provided by your doctor when it is decided to stop morphine. How Long Does Morphine Last? Morphine has a short half-life, with half of it metabolized in 1.5 to 7 hours. Most of a single dose of morphine is eliminated in the urine within 72 hours. Morphine is broken down in the body by glucuronidation and sulfation. According to a 2014 study, Morphine-3-glucuronide (M3G) and morphine-6-glucuronide (M6G) are the main metabolites of morphine that may also show up on a drug test. Brand name products such as MS Contin can also contain lactose, polysorbate, black iron oxide, and colored dyes. If the drug test yields a positive test result, a physician at a medical review office will review the results and you will be contacted to determine if there is a good reason. If the results are negative, employers are told by the medical reviewer within 24 hours. Types of tests that can be used to detect morphine include blood, urine, hair, and saliva. There are not really good breath tests for detecting morphine. Hair and blood tests are used less often. Urine Morphine can show up on a urine test for up to four days after use. Urinalysis is the most commonly used method for testing for morphine and typically involves the enzyme-multiplied immune test. If morphine or any of the tested metabolites are present in the urine specimen in sufficient amounts, a visible colored line will show up in the test line region of the drug strip. The urine sample you provide will go through a secure chain of custody to end up at a testing laboratory to be screened, often with the SAMHSA 5 panel. The specimen will be tested for adulterants and the presence of the drug. The presence of the drug will be confirmed by a second test using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry or liquid chromatography. Blood Morphine can show also up on a blood test up to 3 days after use, but as these tests are more invasive and expensive, they are not commonly used in employment drug screenings. Saliva Morphine can show up on a saliva test about 3 days after use. The morphine detected in saliva is usually in the process of circulating through the blood, which is why these detection times are similar. That said, saliva-based drug testing is not approved by the FDA or SAMHSA for Federal Mandated Drug Testing and so is not likely to be used. Hair Morphine can show up on a hair follicle test for up to 90 days after use. False Positive Testing Most urine drug tests look for morphine. As a result, morphine use can easily be detected. That said, while urine drug tests are simple and affordable, they can return false-positive results for opiates like morphine. Poppy seeds can cause a false-positive test result for opiates. While only present in trace amounts, poppy seeds do contain enough codeine and morphine to show up on enzyme immunoassay (EIA) tests that are often used in workplace and medical drug screenings.?? Additionally, certain medications, including allergy drugs containing diphenhydramine and doxylamine and quinolone antibiotics such as levofloxacin and ofloxacin can cause a false-positive opiate screening.?? As a result, testing to identify specific drugs, rather than classes of drugs, is needed to confirm a positive urine drug screen for morphine. Factors That Affect Detection Time Morphine is metabolized at different rates and can vary in how long it takes to show up in urine based on various factors. Dosage The more morphine present in the body, the longer it will take to be eliminated. Other Medications If the pathways involved in opioid metabolism are busy breaking down other substances in the body, it will also take longer for the drug to leave the body. Age Older patients metabolize morphine more slowly. Medical Conditions People with hepatic or renal impairments may also eliminate morphine more slowly. According to a 2009 review, there is no difference in metabolism amongst sexes. How to Get Morphine Out of Your System Morphine is broken down by the body and excreted in the urine, with most of a single dose eliminated after 72 hours. However, with longer use or heavier doses, the time it takes to clear out of the body can be longer. Exercising, drinking a lot of water, and other myths people might have about how to flush your system before a drug test are likely not going to work. The only way to get morphine out of your system is to stop taking the drug and allow your body time to metabolize and eliminate it. If you have been prescribed morphine, be aware that it can be detected on a urine drug screen such as those given for employment. Disclose your prescription to the testing lab so they can interpret your test accurately. Symptoms of Overdose A morphine overdose can happen when it interacts with other medications, when doses are given too close together, or too much morphine is taken. Never crush or cut an extended-release tablet or capsule as that may deliver too much morphine at one time. Some symptoms of morphine overdose include: Slow, shallow, or irregular breathingSleepinessLoss of consciousnessLimp or weak musclesCold, clammy skinSmall pupilsSlow or stopped heartbeatBlurred visionNauseaFainting Bystander training to reverse an opiate overdose with naloxone is available in your area. By administering naloxone, sometimes referred to by the brand name Narcan, someone experiencing a morphine overdose may regain consciousness and the ability to breathe. They may also begin to experience withdrawal symptoms. Taking additional opiates at this point will cause a second overdose and is not recommended. Naloxone is available over the counter many places and from the local health department. In  case  of  a morphine  overdose, call 911 or the poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. First-responders should be able to revive the victim with  Narcan but only if they are notified soon enough. Interactions That Increase the Risk of Morphine Overdose Morphine depresses the respiratory system and slows the heart rate. As a 2018 review explains, when morphine is combined with these drugs, there is an increased risk of low blood pressure, sedation, and potentially fatal respiratory depression: Benzodiazepines and other CNS depressantsAnestheticsBarbituratesTranquilizersAntipsychoticsOther opioidsAlcoholAntihistaminesBaclofenCimetidineP-glycoprotein inhibitors such as quinidine A previous history of breathing problems, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), are reasons to be even more cautious with the use of morphine. Understanding Opioid Overdoses Getting Help Symptoms of morphine withdrawal include muscle aches, insomnia, anxiety, nausea, and vomiting, and can begin as early as six hours after the last dose. Some people compare the symptoms to those of the flu. Symptom severity varies according to the frequency of use, tolerance, and overall health and metabolism. The acute physical effects of morphine withdrawal last for three to five days, but the psychological effects may persist for several weeks. Persisting patterns of binge and withdrawal can exacerbate problematic substance use. If you think you may be at risk for a substance use disorder, contact your doctor. There are many treatments available, including medication-assisted treatment (MATs) with methadone or buprenorphine, which can help with withdrawal. A 2017 review details the efficacy of MAT in the treatment of opioid use disorder. If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, discuss this with your doctor as there is a risk of dependence and withdrawal in newborns of mothers who have prolonged use of morphine. Dont breastfeed while you are taking morphine. According to the NIH, morphine will pass through your milk  to your child and your child can also become dependent. If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of morphine addiction, help is available. Treatment providers can be found using the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administrations Behavioral Health treatment services locator.