Patient/caregiver was educated on the side-effects of using Morphine as follows:
Cardiovascular side-effects
- Morphine use, while exerting depressive effect on the brain and central nervous system, carries the risk of depressing the vasomotor center in the brain that helps with regulating blood pressure and normal body homeostasis. Depression of this center can lead to hypotension, low heart rate, episodes of confusion and dizziness, thus increasing the risk for fall and accidents. Extreme cases can lead to profound sedation and coma.
- Lowered heart rate with morphine use carries the risk of causing and/or aggravating altered cardiac rhythm, leading to severe debility and death. Individuals can present with episodes of chest pain, slow/rapid ineffective heartbeat, palpitations, dizziness, and shortness of breath.
