Although it’s no secret that there’s a connection between morphine and hallucinations, not all patients prescribed this potent opioid analgesic are aware that it can skew their perception of reality. While this morphine side effect is relatively uncommon, it can happen to anyone taking this drug, especially right after initiating opioid therapy or increasing its dose.
Switching to another opioid or reducing morphine dosage can lower the risk of morphine-induced hallucinations. However, getting off this drug is the most effective way to stop them.
This article will cover the key things you should know about morphine and hallucinations, as well as explain how ANR treatment can help you quit this drug for good.
What Are Hallucinations?
Hallucinations are false sensory experiences that create a distorted perception of reality. People who experience them may see, hear, smell, feel, or taste things that are not really there. Although their experiences may feel real, in reality, they only exist in the mind; as true as they may seem, hallucinations occur without any external stimulus.
There are numerous types of hallucinations, including:
- Visual hallucinations (seeing objects or people that aren’t real)
- Tactile hallucinations (feeling sensations, such as heat, pressure, or the feeling of bugs crawling under the skin, in your body without any physical cause)
- Auditory hallucinations (hearing voices, music, or other sounds that do not exist)
- Olfactory hallucinations (smelling odors that are not actually there, such as rotten food or smoke)
- Gustatory hallucinations (experiencing odd metallic, bitter, or other tastes without any external stimulus)
- Presence hallucinations (feeling as if someone else is in the room with you)
- Proprioceptive hallucinations (thinking that you are floating, spinning, flying, etc., even when your body isn’t moving at all)
Common causes of hallucinations include mental health disorders, such as schizophrenia, and neurological conditions (e.g., people with epilepsy are prone to olfactory hallucinations).
Some other factors that could trigger hallucinations include sleep deprivation, high fever, and medications, including opioids. Such hallucinations are typically temporary; they disappear once their cause is addressed. For instance, drug-induced hallucinations typically subside after drug cessation.
With this in mind, let’s learn more about the link between morphine and hallucinations.
Does Morphine Cause Hallucinations?
Morphine can cause hallucinations in some patients, even though it is not classified as a hallucinogen. This potent opiate is prescribed for moderate-to-severe pain management when weaker painkillers do not help.
Although very effective in relieving pain, the long-term effects of opioid use can be devastating, as morphine gradually alters brain chemistry, leading to tolerance and dependence.
According to researchers from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, morphine is the opioid most commonly linked to opioid-induced hallucinations. This is likely because of its widespread availability and long history of use.
To better understand the connection between morphine and hallucinations, let’s examine how it works.
How Does Morphine Work?
Morphine works by interacting with the opioid receptors in the central nervous system (CNS). It mimics the effects of endorphins by attaching to these receptors and blocking the transmission of pain signals between the body and the brain. It also causes euphoria and deep relaxation by triggering sudden dopamine release.
Besides pain relief, this drug can also cause various adverse effects. While nausea, vomiting, and headaches are among the most common morphine side effects, patients may also experience opioid-induced hallucinations, delirium, etc.
Why Morphine May Cause Hallucinations?
Morphine may cause hallucinations because of its effects on the CNS, though the exact mechanism behind opioid-induced hallucinations isn’t fully understood.
Researchers from Jagiellonian University in Kraków suggest that hallucinations may possibly occur due to opioid neurotoxicity. Morphine may cause the downregulation of opioid receptors and excessive activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors. This could lead to adverse CNS effects, including hallucinations, seizures, and opioid-induced hyperalgesia.
Conversely, researchers propose that the dysregulation of the dopaminergic system may explain the association between morphine and hallucinations.
Opioid-induced hallucinations may occur alone or alongside delirium—a state of acute severe confusion—usually shortly after the initiation of opioid therapy or a dose increase. Morphine most commonly causes visual hallucinations, though there have also been cases of morphine-induced auditory hallucinations.
Now that you know more about morphine and hallucinations, let’s find out how you can recognize opioid-induced hallucinations.
How to Recognize Symptoms of Morphine-Induced Hallucinations
The main symptom of morphine-induced hallucinations that can help you recognize this condition is experiencing things that aren’t real after taking any type of morphine.
Since hallucinations can be very realistic and discerning them from reality can be nearly impossible, your best option is to talk to someone, be it a family member or your healthcare provider. If you or your loved one is seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, or feeling things that other people don’t, it may be a sign of opioid-induced hallucinations.
When it comes to morphine and hallucinations, other commonly co-occurring symptoms you shouldn’t ignore include:
- Anxiety
- Agitation
- Paranoia
- Confusion
- Erratic behavior (e.g., talking to people who aren’t there)
Although recognizing that you may be dealing with opioid-induced hallucinations may bring about feelings of shame or fear, this shouldn’t deter you from seeking help. Hallucinations can happen to anyone taking morphine, but some people are more susceptible to them than others.
On this note, let’s discuss the risk factors for opioid-induced hallucinations.
Who Is at Risk of Having Morphine-Induced Hallucinations?
People who suffer from chronic pain and renal or hepatic problems are at a higher risk of having morphine-induced hallucinations. Struggling with opioid use disorder (OUD) can also increase the risk of opioid-induced hallucinations.
Here’s a more detailed breakdown of the main risk factors associated with morphine and hallucinations:
- Advanced age. Aging may affect the distribution and clearance of morphine, increasing the risk of opioid-induced hallucinations. Older patients are also at a higher risk of having them than younger ones because they are more likely to experience chronic pain, take multiple medications, and suffer from renal or hepatic disease.
- Chronic pain. Chronic pain and opioid hallucinations may co-occur, as patients requiring around-the-clock pain relief often take opioids for a prolonged time at increasingly larger doses. The risk of opioid-induced hallucinations is especially high after rapid dose increases.
