Oramorph Oral Solution 10 mg/5 ml

Each 5 ml contains 10 mg of Morphine Sulphate BP.

Excipients: 30 % w/v sucrose, 10.5 % w/v Ethanol (96%), methyl parahydroxybenzoate (E218) and propyl parahydroxybenzoate (E216).

For full list of excipients, see Section 6.1.

A clear, colourless solution for oral administration.

For the relief of severe pain.

Adults: Usual dose 10-20 mg (5-10 ml) every 4 hours.

Children 6-12 years: Maximum dose 5-10 mg (2.5-5 ml) every 4 hours.

Children 1-5 years: Maximum dose 5 mg (2.5 ml) every 4 hours.

Children under 1 year: Not recommended.

Dosage can be increased under medical supervision according to the severity of the pain and the patient's previous history of analgesic requirements. Reductions in dosage may be appropriate in the elderly, patients with moderate-severe renal or hepatic impairment, or where sedation is undesirable.

Morphine Sulphate BP is readily absorbed from the gastro-intestinal tract following oral administration. However, when Oramorph Oral Solution is used in place of parenteral morphine, a 50% to 100% increase in dosage is usually required in order to achieve the same level of analgesia.

Respiratory depression, obstructive airways disease, known morphine sensitivity, acute hepatic disease, acute alcoholism, head injuries, coma, convulsive disorders and where the intracranial pressure is raised, paralytic ileus. Concurrent administration of monoamine oxidase inhibitors or within two weeks of discontinuation of their use.

Oramorph is contraindicated in patients known to be hypersensitive to morphine sulphate or to any other component of the product.

Morphine and some other opioids can induce the release of endogenous histamine and thereby stimulate catecholamine release making them unsuitable for use in patients with phaeochromocytoma.

Opioids are contraindicated in acute asthma exacerbations, see section 4.4 for information relating to use in controlled asthma.

Care should be exercised if morphine sulphate is given in the first 24 hours post-operatively, in hypothyroidism, and where there is reduced respiratory reserve, such as kyphoscoliosis, emphysema and severe obesity. Opioids are contra-indicated in acute asthma exacerbations. However, it has been suggested that they can be used with caution in controlled asthma.

Morphine sulphate should not be given if paralytic ileus is likely to occur (see section 4.3) or where there is an obstructive bowel disorder or prostatic hyperplasia. If constipation occurs, this may be treated with appropriate laxatives.

It is wise to reduce dosage in chronic hepatic and renal disease, myxoedema, adrenocortical insufficiency, prostatic hypertrophy or shock.

The administration of morphine may result in severe hypotension in individuals whose ability to maintain homeostatic blood pressure has already been compromised by depleted blood volume or the concurrent administration of drugs such as phenothiazine or certain anaesthetics.

Tolerance and dependence may occur. Withdrawal symptoms may occur on abrupt discontinuation or on the administration of a narcotic antagonist e.g. naloxone.

Hypersensitivity and anaphylactic reaction have both occurred with the use of Oramorph. Care should be taken to elicit any history of allergic reactions to opiates.

Phenothiazine antiemetics may be given with morphine, but it should be noted that morphine potentiates the effects of tranquillisers, anaesthetics, hypnotics, sedatives, antipsychotics, tricyclic antidepressants and alcohol. Morphine may possibly increase plasma concentrations of esmolol.

Cimetidine inhibits the metabolism of morphine. Opioid analgesics including morphine may antagonise the actions of domperidone and metoclopramide on gastro-intestinal activity. Concomitant use of ritonavir should be avoided as the plasma concentration of morphine may be increased. The absorption of mexiletine may be delayed by concurrent use of morphine.

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors are known to interact with narcotic analgesics producing CNS excitation or depression with hyper- or hypotensive crisis, please see section 4.3.

Interactions have been reported in those subjects taking oramorph and voriconazole. Interactions have been reported in those taking oramorph and gabapentin. Both interactions suggest an increase in opioid adverse events when co-prescribed, the mechanism of which is not known. Caution should be taken where these medicines are co-prescribed.

In a study involving healthy volunteers (N=12), when a 60 mg controlled-release morphine capsule was administered 2 hours prior to a 600 mg gabapentin capsule, mean gabapentin AUC increased by 44% compared to gabapentin administered without morphine. Therefore, patients should be carefully observed for signs of CNS depression, such as somnolence, and the dose of gabapentin or morphine should be reduced appropriately.

