There are usually fears in the staff providing palliative and hospice care in Los Angeles that morphine leads to adverse health effects. However, when patients at hospice Glendale or Los Angeles learn more about morphine, including deflating myths and finding out the truth about treatment, you can make the appropriate decision for yourself or your loved one if you are thinking about morphine use in hospice care. 

Here are five of the most common myths about morphine in hospice Los Angeles and a thorough explanation of the truth about every myth. This should better inform you and your family and help you make more responsible decisions about whether morphine is a good idea as part of a hospice care plan. 

Myth 1: Patients Are Usually Addicted To Morphine In Hospice Care

Most of the time, patients and their loved ones fear that morphine can become addicting. This fear focuses on the belief that patients can rapidly accumulate a tolerance to morphine. Although a tolerance does develop and the dosage amounts go up over time for patients in hospice care, the worry of addiction is usually exaggerated. As a matter of fact, morphine addictions in hospice care are extremely rare. This is particularly true when the patient takes the prescribed amounts of morphine with the supervision of a hospice caregiver.

Myth 2: When You Take Morphine Too Soon, it Can Make It Less Effective 

Another mistaken belief about morphine usage in hospice care and palliative care in Los Angeles is that it should only be used for the end stages of an illness when symptoms are the worst. The assumption here is that morphine may lose its effectiveness over time and that patients may experience increased levels of discomfort in the end stages if they begin taking morphine in the early mid-stages of their illness. 

Nevertheless, to be perfectly honest, there is no limit to the morphine dosage amount, and hospice caregivers can cautiously and slowly increase the level of morphine if the patient starts to develop a tolerance or if their condition worsens and results in more severe symptoms. 

Myth 3: Hospice Patients On Morphine Are Sedated And Foggy State

Another common apprehension that families and patients have about morphine in hospice care, and it is a reasonable concern. Similar to all medications, there are side effects of morphine, and a sluggish feeling is a potential side effect at first. 

Nonetheless, the dread of a sedated or foggy state is not a critical concern when morphine is used for long-term symptom management for patients in hospice care. In most cases, the patient gets used to the medication within a few days and no longer experiences a lethargic or apathetic state. If the side effects, which are small, do carry on for over a week, then the hospice care provider can simply change the dosage to alleviate the side effects.

Myth 4: Morphine Results In Unsafe Decreases In Breathing Rate

Decreases in breathing rate is another possible side effect of morphine, which naturally gives patients and their families some hesitation. Still, unsafe or worrying drops in breathing rate are rare among hospice patients who take morphine, and indeed, it is quite the opposite. For many patients, prescribed morphine that hospice care professionals monitor usually lowers symptoms such as shortness of breath and air hunger. 

Again, like other side effects and other medications, the dosage can be changed or the medication can be stopped if side effects persist. The risk of respiratory depression is very low when morphine is taken responsibly. 

Myth 5: Morphine Usage In Hospice Care Results In Premature Death

Understandably, many people connect the medications hospice care patients take to their death if they pass earlier than anticipated. In some instances, medications can adversely impact life expectancy if side effects happen. In spite of that, this is rarely, if ever, the case with prescribed morphine used to relieve shortness of breath and other oxygen and breathing complications.

Although there is no proof that the life expectancy of hospice patients is adversely impacted by prescribed morphine, there does appear to be a connection between those who take morphine to relieve specific symptoms and an enhanced quality of life. 

How To Know Whether Morphine In Hospice Care Is Appropriate

Like any medication, it is good to consult with your doctor or hospice care provider before taking or accepting morphine for symptom relief. However, talking to a medical professional can help you make sure that the morphine, if suitable, is used most effectively and safely possible. 

Get In Touch With Our Hospice Team Today For More Information

At Faith & Hope Hospice and Palliative Care, we have a complete team of hospice care providers who can help enhance the quality of life for you or your loved one. If you have any inquiries about morphine use or hospice care overall, then our friendly and professional team is ready to help you when you call today.