What causes the rush of chest heaviness, etc. right after a dose of morphine?

Just wondering...  (Ok, yes, I often wonder about completely random kinds of things... and you would be surprised what kind of knowledge you can obtain while seeking answers to such randomness!)

I was trying to describe (to someone who has never had any IV pain meds) the feeling that comes over you right after being given morphine, and that made me wonder specifically about that transient sensation of chest heaviness.  Anyone know what causes that part of it?

Lora

My best guess is that the morphine probably relaxes you so much that it may feel like you are having chest heaviness, but it's just your body's way of being lazy now that morphine is in it.  So it doesn't feel like moving up and down to breathe, lol.  Does that make sense?

Morphine causes a decrease in systemic arterial resistance which may lead to this heaviness. It may also cause dizziness, hypotension, and nausea. Sometimes the slower you push the drug the less pronounced the side effects, so it should be given slow IV push or even dripped in 50cc.

Good question, because I've wondered about this "random" thing myself.  I also wanted to take it a step further and question why, when it was administered via needle directly into my bum, I felt more than "heaviness"...it felt like I could have a heart attack at any moment.  Did not like that feeling at all.  But then, I don't get along with many different pain meds.

Thank God I am not the only one who have had this feeling!..........I have had morphine via IV after surgeries and most recently last week I was hospitalized 1 day for abdominal pain and severe dehydration....

I was given morphine via IV by the nurse slow pushing it into my IV and YES!  that chest heaviness that comes over you makes me feel as though a heart attack could follow......

OMG......my SIL was murdered from a heroin overdose and then her boyfriend put her in ice bath to try and revive her.....if that is at all what a heroin rush feels like, I am not a candidate for drugs.....

I cannot take any drugs that make my head spin and my heart race.......which is why I do not drink alcohol or smoke "weed"....especially how they process the "herb" today......I'm just saying!

but that damn morphine is a trip and you know what?.....it did not take any pain away from me and did not make me sleepy so it was like a dose for nothing!

If you ever have to have surgery of any kind again, ask for IV dilaudid.  It doesnt' have that side effect and it works better.  My surgeons never use Morphine in the pain box, they use dilaudid and I just got out the hospital for kidney stone surgery and they also used IV dilaudid -  different hospital and surgeon.  They all say that they find dilaudid works better.  Once I asked for morphine not knowing better and after 1 or 2 doses, I asked for the dilaudid back. The morphine did nothing.

thank you I will try that after my next reconstructive surgery.....does dilaudid cause drowsiness because I suffer post RNY from insomnia and take ambien and if dilaudid causes sleepiness, I will enjoy that medicine!....

YES.. dilaudid works GREAT... it causes drowsiness.. not really sleepiness persay...

Hey Ms. Diva!................I just wrote this info in my medical journal.....thanks.......how are you.......HOTLANTA made me sick this summer and I was hospitalized last week for severe dehydration, heat exhaustion and my anemia...............****! I ain't cut for the South!..................

I mean it is hot in Chicago too but there is humidity in the air....this dry heat dried me and my perennials up!.....lol


but I am getting better slowly........how is your daughter.....hope she is still progressing well post-op!

 she is GREAT.. she's lost at least 75 to 80 cause she's in the 260s already.  We both go Aug 11 for our appts.. which are LONG overdue. She hasnt been since her 2 weeks checkup and I hadnt since Jan... due to no insurance...  BUT they do free weigh ins.. and Im down to 123 now  needless to say even my surgeon was like start drinking ensure LOL... 
I havent been down JUST for that very reason.... at least here in DC we have humidity.. there it's just hot...

You better carry some water with you at all times