You should not take Kadian if you have severe asthma or breathing problems, a blockage in your stomach or intestines, or a bowel obstruction called paralytic ileus.
Morphine can slow or stop your breathing, and may be habit-forming MISUSE OF KADIAN CAN CAUSE ADDICTION, OVERDOSE, OR DEATH, , especially in a child or other person using the medicine without a prescription. Keep the medication in a place where others cannot get to it.
Taking Kadian during pregnancy may cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms in the newborn.
Fatal side effects can occur if you use Kadian with alcohol, or with other drugs that cause drowsiness or slow your breathing.
Before taking this medicine
You should not take Kadian if you have ever had an allergic reaction to morphine or other narcotic medicines, or if you have:
severe asthma or breathing problems;
a stomach or bowel obstruction (including paralytic ileus); or
if you have taken an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days, such as isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, or tranylcypromine.
To make sure Kadian is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:
breathing problems, sleep apnea (breathing stops during sleep);
a head injury, brain tumor, or seizures;
a drug or alcohol addiction, or mental illness;
urination problems;
liver or kidney disease; or
problems with your gallbladder, pancreas, or thyroid.
If you use opioid medicine while you are pregnant, your baby could become dependent on the drug. This can cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms in the baby after it is born. Babies born dependent on opioids may need medical treatment for several weeks.
Ask a doctor before using opioid medicine if you are breastfeeding. Tell your doctor if you notice severe drowsiness or slow breathing in the nursing baby.
How should I use Kadian?
Take Kadian exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides. Never use Kadian in larger amounts, or for longer than prescribed. Tell your doctor if you feel an increased urge to take more of this medicine.
Never share opioid medicine with another person, especially someone with a history of drug addiction. MISUSE CAN CAUSE ADDICTION, OVERDOSE, OR DEATH. Keep the medicine where others cannot get to it. Selling or giving away this medicine is against the law.
Stop taking all other around-the-clock narcotic pain medications when you start taking Kadian.
Swallow the capsule whole to avoid exposure to a potentially fatal overdose. Crushing, chewing, or dissolving the pellets will result in uncontrolled delivery of morphine and can lead to overdose or death
You may have withdrawal symptoms if you stop using Kadian suddenly. Ask your doctor before stopping the medicine.
Never crush or break a Kadian capsule to inhale the powder or mix it into a liquid to inject the drug into your vein. This practice has resulted in death with the misuse of morphine and similar prescription drugs.
Store at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and light. Keep track of your medicine. You should be aware if anyone is using it improperly or without a prescription.
Do not keep leftover opioid medication. Just one dose can cause death in someone using this medicine accidentally or improperly. Ask your pharmacist where to locate a drug take-back disposal program. If there is no take-back program, flush the unused medicine down the toilet.
