Morfiin

Morfiin is a name used for the opioid analgesic morphine, a naturally occurring alkaloid extracted from the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum). First isolated in the early 19th century, morphine became the prototype opioid for treatment of moderate to severe acute and chronic pain.

Pharmacology and effects

Morfiin acts primarily as an agonist at mu-opioid receptors in the central nervous system, producing analgesia, sedation, euphoria, and respiratory depression. Common adverse effects include constipation, nausea, vomiting, miosis, pruritus, and drowsiness. Prolonged use leads to tolerance, physical dependence, and risk of addiction.

Medical use

In clinical practice morfiin is used for severe pain management (including post-operative, cancer-related, and palliative care), acute myocardial infarction, and as part of anesthesia. It is available in multiple formulations and routes (oral, intravenous, subcutaneous, rectal, epidural, intrathecal) and in various controlled-release preparations.

Risks and management

Overdose can cause life-threatening respiratory depression and pinpoint pupils; naloxone is an opioid antagonist used to reverse acute toxicity. Use is contraindicated in certain conditions such as severe respiratory depression, acute asthma exacerbations, and paralytic ileus, and requires careful monitoring in patients with impaired hepatic or renal function.

Legal status and derivatives

Morfiin is a controlled substance in most jurisdictions due to its abuse potential. Chemically related compounds and derivatives include codeine, hydromorphone, and diacetylmorphine (heroin), which differ in potency, pharmacokinetics, and legal classification.