Guest guest Posted December 28, 2008 Report Share Posted December 28, 2008 It seems from time to time I have read posts about morphine although do not recall what they said so I need help. I was told morphine is good when you cannot breath it is prescribed for pul. patients it dialates the vessels in the lungs and allows O2 to get into the blood. Any feedback would be great. Thank you, Amy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 28, 2008 Report Share Posted December 28, 2008 Amy, My understanding of how morphine and other opiates relieve shortness of breath is not what you have stated. Opiates generally work on the nervous system and alter the brains perception of both pain and dyspnea (difficult breathing). As I understand how the drug works morphine is not going to dialate the blood vessals bringing increased blood flow to the lungs. What you describe is much closer to the way Revatio works. It increases blood flow in the lungs and allows greater oxygenation thereby decreaseing sob and increasing exercise tolerance. Revatio is a treatment for pulmonary hypertension. It seems to me you need a better evaluation for PH. The answers you're getting are not acceptable, there is treatment for PH and you have a right to know what's going on with your body! Beth in North Carolina Moderator Fibrotic NSIP 06/06 Dermatomyositis 11/08 People are so worried about what they eat between Christmas and the New Year, but they really should be worried about what they eat between the New Year and Christmas. ~Author Unknown To: breathe <Breathe-support >Sent: Sunday, December 28, 2008 3:41:54 PMSubject: Morphine It seems from time to time I have read posts about morphine although do not recall what they said so I need help. I was told morphine is good when you cannot breath it is prescribed for pul. patients it dialates the vessels in the lungs and allows O2 to get into the blood. Any feedback would be great. Thank you, Amy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 28, 2008 Report Share Posted December 28, 2008 Amy I have never heard that and have researched online and find nothing anywhere to substantiate what she said. I would definitely check directly myself if I was you. Morphine is, as Beth said used to change the way your body senses pain. Now if your lung was in physical pain and that was restricting your breathing then it would help. But, its generally prescribed during Hospice for PF patients for pain. Morphine was at one time discouraged by some doctors for dying patients with breathing difficulties. The thought was that since it tended to slow breathing down it might shorten life. However, the medical community has largely changed in that regard and now believes that some patients who receive an appropriate amount live a little longer because their fear and struggle for breath are reduced. The common thought in hospice today for those with breathing problems is that if morphine is started at a small dosage and increased only slightly thereafter, keeping close watch on the breathing rate and other signs so as to not overprescribe, that it does actually help breathing. Normal respiratory rate is 12-20 breaths per minute. Reducing below that or toward the lower end might cause respiratory depression. However, persons having a hard time breathing may often be breathing anywhere from 20-30 breaths per minute so by easing that down to 14-16 and making it easier and less painful it is considered to benefit breathing. This is a discussion that has in the past found many hospice providers at odds with many doctors. However, no article I find talks about morphine dilating vessels. You really need to talk to a good pulmonologist about what you're experiencing right now. You don't have to suffer the pain you're in but knowing the right way to relieve it is important. If, and we don't know, the pain and increased breathing problems are caused by PH then Revatio and Tracleer often help. > > Hi Beth: It was the Hospice nurse that told me it about dialates the vessels and helps you breath better she then called the dr for an order. > Amy > > > > ________________________________ > From: Beth mbmurtha@... > To: Breathe-Support > Sent: Sunday, December 28, 2008 5:20:10 PM > Subject: Re: Morphine > > > Amy, > My understanding of how morphine and other opiates relieve shortness of breath is not what you have stated. Opiates generally work on the nervous system and alter the brains perception of both pain and dyspnea (difficult breathing). As I understand how the drug works morphine is not going to dialate the blood vessals bringing increased blood flow to the lungs.. > What you describe is much closer to the way Revatio works. It increases blood flow in the lungs and allows greater oxygenation thereby decreaseing sob and increasing exercise tolerance. Revatio is a treatment for pulmonary hypertension. It seems to me you need a better evaluation for PH. The answers you're getting are not acceptable, there is treatment for PH and you have a right to know what's going on with your body! > > Beth in North Carolina > Moderator > Fibrotic NSIP 06/06 Dermatomyositis 11/08 > > People are so worried about what they eat between Christmas and the New Year, but they really should be worried about what they eat between the New Year and Christmas. ~Author Unknown > > > > > ________________________________ > From: Amy Dawn amy7675 (AT) yahoo (DOT) com> > To: breathe > Sent: Sunday, December 28, 2008 3:41:54 PM > Subject: Morphine > > > It seems from time to time I have read posts about morphine although do not recall what they said so I need help. I was told morphine is good when you cannot breath it is prescribed for pul. patients it dialates the vessels in the lungs and allows O2 to get into the blood. Any feedback would be great. > Thank you, > Amy > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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