I have been on Morphine for four years along with Oxycodone for five years and Flexeril for five years and Cymbalta for a year. My memory is getting really bad. My short term memory is what bothers me the very most. I can't remember things from one moment to the next. I have to set alarms to remind me to even take my meds. I always joke and say I suffer from morphine dimentia but recently someone told me that morphine does add to memory loss. Does anyone else have this problem or know anything about this? I would love any and all advice. Thank you in advance.
Ellen
Can Morphine cause problems with memory loss?
- Asked
- 15 Jan 2010 by ellen910
- Updated
- 20 Jun 2013
- Topics
- cymbalta, flexeril, depression, anxiety, muscle spasm, pain, sciatica, morphine, oxycodone
Details:
Responses (9)
Psychmajor
15 Jan 2010
Morphine side effects
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction to morphine: 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 morphine side effects are more likely to occur, such as:
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).
Kenthomp24
10 Apr 2011
lisa0331
7 Jun 2011
Kenthomp24
7 Jun 2011
I also am prescribed morphine, roxycodone, flexeril,mobic,& neurotin I have only been on this mixture of meds for 4 months and have noticed my memory is shot the same as yours mostly short term I don't abuse the meds I take them as prescribed so yes It is a huge side effect. I also went from at least one bowel movement a day to maybe 1 a week I also get really bad hot flashes especially throughout the night where I wake up soked in sweat at least 5 times a night that's if I sleep I can't get tired mentally but physically be exhausted my doctor has told me these are common side effects with morphine and should go away with time but as of now they are not changing I really don't know what's worse my severe pain or these side effects
ElizaJane23
7 Jun 2011
I've been on opiate pain meds for 13 years now, and my memory is shot. I can read a book or watch a movie and a couple of months later see it again and never even remember I saw it before. Terrible memory! I recall reading somewhere (sorry I don't have a reference for this) that after a year on narcotic pain killers (such as these) the brain shrinks by about 11%. That's incredible! It didn't say if the shrinking continued after that point.
mellieg914
17 May 2012
OMG, it is so great to find someone else like me! I have been on 2 forms of morphine for 10 years. I worry all the time about what it is doing to my body and brain. My memory is shot and it is embarrassing because I forget appointments, phone calls, everything. My brain should be about the size of a golf ball if this is true. Are you better now? Are there answers out there? I have sciatica and fibromyalgia.
ElizaJane23
18 May 2012
No, sorry to say I am still on these blessed pain killers! I am slowly decreasing but It's an incredibly slow process as one health problem after another keeps happening. I am seriously concerned that my gut is not going to last until I am finally off them! I know your liver can regenerate but I don't think your intestines can. My GI doctor says it's ok to live on all these constipation/motility medications but really, what else can she say since I'm on all of this and have all these medical problems? I don't know, but then again I can't remember from one thing to the next, so hopefully I'll forget about it so I won't worry about it - ha! No, you are in good company here. Read through some of the questions on meds/topics that interest you, and feel free to ask more questions. Take good care - ElizaJane
Sdavis74
26 Mar 2012
I am so glad to hear that other people are having the same problems. I thought I was going crazy and I've been feeling so guilty for not being able to remember things. I'm taking extended release morphine, dilaudid, flexeril, klonopin, pristiq and abilify. I've been taking this mix for about 1.5 yrs now and I have noticed that my memory is getting worse. I want to stop taking the pain meds but when I do I'm in so much physical pain I'm non-functional. I'm staring to have problems on my job because of my memory and I'm not sure what to tell them. How do you guys cope?
MichellePerez1027
27 Mar 2012
I've noticed stress makes a huge difference on memory as well. I do yoga and other coping outlets. My mom used to always make me take Fish Oil pills. She took them and swore by them. Also, brain exercises like sudoku, puzzles, or any kind of thing like that. As for the job, I would not say anything to them. Had a bad experience with that, I wouldn't chance it. Unless they know your condition and after you try getting your memory back and still have major problems. Don't want them thinkn street drugs. Hope this helps :)
suzie1968uk
4 Jun 2012
hi thought i was going mad... been on morphine sulphate and oramorph for 4 years at 60mg 3 times a day at the moment for pain... but memory gone.. absolutly shot i can remember years ago but short term non existant unless im shown pictures or reminded in detail .. although sometimes not even then, anyone else like this im 44 f
Delkilterated
25 May 2013
I have the same problem. I have been on morphine or oxy for 17 years. I have nueropathy due to an auto accident. My plan is to detox for a while in spite of the pain to get in touch with my true self. I do not intend on on staying off the drugs as I do think it is a necessary trade with the devil.
Memory loss is one symptom and I am not as sharp or quick thinking as I used to be. I need to get in touch with that clarity of mind that I used to have.
jaburrow
20 Jun 2013
Hi, i have familial pancreatitis and constant pain. I've taken morphine sulphate for 4 years and I've had memory problems. Im retired now and less stress has allowed me to reduce required dose. Hope to get off it completely soon. I took tramadol for some time and didn't have a detectable problem with my memory but morphine is a problem in my experience.
Further Information
- Cymbalta Drug Information
- Flexeril Drug Information
- Morphine Drug Information
- Oxycodone Drug Information
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Sorry to get off the topic, but you really must do something about the constipation. Only going once a week is very, very hard on your gut. See your primary care doctor or a gastroenterologist for a solution for this.
yeah what eliza said... my mom was on hospice and taking narcotics and if she hadnt or couldnt have a bowel in 3-4 days they would freak n give her one more day to take extra laxitives and if she still hadnt they would deem it necessary to manually get it out. They took it very seriously and all her organs and everything were perfectly healthy. If you havent, try taking laxatives and eat as much fiber as possible
Be cautious about adding fiber too fast. If you are constipated because of the pain meds, the problem is primarily due to motility - the narcotics are causing the gut to not move the feces forward, they have slowed down. If you add fiber quickly you could end up with a block of fiber that cannot move. Add fiber slowly and drink lots of water. Adding ground flaxseed meal to your cereal and foods can also help with motility issues - once again, adding slowly.