These comments are made for the purpose of discussion and should NOT be used as recommendations for or against therapies or other treatments. An individual patient is always advised to consult their own physician.
Morphine
Question: I am a high school student studying anatomy/physiology
and I need some help. We are studying teratogenesis and my
project is to research the effects of morphine on a fetus.
If a mother is addicted to morphine and is pregnant, what
affects will the morphine have on the fetus, and are there any
teratogenic affects on it?
Answer: There does not appear to be any special teratogenetic effect of morphine. The fetus will become addicted and will have their breathing suppressed at birth if morphine is present. However, no specific studies have been done. However, there is much experience with addicted mothers and there really doesn’t appear to be much problem, except addition of the child. Long term studies are currently underway to follow development, but they are not completed.
Morphine
Question: How long does liquid morphine last? As the years go by does it loose it’s potency or get stronger?
Answer: As with any medication, check the imprinted “use by” or “use before” date on the bottle itself or
on the box in which the bottle was packaged. Morphine, like any medication can lose its
medicinal effect if stored and not used for a prolonged time. For specifics of how long
medications can last you should call the manufacturing pharmaceutical company of your
particular medication. If you are in doubt as to the age of any medication prescription you may
have, do not use it. Rather, discard the medication and see your doctor for a new prescription.
That way both you and your physician know you are getting the full expected benefits from the
medication you are taking.
