Morphine and Alcohol

What is Morphine?

Morphine is used to relieve moderate to severe pain. Morphine extended-release tablets and capsules are only used to relieve severe (around-the-clock) pain that cannot be controlled by the use of other pain medications. Morphine extended-release tablets and capsules should not be used to treat pain that can be controlled by medication that is taken as needed. Morphine is in a class of medications called opiate (narcotic) analgesics. It works by changing the way the brain and nervous system respond to pain.

Morphine may be habit-forming or may cause drug addiction, especially with prolonged use. You have to tell your doctor if you or anyone in your family:

• Drinks or has ever drunk large amounts of alcohol
• Uses or has ever used street drugs
• Has overused prescription medications
• Has had a drug overdose
• If you have or have ever had depression or another psychiatric disorder

There is a greater risk that you will overuse morphine and alcohol if you have or have ever had any of these conditions. 

Morphine’s Interaction with the Body

Opioid addiction such as morphine abuse is a major public health concern. When used correctly under a health care provider’s direction, prescription pain medicines are helpful. However, misusing prescription opioids such as morphine risks dependence and addiction.

Morphine may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• Drowsiness
• Stomach pain and cramps
• Dry mouth
• Headache
• Nervousness
• Mood changes
• Small pupils (black circles in the middle of the eyes
• Difficulty urinating or pain when urinating

Get Your Life Back

Find Hope & Recovery. Get Safe Comfortable Detox, Addiction Rehab & Dual Diagnosis High-Quality Care.

Hotline(844) 597-1011

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

Morphine and alcohol may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while you are taking this medication.

Mixing Alcohol and Morphine

Drinking morphine and alcohol, taking prescription or nonprescription medications that contain alcohol, or using street drugs during your treatment with morphine increases the risk that you will experience breathing problems or other serious, life-threatening side effects.

If you are taking Avinza brand long-acting capsules, it is especially important that you do not drink any drinks that contain alcohol or take any prescription or nonprescription medications that contain alcohol. Alcohol may cause the morphine in Avinza^® brand long-acting capsules to be released into your body too quickly, causing serious health problems or death. Do not drink alcohol, take any prescription or nonprescription medications that contain alcohol, or use street drugs during your treatment with other morphine products. [1]

Dangers of Mixing Alcohol and Morphine

Combining drugs (prescribed or not prescribed) or substances such as morphine and alcohol can have unpredictable and unwanted consequences. We can help ourselves, our friends, and our community by understanding the dangers and taking steps to prevent harm and get alcoholism treatment.

Prescription opiates (e.g., Vicodin, OxyContin, Tylenol 3 with codeine, Percocet, morphine) combined with alcohol can result in slowed or arrested breathing, lowered pulse, and blood pressure, unconsciousness, coma, and potential death. [2]

Note: It is illegal to misuse prescription medication, that is:

• Continue to use medication when the prescription is no longer valid
• Use prescribed drugs contrary to the prescription
• Use prescription drugs not prescribed to you
• Give or sell prescribed drugs to another person

Misusing prescription drugs can result in a conviction with jail time. 

Morphine and Alcohol Side Effects

Women, in general, have a higher risk for problems than men. When a woman drinks, the alcohol in her bloodstream typically reaches a higher level than a man’s even if both are drinking the same amount. This is because women’s bodies generally have less water than men’s bodies. Because alcohol mixes with body water, a given amount of alcohol is more concentrated in a woman’s body than in a man’s. As a result, women are more susceptible to alcohol-related damage to organs such as the liver.

Mixing prescription drugs with alcohol can be harmful. Alcohol, like some medicines, can make you sleepy, drowsy, or lightheaded. Drinking alcohol while taking medicines can intensify these effects. You may have trouble concentrating or performing mechanical skills. Small amounts of alcohol can make it dangerous to drive, and when you mix alcohol with certain medicines you put yourself at even greater risk. Combining alcohol with some medicines can lead to falls and serious injuries, especially among older people.

Older people are at particularly high risk for harmful alcohol–medication interactions. Aging slows the body’s ability to break down alcohol, so alcohol remains in a person’s system longer. Older people also are more likely to take a medication that interacts with alcohol—in fact, they often need to take more than one of these medications.