MS Contin

Generic Name: morphine sulfate controlled-release tablets
Brand names: MS Contin

What is MS Contin?

MS Contin (morphine) is in a group of drugs called opioid pain relievers. An opioid is sometimes called a narcotic.

MS Contin is used to treat moderate to severe pain. Controlled-release MS Contin tablets are used when around-the-clock pain relief is needed.

MS Contin may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Important information about MS Contin

You may not be able to take MS Contin unless you are already being treated with a similar opioid pain medicine and your body is tolerant to it. Talk with your doctor if you are not sure you are opioid-tolerant.

Morphine may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Keep the medication in a secure place where others cannot get to it. Do not drink alcohol while you are using MS Contin. Dangerous side effects or death can occur when alcohol is combined with MS Contin. Check your food and medicine labels to be sure these products do not contain alcohol.

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Never take MS Contin in larger amounts, or for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label. Tell your doctor if the medicine seems to stop working as well in relieving your pain.

Do not stop using MS Contin suddenly after long-term use, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Ask your doctor how to avoid withdrawal symptoms when you stop using MS Contin.

Before using MS Contin

Do not use MS Contin if you have ever had an allergic reaction to a narcotic medicine (examples include methadone, morphine, Oxycontin, Darvocet, Percocet, Vicodin, Lortab, and many others), or to a narcotic cough medicine that contains codeine, hydrocodone, or dihydrocodeine. You should also not take MS Contin if you are having an asthma attack, or if you have a bowel obstruction called paralytic ileus.

Do not use MS Contin if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as furazolidone (Furoxone), isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) in the last 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur, leading to serious side effects.

To make sure you can safely take MS Contin, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:

• a blockage in your digestive tract (stomach or intestines);

• asthma, COPD, sleep apnea, or other breathing disorders;

• liver or kidney disease;

• underactive thyroid;

• curvature of the spine;

• a history of head injury or brain tumor;

• epilepsy or other seizure disorder;

• low blood pressure;

• gallbladder disease;

• Addison's disease or other adrenal gland disorders;

• enlarged prostate, urination problems;

• mental illness; or

• a history of drug or alcohol addiction.

You may not be able to take MS Contin unless you are already being treated with a similar opioid pain medicine and your body is tolerant to it. Talk with your doctor if you are not sure you are opioid-tolerant. MS Contin may be habit forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Never share MS Contin with another person, especially someone with a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a place where others cannot get to it.

FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether MS Contin will harm an unborn baby. Morphine may cause addiction or withdrawal symptoms in a newborn if the mother takes the medication during pregnancy. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medicine. Morphine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use MS Contin without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

See also: MS Contin pregnancy and breastfeeding warnings (in more detail)

Older adults and those who are ill or debilitated may be more likely to have serious side effects.

How should I use MS Contin?

Take MS Contin exactly as prescribed. Never take MS Contin in larger amounts, or for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label. Tell your doctor if the medicine seems to stop working as well in relieving your pain.

Do not crush, chew, or break an extended-release MS Contin tablet. Swallow the tablet whole. It will release medicine slowly in the body. Breaking the tablet would cause too much of the drug to be released at one time.

Do not stop using MS Contin suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Talk to your doctor about how to avoid withdrawal symptoms when stopping the medication.

Store MS Contin at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and light.

Keep track of how many pills have been used from each new bottle of this medicine. MS Contin is a drug of abuse and you should be aware if any person in the household is using this medicine improperly or without a prescription.

Always check your bottle to make sure you have received the correct pills (same brand and type) of medicine prescribed by your doctor. Ask the pharmacist if you have any questions about the medicine you receive at the pharmacy.

After you have stopped using MS Contin, flush any unused pills down the toilet. Disposal of medicines by flushing is recommended to reduce the danger of accidental overdose causing death. This advice applies to a very small number of medicines only. The FDA, working with the manufacturer, has determined this method to be the most appropriate route of disposal and presents the least risk to human safety.

What happens if I miss a dose?

f you are using MS Contin regularly, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and wait until your next regularly scheduled dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Controlled-release MS Contin tablets are not for use on an as-needed basis for pain.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. An overdose of morphine can be fatal.

Overdose symptoms may include extreme drowsiness, pinpoint pupils, confusion, cold and clammy skin, weak pulse, shallow breathing, fainting, or breathing that stops.

What should I avoid while using MS Contin?

Do not drink alcohol while you are taking this medication. Dangerous side effects or death can occur when alcohol is combined with MS Contin. Check your food and medicine labels to be sure these products do not contain alcohol. This medication may impair your thinking or reactions. Avoid driving or operating machinery until you know how MS Contin will affect you.

MS Contin side effects

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

Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

• shallow breathing, slow heartbeat;

• seizure (convulsions);

• cold, clammy skin;

• confusion;

• severe weakness or dizziness; or

• feeling light-headed, fainting.

Less serious MS Contin side effects may include:

• constipation;

• warmth, tingling, or redness under your skin;

• nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, loss of appetite;

• dizziness, headache, anxiety;

• memory problems; or

• sleep problems (insomnia).

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

See also: MS Contin side effects (in more detail)

What other drugs will affect MS Contin?

Do not take MS Contin with any other narcotic pain medications, sedatives, tranquilizers, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, or other medicines that can make you sleepy or slow your breathing. Dangerous side effects may result.

Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use, especially:

• cimetidine (Tagamet);

• buprenorphine (Buprenex, Subutex);

• butorphanol (Stadol);

• nalbuphine (Nubain);

• pentazocine (Talwin); or

• a diuretic (water pill).

This list is not complete and other drugs may interact with MS Contin. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about MS Contin.