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Letters to the Editor
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Morphine sulphate
Making oral morphine a CD is not the answer
From Ms S. A. Haynes, MRPharmS
Although I can understand
C. Ralph’s concern at morphine being swigged from a bottle with such
apparent unconcern, I cannot agree that 10mg in 5ml morphine sulphate solution
should be reclassified as a Controlled Drug (PJ, 15 January, p55).
Morphine has a place in both long-term treatment of chronic pain (eg, osteoporosis)
and as a short-term analgesic (eg, in post-operative care). It has a much
wider use than just terminal care.
My trust uses morphine sulphate unit dose vials (UDVs) regularly in post-operative
care. Its status as a POM , without the need for the recording and checking
that are necessary for a CD, means there is much less delay in patients
receiving adequate analgesia.
For a small group of women who have had caesarean sections, self-medication
is encouraged, and they are given five UDVs to keep appropriately stored
at the bedside. There is adequate supervision and checks in the system
to ensure the UDVs are not misused, “lost” or taken in too
great a quantity. The scheme has been a great success with both the staff
and the women who have participated. If morphine 10mg in 5ml was reclassified,this
scheme would have to end, and I believe the care of these patients would
suffer as a result.
If the morphine had been prescribed inappropriately for the woman mentioned
in Ms Ralph’s letter, as I accept could happen, would extra legislation
and record keeping have prevented the prescription being written?
Sally Haynes
Birmingham |
The
Pharmaceutical Journal