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Anamorph

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Generic Name: morphine sulfate
Product Name: Anamorph

Indication: What Anamorph is used for

Anamorph is used to treat moderate to severe pain.

Your doctor, however, may have prescribed Anamorph for another purpose. Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why Anamorph has been prescribed for you.

This medicine only available with a doctor’s prescription.

Anamorph may be habit-forming, so it is important to take it exactly as directed by your doctor.

Morphine may produce physical dependence if used for a long time. Physical dependence is when you may experience unpleasant feelings if you stop taking Anamorph suddenly.

Action: How Anamorph works

Morphine sulfate belongs to a group of medicines called analgesics. It is an opioid analgesic, and it acts in the central nervous system by blocking pain and your emotional response to pain.


The active ingredient is called morphine sulfate.

Anamorph tablets also contain the following ingredients lactose, carmellose sodium, and magnesium stearate.

Anamorph tablets are gluten and sucrose free, but they do contain lactose.

Dose advice: How to use Anamorph

Before you take it

When you must not take it

Do not take Anamorph if you are allergic to:

  • Morphine sulfate or any other analgesics;
  • Any of the ingredients listed here.

Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty in breathing; swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body; rash, itching or hives on the skin.

This medicine should not be taken in the presence of the following medical conditions/health problems:

  • Severe breathing or lung problems such as asthma, bronchitis or emphysema;
  • Head injury or a brain tumour;
  • Raised pressure in the head or spine;
  • Fits or convulsions such as epilepsy;
  • Kyphoscoliosis (abnormal curvature of the spine);
  • Heart problems such as chronic pulmonary disease;
  • Irregular heartbeat;
  • Severe CNS depression;
  • Alcoholism (or use of excessive amounts of alcohol);
  • Kidney or liver disease;
  • Recently had biliary tract surgery;
  • Inflammatory bowel disease;
  • Gastrointestinal obstruction or obstructive bowel disorders.

Do not take Anamorph if you are taking a medicine for depression called a ‘monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)’ e.g. Parnate, Nardil, Aurorix, or have taken one within the past two weeks.


Do not take it after the expiry date (EXP.) printed on the pack. If you take it after the expiry date has passed, it may have no effect at all, or worse, there may be an entirely unexpected effect.

Do not take it if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering. If it is damaged, return it to your pharmacist for disposal.

If you are not sure whether you should start taking this medicine, talk to your doctor.

Before you start to take it

You must tell your doctor if:

  • You are allergic to any other medicines or any foods, dyes or preservatives;
  • You are pregnant or intend to become pregnant. Your doctor can discuss the risks and benefits involved in taking Anamorph during pregnancy;
  • You are breastfeeding or intend to breastfeed. This medicine passes into breast milk, so it is not recommended for nursing mothers.

Tell your doctor if you have had or have any of the following medical conditions/health problems:

  • An underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism);
  • An underactive adrenal gland;
  • Increased prostate size;
  • Low blood pressure;
  • Narrowing of the urinary bladder tract;
  • Inflammation of the pancreas;
  • Epilepsy (a disease that causes fits, convulsions or seizures);
  • Stomach pains, constipation or diarrhoea.

If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell them before you start taking Anamorph.

Taking other medicines

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including medicines that you buy without a prescription from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.


Some of these medicines may interfere with Anamorph. These include:

  • Alcohol;
  • Medicines used to treat high blood pressure and heart conditions e.g. propranolol;
  • Some medicines used during surgery and emergency situations such as anaesthetics;
  • Cimetidine, medicine used to treat stomach ulcers;
  • Atropine, medicine used in some eye drops;
  • Some medicines used to treat depression;
  • Medicines used to treat fever, pain and inflammation e.g. paracetamol;
  • Medicines used to help you sleep;
  • Medicines used to help relieve anxiety;
  • Stimulants such as dexamphetamine;
  • Medicines used to control epilepsy e.g. diazepam;
  • Medicines used to treat certain mental and emotional conditions.

The above medicines may either reduce the effectiveness of Anamorph or react with it resulting in untoward or sometimes dangerous side effects.

This list is not exhaustive. Your doctor or pharmacist has more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking Anamorph.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist that you are taking Anamorph before you start to take any other medicine.

Use in children

This medicine is not recommended for use in children.

Use in elderly or debilitated patients

Elderly or debilitated patients are more likely to have less effective kidney or liver function due to age. This may increase the risk of side effects. You should discuss how much Anamorph to use with your doctor or pharmacist.

How to take it

Follow all directions given to you by your doctor or pharmacist carefully. They may differ from the information contained here.

If you do not understand the instructions on the pack, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.