- Polydrug use. Taking other medications with morphine can significantly increase the risk of hallucinations. Before initiating opioid therapy, inform your doctor about any drugs you’re taking to minimize the risk of harmful drug interactions.
- Poor kidney or liver function. Kidney and liver problems increase the risk of opioid toxicity, hallucinations, and other adverse effects by making it more difficult for the body to eliminate morphine.
- Morphine dependency and addiction. People who are dependent on or addicted to morphine are more likely to take it in large doses and abuse it, making them more vulnerable to opioid-induced hallucinations.
What to Do if You Are Experiencing Hallucinations Under the Influence of Opioids
If you are experiencing hallucinations under the influence of opioids, try to stay as calm as possible and seek medical help.
Here’s what you should do if you’re having opioid-induced hallucinations:
#1. Seek Emergency Care
If you’re having opioid-induced hallucinations, seek medical help immediately to ensure your safety.
If possible, do not be alone, as experiencing hallucinations can be a frightening experience that can quickly turn into an emergency. Try not to panic; this can only worsen the situation. Instead, ask a loved one or someone you trust to take you to an emergency room or keep you company while help arrives.
#2. Consult Your Healthcare Provider
Once you receive emergency medical help, contact your doctor to let them know you’re having hallucinations after taking morphine. They will evaluate your specific situation and help you determine the best course of action.
Although opioid-induced hallucinations are a side effect of morphine, quitting the drug abruptly can be very dangerous. It can trigger intense—and often even dangerous—opioid withdrawal symptoms, which is why you should only quit morphine under medical supervision.
#3. Get Opioid Dependence Treatment
If you’re struggling with opioid dependence and hallucinations, it’s in your best interest to opt for professional treatment.
However, not all opioid dependence treatments are equally safe. Some, such as medication-assisted treatment (MAT), require you to take opioid-replacement drugs that may also trigger hallucinations.
For instance, methadone sometimes causes hallucinations and psychosis upon discontinuation. There have also been cases of nearly fatal auditory buprenorphine-induced hallucinations.
Not to mention, MAT and other traditional treatments treat the symptoms of opioid dependence without addressing its root cause. ANR treatment, on the other hand, facilitates lasting recovery by targeting the neurobiological causes of opioid dependence, making it significantly more effective.
ANR Treatment for Morphine Dependence
Accelerated Neuro-Regulation (ANR) is a groundbreaking opioid dependence treatment that has supported the recovery of almost 25,000 people worldwide.
Developed by Dr. Andre Waismann, ANR is the only treatment that addresses the underlying causes of opioid dependence—the neurochemical imbalance resulting from repeated opioid exposure.
With a therapeutic goal of neuro-equilibrium, this innovative treatment returns the brain to its pre-addiction state by re-regulating the endorphin-receptor system while the patient is sedated. As a result, ANR eradicates opioid dependence together with cravings and other withdrawal symptoms, which explains its unprecedented success rate.
Most importantly, ANR is tailored to each person individually. Therefore, it can be safely performed on virtually everyone, even those with co-occurring medical conditions.
Benefits of Undergoing ANR Treatment
Some main benefits of undergoing ANR treatment include safety, effectiveness, and short treatment duration.
Let’s break them down:
- Safety. ANR is performed by a team of board-certified anesthesiologists, critical care physicians, and other highly experienced medical professionals. To ensure patient safety, it is carried out in an ICU setting of fully accredited hospitals with advanced medical equipment.
- Effectiveness. Unlike traditional methods, ANR attacks the root of opioid dependence by modulating the endorphin-receptor system. Since it reverses opioid-induced damage to the brain, this treatment negates the risk of ongoing withdrawal symptoms and relapse.
- Short treatment duration. With an average hospital stay of just 36 hours, ANR can help you break free from opioid dependence in a matter of days. Most patients are discharged from the hospital the next day after undergoing the procedure, which lasts roughly 4–6 hours.
Ready to reclaim your life with ANR? Contact us today for a free, 100% confidential consultation!
Key Takeaways
Before you go, let’s run over the key points we covered today:
- Morphine-induced hallucinations are an adverse effect that causes people to feel, smell, taste, see, or hear things that seem real but aren’t.
- Advanced age, chronic pain, and the use of several medications are some risk factors for having opioid-induced hallucinations.
- If you are experiencing hallucinations after taking opioids, seek medical help and consider undergoing opioid dependence treatment to get off opioids safely and effectively.
- ANR is a state-of-the-art treatment for morphine dependency that supports long-lasting recovery by treating the neurobiological root of opioid dependence.
Morphine and Hallucinations FAQ
Morphine can cause mental health issues or exacerbate them, especially if taken for a prolonged time or abused. Furthermore, quitting this drug often triggers not only physical but also psychological morphine withdrawal symptoms, such as depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation.
Hallucinations are not a common side effect of morphine. Nonetheless, some people who take this drug can experience them. Morphine-induced hallucinations in the elderly are more common than in other demographics due to age-related physiological changes.
Yes, morphine can trigger psychosis. According to A. Z. Pfeffer, MD, morphine-induced psychosis usually happens due to opioid withdrawal, habitual drug use, or idiosyncrasy with morphine.
ANR treatment can help patients who experience hallucinations from opioids get off these drugs safely, quickly, and painlessly.
The most effective way to treat opioid-induced hallucinations is to discontinue drug use, which often triggers virtually unbearable opioid withdrawal symptoms. ANR can help you break the cycle of opioid abuse and dependence as comfortably as possible by restoring normal brain function under sedation.
