Generic name: Morphine and Naltrexone [ MOR-feen-& nal-TREKS-one ]
Brand name: Embeda
Drug class: Narcotic analgesic combinations

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on May 9, 2024.

Uses of Morphine and Naltrexone:

• It is used to ease pain.
• It is only to be used when around-the-clock (continuous) care is needed for a long time. It is also only to be used when other pain drugs do not treat your pain well enough or you cannot take them.

What do I need to tell my doctor BEFORE I take Morphine and Naltrexone?

• If you have an allergy to morphine, naltrexone, or any other part of morphine and naltrexone.
• If you are allergic to morphine and naltrexone; any part of morphine and naltrexone; or any other drugs, foods, or substances. Tell your doctor about the allergy and what signs you had.
• If you have any of these health problems: Lung or breathing problems like asthma, trouble breathing, or sleep apnea; high levels of carbon dioxide in the blood; or stomach or bowel block or narrowing.
• If you have taken certain drugs for depression or Parkinson's disease in the last 14 days. This includes isocarboxazid, phenelzine, tranylcypromine, selegiline, or rasagiline. Very high blood pressure may happen.
• If you are taking any of these drugs: Linezolid or methylene blue.
• If you are taking any of these drugs: Buprenorphine, butorphanol, nalbuphine, or pentazocine.
• If you are breast-feeding. Do not breast-feed while you take morphine and naltrexone.

This is not a list of all drugs or health problems that interact with morphine and naltrexone.

Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all of your drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) and health problems. You must check to make sure that it is safe for you to take morphine and naltrexone with all of your drugs and health problems. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any drug without checking with your doctor.

What are some things I need to know or do while I take Morphine and Naltrexone?

• Tell all of your health care providers that you take morphine and naltrexone. This includes your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
• Avoid driving and doing other tasks or actions that call for you to be alert until you see how morphine and naltrexone affects you.
• To lower the chance of feeling dizzy or passing out, rise slowly if you have been sitting or lying down. Be careful going up and down stairs.
• Do not take morphine and naltrexone with other strong pain drugs or if you are using a pain patch without talking to your doctor first.
• Do not take more than what your doctor told you to take. Taking more than you are told may raise your chance of very bad side effects.
• Have your blood work checked if you are on morphine and naltrexone for a long time. Talk with your doctor.
• This medicine may affect certain lab tests. Tell all of your health care providers and lab workers that you take morphine and naltrexone.
• This medicine may raise the chance of seizures in some people, including people who have had seizures in the past. Talk to your doctor to see if you have a greater chance of seizures while taking morphine and naltrexone.
• If you have been taking morphine and naltrexone for a long time or at high doses, it may not work as well and you may need higher doses to get the same effect. This is known as tolerance. Call your doctor if morphine and naltrexone stops working well. Do not take more than ordered.
• Long-term or regular use of opioid drugs like morphine and naltrexone may lead to dependence. Lowering the dose or stopping morphine and naltrexone all of a sudden may cause a greater risk of withdrawal or other severe problems. Talk to your doctor before you lower the dose or stop morphine and naltrexone. You will need to follow your doctor’s instructions. Tell your doctor if you have more pain, mood changes, thoughts of suicide, or any other bad effects.
• If you are 65 or older, use morphine and naltrexone with care. You could have more side effects.
• This medicine may cause harm to the unborn baby if you take it while you are pregnant. If you are pregnant or you get pregnant while taking morphine and naltrexone, call your doctor right away.

How is this medicine (Morphine and Naltrexone) best taken?

Use morphine and naltrexone as ordered by your doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely.

• Swallow capsule whole. Do not chew, break, or crush.
• If you cannot swallow morphine and naltrexone whole, you may sprinkle the contents on applesauce. If you do this, swallow the mixture right away without chewing.
• Rinse mouth to make sure all contents have been swallowed.
• Throw away any unused part of the capsule after putting on applesauce.
• Do not inject or snort morphine and naltrexone. Doing any of these things can cause very bad side effects like trouble breathing and death from overdose.
• Do not put morphine and naltrexone down a feeding tube.
• Do not use for fast pain relief or on an as needed basis.
• Do not use for pain relief after surgery if you have not been taking drugs like morphine and naltrexone.

What do I do if I miss a dose?

• Skip the missed dose and go back to your normal time.
• Do not take 2 doses at the same time or extra doses.
• If you are not sure what to do if you miss a dose, call your doctor.

What are some side effects that I need to call my doctor about right away?

WARNING/CAUTION: Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:

• Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Trouble breathing, slow breathing, or shallow breathing.
• Shortness of breath.
• Very bad dizziness or passing out.
• Seizures.
• Very upset stomach or throwing up.
• Very bad constipation.
• Chest pain or pressure or a fast heartbeat.
• Feeling very sleepy.
• Noisy breathing.
• Feeling confused.
• Very bad belly pain.
• Long-term use of an opioid drug may lead to lower sex hormone levels. Call your doctor if you have a lowered interest in sex, fertility problems, no menstrual period (women), or change in sex ability (men).
• A severe and sometimes deadly problem called serotonin syndrome may happen if you take morphine and naltrexone with certain other drugs. Call your doctor right away if you have agitation; change in balance; confusion; hallucinations; fever; fast or abnormal heartbeat; flushing; muscle twitching or stiffness; seizures; shivering or shaking; sweating a lot; severe diarrhea, upset stomach, or throwing up; or severe headache.
• Taking an opioid drug like morphine and naltrexone may lead to a rare but very bad adrenal gland problem. Call your doctor right away if you have very bad dizziness or passing out, very bad upset stomach or throwing up, or if you feel less hungry, very tired, or very weak.

Related/similar drugs

What are some other side effects of Morphine and Naltrexone?

All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Call your doctor or get medical help if you have any side effects that bother you or do not go away.

• Headache.
• Feeling sleepy.
• Dizziness.
• Upset stomach or throwing up.
• Constipation.
• Dry mouth.
• Itching.
• Feeling tired or weak.
• Belly pain.

These are not all of the side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, call your doctor. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-332-1088. You may also report side effects at https://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

How do I store and/or throw out Morphine and Naltrexone?

• Store at room temperature.
• Store in a dry place. Do not store in a bathroom.
• Keep all drugs in a safe place. Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets.
• Throw away unused or expired drugs. Do not flush down a toilet or pour down a drain unless you are told to do so. Check with your pharmacist if you have questions about the best way to throw out drugs. There may be drug take-back programs in your area.

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer

• If your symptoms or health problems do not get better or if they become worse, call your doctor.
• Do not share your drugs with others and do not take anyone else's drugs.
• This medicine comes with an extra patient fact sheet called a Medication Guide. Read it with care. Read it again each time morphine and naltrexone is refilled. If you have any questions about morphine and naltrexone, please talk with the doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer