Morphine Withdrawal Timeline
Morphine withdrawal is profoundly uncomfortable but it follows a relatively predictable timeline and has consistent symptoms, although there are individual variations. In addition, symptom severity and duration are correlated with the degree of morphine dependence.
It is important to note that abrupt cessation of morphine use can be very dangerous, even lethal in cases of extreme dependence and addiction. Symptoms of dangerous withdrawal include hallucinations and seizures.
Morphine withdrawal generally occurs over the course of about one week, although in some cases symptoms may persist for weeks or even months. There are three overall stages of morphine withdrawal:
Stage One
The earliest symptoms of withdrawal can set in as early as 6 hours after the last dose, reflecting the half-life of morphine. As the drug is metabolized, less is available to maintain the chemical changes that the brain has become dependent on.
The most common signs and symptoms of early morphine withdrawal include:
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Diarrhea
- Tearing eyes
- Runny nose
- Sweating
- Yawning
Stage Two
Symptoms associated with the second stage of morphine withdrawal reflect the absence of morphine in the body. Stage one symptoms will progressively worsen over the course of the first day of withdrawal, and during days 2-3 of withdrawal new symptoms will appear. Stage two symptoms will generally begin to resolve by day 4 of withdrawal.
The most common signs and symptoms of mid-stage morphine withdrawal include:
- Muscle cramps
- Nausea/vomiting
- Fever or chills
- Dilated pupils
- Sweating
- Cravings
Stage Three
In most cases, symptoms of morphine withdrawal will gradually abate 5-7 days after the last use. However, there are cases where symptoms persist for weeks, even months. Post-acute withdrawal syndrome is relatively common and includes fluctuating withdrawal symptoms that persist for far longer than acute withdrawal is expected to last.
Factors Impacting Morphine Withdrawal
There are a number of factors that affect withdrawal severity and duration, including:
- Morphine dosage
- Duration of use
- Route of administration
- Co-use of other drugs or alcohol
- Co-occurring disorders
- Age
- Metabolism
- Genetics
- Physical health
- Mental health
- Presence of an external support network