Morphine is an opioid medication. An opioid is sometimes called a narcotic. Morphine works by blocking pain signals from travelling along the nerves to the brain.
Morphine is used to treat moderate to severe pain. The extended-release form of morphine is for around-the-clock treatment of pain. Short-acting formulations are taken as needed for pain.
Extended-release morphine is not for use on an as-needed basis for pain.
