Kadian (Morphine Sulfate Extended-Release) Drug Information: Description, User Reviews, Drug Side Effects, Interactions

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February 9, 2012

Kadian

Chronic Pain »

Introduction to Chronic Pain

You know it at once. It may be the fiery sensation of a burn moments after your finger touches the stove. Or it's a dull ache above your brow after a day of stress and tension. Or you may recognize it as a sharp pierce in your back after you lift something heavy.

It is pain. In its most benign form, it warns us that something isn't quite right, that we should take medicine or see a doctor. At its worst, however, pain robs us of our productivity, our well-being, and, for many of us suffering from extended illness, our very lives. Pain is a complex perception that differs enormously among individual patients, even those who appear to have identical injuries or illnesses.

In 1931, the French medical missionary Dr. Albert Schweitzer wrote, "Pain is a more terrible lord of mankind than even death itself." Today, pain has become the universal disorder, a serious and costly public health issue, and a challenge for famil...

Read the Chronic Pain article »

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Kadian
(morphine sulfate) Extended-Release Capsules
CII (Schedule II controlled substance)

Kadian (morphine sulfate extended-release) ® 20 mg Capsules
Kadian (morphine sulfate extended-release) ® 30 mg Capsules
Kadian (morphine sulfate extended-release) ® 50 mg Capsules
Kadian (morphine sulfate extended-release) ® 60 mg Capsules
Kadian (morphine sulfate extended-release) ® 80 mg Capsules
Kadian (morphine sulfate extended-release) ® 100 mg Capsules

WARNING

Kadian® contains morphine sulfate, an opioid agonist and a Schedule II controlled substance, with an abuse liability similar to other opioid analgesics. Kadian (morphine sulfate extended-release) ® can be abused in a manner similar to other opioid agonists, legal or illicit. This should be considered when prescribing or dispensing Kadian (morphine sulfate extended-release) ® in situations where the physician or pharmacist is concerned about an increased risk of misuse, abuse or diversion.

Kadian® capsules are an extended-release oral formulation of morphine sulfate indicated for the management of moderate to severe pain when a continuous, around-the-clock opioid analgesic is needed for an extended period of time.

Kadian (morphine sulfate extended-release) ® Capsules are NOT for use as a prn analgesic.

Kadian (morphine sulfate extended-release) ® 100 mg Capsules ARE FOR USE IN OPIOID-TOLERANT PATIENTS ONLY. Ingestion of these capsules or of the pellets within the capsules may cause fatal respiratory depression when administered to patients not already tolerant to high doses of opioids. KADIAN (morphine sulfate extended-release) CAPSULES ARE TO BE SWALLOWED WHOLE OR THE CONTENTS OF THE CAPSULES SPRINKLED ON APPLE SAUCE. THE PELLETS IN THE CAPSULES ARE NOT TO BE CHEWED, CRUSHED, OR DISSOLVED DUE TO THE RISK OF RAPID RELEASE AND ABSORPTION OF A POTENTIALLY FATAL DOSE OF MORPHINE.

DRUG DESCRIPTION

Kadian® (morphine sulfate) capsules are an opioid analgesic supplied in 20 mg, 30 mg, 50 mg, 60 mg, 80 mg, and 100 mg strengths for oral administration.

Chemically, morphine sulfate is 7,8-didehydro-4,5 α- epoxy-17-methyl-morphinan-3,6 α- diol sulfate (2:1) (salt) pentahydrate and has the following structural formula:

Kadian (morphine sulfate extended-release) Structural Formula Illustration

Morphine sulfate is an odorless, white, crystalline powder with a bitter taste and a molecular weight of 758 (as the sulfate). It has a solubility of 1 in 21 parts of water and 1 in 1000 parts of alcohol, but is practically insoluble in chloroform or ether. The octanol: water partition coefficient of morphine is 1.42 at physiologic pH and the pK_b is 7.9 for the tertiary nitrogen (mostly ionized at pH 7.4).

Each Kadian (morphine sulfate extended-release) ® extended-release capsule contains either 20 mg, 30 mg, 50 mg, 60 mg, 80 mg, or 100 mg of Morphine Sulfate USP and the following inactive ingredients common to all strengths: hypromellose, ethylcellulose, methacrylic acid copolymer, polyethylene glycol, diethyl phthalate, talc, corn starch, and sucrose. The capsule shells contain gelatin, silicon dioxide, sodium lauryl sulfate, titanium dioxide, and black ink, D&C yellow #10 (20 mg), FD&C red #3, FD&C blue #1 (30 mg), D&C red #28, FD&C red #40, FD&C blue #1 (50 mg), D&C red #28, FD&C red #40, FD&C blue #1 (60 mg), FD&C blue #1, FD&C red #40, FD&C yellow #6 (80 mg), D&C yellow #10, FD&C blue #1 (100 mg).

What are the possible side effects of morphine?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

shallow breathing, slow heartbeat;
seizure (convulsions);
cold, clammy skin;
confusion;
severe weakness or dizziness; or
feeling light-headed, fainting.

Less serious side effects are more likely to occur, such as:

...

Read All Potential Side Effects and See Pictures of Kadian »

What are the precautions when taking morphine sulfate extended-release (Kadian)?

Before taking morphine, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: brain disorders (such as head injury, tumor, seizures), breathing problems (such as asthma, sleep apnea, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-COPD), kidney disease, liver disease, mental/mood disorders (such as confusion, depression), personal or family history of regular use/abuse of drugs/alcohol, stomach/intestinal problems (such as blockage, constipation, diarrhea due to infection, paralytic ileus), difficulty urinating...

Read All Potential Precautions of Kadian »

Last reviewed on RxList: 1/14/2008
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.