Morphine facts for kids
Morphine is a strong medicine that comes from a plant called the opium poppy. It is a natural substance found in the milky sap of this plant. Doctors mainly use morphine to help people with severe pain.
While morphine is very good at treating pain, using it often can make a person's body get used to it. This means they might need more of the medicine to get the same effect.
Morphine was first found and separated between 1803 and 1805. A German pharmacist named Friedrich Sertürner discovered it. This was the first time a medicinal substance from a plant was isolated. A company called Merck started selling it in 1827. Morphine became more widely used after the invention of the hypodermic syringe (a special needle for injections) in the mid-1850s. Sertürner named the substance morphium, after the Greek god of dreams, Morpheus. He chose this name because the medicine can make people feel sleepy.
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How Morphine Helps with Pain
Morphine is a powerful analgesic, which means it is a pain medication. It works by changing how your brain and body respond to pain signals. This helps to reduce or stop severe pain.
How Morphine Affects the Body
Like all medicines, morphine can have side effects. Some common ones include feeling sleepy, sick to your stomach, or constipated. Sometimes, it can also make it harder to breathe or cause low blood pressure. Doctors carefully watch patients who are given morphine to make sure they are safe.
History of Morphine
The story of morphine began with Friedrich Sertürner. He was a German pharmacist who first found and separated morphine from opium poppies. This happened between 1803 and 1805. His discovery was very important. It was the first time a medicinal substance called an alkaloid was taken from a plant.
After Sertürner's discovery, the company Merck started selling morphine in 1827. Its use became even more common after the hypodermic syringe was invented around 1853 to 1855. This new tool made it easier to give the medicine.
How Much Morphine is Used?
In 2013, about 523 tons of morphine were made around the world. About 45 tons were used directly to help people with pain. This was a big increase over the past twenty years. Morphine is sold under many different brand names. In 2021, it was one of the most commonly prescribed medicines in the United States. More than 3 million prescriptions were given out. It is also available as a generic medication, which means it can be a more affordable option.
Images for kids
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Latex bleeding from a freshly-scored seed pod
See also
In Spanish: Morfina para niños
