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Morphine sulfate Contin (MS Contin, Avinza or Kadian) is atablet used for chronic treatment of moderate to severe pain. These kinds oftablets have controlled release, and because of that they are usually given twice aday.

MS Contin tablets should be taken as your doctor hasprescribed them. Follow the doctor's orders and do not change the dosageyourself. Swallow whole tablets, do not crush or chew them.

Kadian capsules are not meant to be dissolved and should notbe mixed with food.

Alcohol should be avoided while using MS Contin.

Adverse Effects

The most dangerous side effect of this medication is respiratorydepression. The breathing can become dangerously slow and might lead to a patient’sdeath. Elderly patients in weak condition or those with lung or breathing problemsare at higher risk of this side effect.

Other serious issues connected with the use of MS Contin areapnea, respiratory arrest, shock and cardiac arrest. The most common sideeffects are nausea, constipation and sleepiness. Most of the treated patients experience vomiting,sweating, dizziness and sedation.

Other side effects of MS Contin include: anxiety,irritation or depression, drowsiness, sedation, light-headedness, nausea,vomiting and sometimes dizziness and sweating.

Morphine sulfate is known to cause different cardiovascularproblems, like bradycardia or tachycardia, palpitations, syncope and bloodpressure problems. It could cause both hypo- and hyper-tension.

Patients report dyspepsia, dysphagia, gastroenteritis, biliarypain, rectal disorders and changes in liver enzymes. Sometimes, MS Contin maybe the cause of anemia or thrombocytopenia, or cause edema.

Nervous system changes are usually noticeable: sleeping anddreaming problems, confusion, hallucinations, headache, anxiety, vertigo,lethargy, delirium and even coma.

Patients on morphine sulfate might have urinary problems,like urinary retention, dysuria or oliguria, or the medication may have ananti-diuretic effect. There have been reported cases of impotence, decreasedlibido and ejaculation problems.


MS Contin has addiction potential, like any other narcoticpainkiller. Do not stop the treatment on your own, without consultation withyour doctor. If stopped abruptly, morphine sulfate may cause withdrawalsymptoms. The patients usually feel sweating, restlessness, dilated pupils,goose bumps, sleeping problems, tearing and runny nose. After couple of days,withdrawal symptoms tend to manifest as: anxiety, diarrhea, loss of appetite,vomiting, weakness, insomnia, abdominal cramps and pain, muscle twitching andspasms, increased body temperature, blood pressure and heart rate, etc. Withdrawalsymptoms usually take a week or two, but they can remain persistent up to 6months.

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