by kennethfsk

Created on: August 11, 2008

As most people are aware that morphine is widely use to control pain. Most often, it is given to you before, and after surgery. What a lot of people don't know is that it is also used in pain management. That is to say people who suffer from chronic pain may be prescribe morphine to control the pain on a daily bases. I know this because that is what they are giving me to help control my chronic pain. Morphine comes in many different ways, it can be inject, or drank, or more commonly used in a pill form. These pills or capsules are generally time released for the long term effect.

Using morphine on a daily bases over several years will have more, and different kinds of side effects as it would for someone who uses it to recoup from surgery , or some other type of injury. These folks may only use it for a short time, and then taken off. Be extremely grateful for that as the longer you use it the more harm it causes. I don't have the luxury of that decision, as I am in pain every day of my life.
Therefore, what kind of side effects do I suffer as well as many others who use it long term? The first, and by far the worst of these side effects is the addiction to the drug. Now don't get me wrong I am not a drug addict, but like someone who needs insulin to survive, I have to have morphine every day. This was very hard for me to come to terms with. For the most part, I will have to take this everyday of the rest of my life.

In order of severity, the second worst side effect is inability to have intimacy with your spouse. To keep it clean let's just say things don't work the way they used to. This had put a lot of pressure on my marriage, and if not for the will of god, we have managed to get past most of the issues that came up. My wife has been very understanding, and most of all she has had patients with me on this issue.

The third side effect is fatigue. I seemed to be tired all the time, and as a result lack the energy to do things I need to do. I try to save my energy so I can work, and go to school. I now have the ability to sleep for hours on end, many times, I would come home from work on Saturday about 6pm, and lay down I wouldn't get up till 9 or 10 the next morning. When I am not at work, or school, I have to let my body rest, and recoup for the days ahead. If I have to do anything major with the family I have to plan days ahead of time to get myself ready for it. I can no longer do things on an impulse.
The fourth side effect which may be worse that the

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