Although morphine sulphate has been in general use for many years, there is inadequate evidence of safety in human pregnancy and lactation.

Morphine is known to cross the placenta, and is excreted in breast milk, and may thus cause respiratory depression in the newborn infant. Infants born from mothers who have been taking morphine on a chronic basis may exhibit withdrawal symptoms.

Gastric stasis and risk of inhalation pneumonia in mother during labour.

Medicines should not be used in pregnancy, especially the first trimester unless the expected benefit is thought to outweigh any possible risk to the foetus.

Morphine sulphate is likely to impair ability to drive and to use machinery. This effect is even more enhanced, when used in combination with alcohol or CNS depressants. Patients should be warned not to drive or operate dangerous machinery after taking Oramorph.

In routine clinical practice, the commonest side effects of morphine sulphate are nausea, vomiting, constipation, drowsiness and confusion If constipation occurs, this may be treated with appropriate laxatives.

Other adverse reactions include:

Cardiovascular: bradycardia, tachycardia, palpitations, orthostatic hypotension and hypothermia. Raised intracranial pressure occurs in some patients.

Central Nervous system: headache, restlessness, vertigo, mood changes, hallucinations, dependence, muscle rigidity.

Gastrointestinal: dry mouth, bilary spasm.

Genitourinary: decreased libido/potency, micturation may be difficult and there may be ureteric spasm. There is also an antidiuretic effect.

General: sweating, facial flushing and miosis.

These effects are more common in ambulant patients than in those who are bedridden.

Immune system disorders: hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis. Urticaria, pruritis.

Symptoms: Signs of morphine toxicity and overdosage are likely to consist of pin-point pupils, respiratory depression and hypotension. Circulatory failure and deepening coma may occur in more severe cases. Convulsions may occur in infants and children. Death may occur from respiratory failure.

Treatment of morphine overdose: Administer 0.4-2 mg of naloxone intravenously. Repeat at 2-3 minute intervals as necessary to a maximum of 10mg,, or by an infusion of 2mg in 500 ml of normal saline or 5 % dextrose (4 microgram/ml). Empty the stomach. A 0.02% aqueous solution of potassium permanganate may be used for lavage. Care should always be taken that the airway is maintained. Assist respiration if necessary. Maintain fluid and electrolyte levels, oxygen, i.v. fluids, vasopressors and other supportive measures should be employed as indicated.

Caution: the duration of the effect of naloxone (2-3 hours) may be shorter than the duration of the effect of the morphine overdose. It is recommended that a patient who has regained consciousness after naloxone treatment should be observed for at least 6 hours after the last dose of naloxone.

Morphine binds to opiate receptors, which are located on the cell surfaces of the brain and nervous tissue. This action results in alteration of neurotransmitter release and calcium uptake. It has been postulated that this is the basis of the modulation of sensory input from afferent nerves sensitive to pain.

Morphine N-methyl ¹⁴C sulphate administered orally to humans reaches a peak plasma level after around 15 minutes: levels of plasma-conjugated morphine peak at about 3 hours, and slowly decrease over the following 24 hours. After the first hour no significant differences in total plasma levels of radioactivity are seen whether administration is by intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous or oral route.

Morphine is a basic amine, and rapidly leaves the plasma and concentrates in the tissues. In animals it has been shown that a relatively small amount of free morphine crosses the blood-brain barrier. Morphine is metabolised in the liver and probably also in the mucosal cells of the small intestine. The metabolites recovered in the urine, in addition to free morphine, are morphine-3-glucuronide and morphine ethereal sulphate. These account for over 65 % of administered radioactivity; further radioactivity can be recovered as exhaled ¹⁴CO₂.

No further relevant preclinical data are available.

Ethanol (96%), corn syrup, sucrose, methyl parahydroxybenzoate (E218), propyl parahydroxybenzoate (E216) and purified water.

None stated.

3 years.

Discard Oramorph Oral Solution 3 months after first opening.

Do not store above 25°C. Store in the original container to protect from light.

Amber glass bottles with a tamper–evident, child resistant polypropylene closure with expanded PE liner are available in packs of 100 ml, 250 ml, 300 ml or 500 ml.

Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

None stated.

Boehringer Ingelheim Limited

Ellesfield Avenue

Bracknell

Berkshire

RG12 8YS

United Kingdom

PL 0015/0122

Date of first authorisation: 8^th March 1988 /

Date of last renewal: 8^th March 1993

August 2009

POM