How much to take

The recommended doses of Anamorph are:

Adults: The initial dose is ½ to 1 tablet, every four to six hours as necessary or as directed by your doctor.

Elderly patients may need smaller doses and/or longer dosage intervals.

How to take it

Swallow the tablets whole with a full glass of water.

When to take it

It does not matter if you take Anamorph before or after food.

This medicine should be taken at about the same time each day. Taking it at the same time each day will have the best effect. It will also help you remember when to take it.

How long to take it

Continue taking Anamorph for as long as your doctor recommends it. If pain persists, see your doctor. Treatment with morphine should not be stopped abruptly without asking your doctor, as withdrawal effects may occur.

If you forget to take it

If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to.

Otherwise, take your dose as soon as you remember, and then go back to taking it as you would normally.

Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose that you missed. This may increase the chance of you getting an unwanted side effect.

If you are unsure about whether to take your next dose, speak to your doctor or pharmacist.

If you have trouble remembering when to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints.

If you take too much (overdose)

Immediately telephone your doctor or the Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26) for advice, or go to Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital, if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much Anamorph. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. Also, report any other medicine or alcohol which has been taken. You may need urgent medical attention. Keep your doctor, pharmacist, Accident and Emergency phone numbers handy.

If you take too much Anamorph you may have the following symptoms: dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, weakness, a slow heartbeat and troubled or very slow breathing.

While you are taking it

Things you must do

Immediately stop taking Anamorph if a skin rash or any other allergic reaction occurs.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist that you are taking this medicine if you are about to start any new medicine.

Tell any other doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are taking it.

Tell your doctor immediately if you become pregnant.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding while you are taking this medicine.

Tell the surgeon or anaesthetist that you are taking this medicine if you are going to have surgery.

Keep all of your doctor’s appointments so that your progress can be checked.

Always discuss with your doctor any problems or difficulties during or after taking Anamorph.

Things you must not do

Do not take Anamorph to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you to.

Do not give your medicine to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.

Do not stop taking your medicine or lower the dosage without first checking with your doctor.

Things to be careful of

Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Anamorph affects you. This medicine may cause dizziness, light-headedness or drowsiness in some people. If you have any of these symptoms, do not drive, operate machinery or do anything else that could be dangerous.

Be careful when drinking alcohol while you are taking Anamorph. If you drink alcohol, it could make some of the unwanted side effects worse. Your doctor may suggest that you avoid alcohol completely or reduce the amount of alcohol you drink while you are using Anamorph.

If you feel light-headed, dizzy or faint when getting out of bed or standing up, get up slowly. Standing up slowly, especially when you get up from bed or chairs, will help your body get used to the change in position and blood pressure. If this problem continues or gets worse, talk to your doctor.

Morphine can be addictive, but when it is used only to relieve or prevent pain it is unlikely to become habit forming.

After taking it

Storage

Keep your tablets in the pack until it is time to take them. Keep your tablets in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 30°C. Protect from light. Do not store it or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink. Do not leave it in the car or on windowsills. Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.

Keep it where children cannot reach it. A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.

Do not take Anamorph if the tablets do not look quite right.

Disposal

If your doctor tells you to stop taking this medicine or the expiry date has passed, ask your pharmacist what to do with any medicine that is left over.

Schedule of Anamorph

Anamorph is a controlled drug (S8).

Side effects of Anamorph

Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking Anamorph. This medicine helps most people with the medical conditions listed here, but it may have unwanted side effects in some people. All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects.

Elderly patients may have an increased chance of getting side effects.

Do not be alarmed by the following lists of side effects. You may not experience any of them.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the following and they worry you:

These side effects are common. They are usually mild and short-lived.

Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you notice any of the following:

  • Skin rashes which include severe itching;
  • Spinning sensation;
  • Fainting;
  • Pounding or irregular heartbeats;
  • Problems in passing urine;
  • Seeing, feeling or hearing things that are not there (hallucinations).

These are serious side effects that may require medical attention. Serious side effects are rare.

If any of the following happen, tell your doctor immediately or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital:

  • Seizures, fits or convulsions;
  • Coma.

These are very serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation. These side effects are very rare.

Some people may get other side effects while taking Anamorph.

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if you have any problems while taking Anamorph, even if you do not think the problems are connected with the medicine or are not listed here.

For further information talk to your doctor.

References

  1. Anamorph Consumer Medicine Information (CMI). Cremorne, VIC: Arrow Pharma Pty Ltd. July 2016. [PDF]
  2. Anamorph Product Information (PI). Cremorne, VIC: Arrow Pharma Pty Ltd. July 2016. [PDF]

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Dates

Posted On: 22 July, 2003
Modified On: 3 April, 2018
Reviewed On: 3 April, 2018

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Created by: myVMC