GuidelinesOther guideline
Infusion: Morphine
MORPHINE INFUSION
| Trade names: | Presentation and strength: |
Morphine. | 10mg/1ml and 15mg/1ml ampoules. |
| Cautions: See SAMF. | |
| Loading dose: | |
| Adult: 0.1 to 0.2mg/kg. | Paediatric: 0.1 to 0.2mg/kg. |
| Commonly for 70kg adult: 7 to 14mg for a 70kg patient. Usually 5 to 10mg, but may be up to 15mg. | Neonatal: As above. |
| Constant infusion: | |
| Adult dosage range: 20 to 80mcg/kg/hr. | Paediatric dosage range: 20 to 80mcg/kg/hr. |
| Neonatal dosage range: 10 to 30mcg/kg/hr. | |
| Regime for 70kg adult: | Regime for paediatrics: |
| Mixture: Add 20mg in 50ml total volume = 400mcg/ml. | Mixture: Add 1mg/kg into 50ml total volume. |
| Rate: 20 to 80mcg/kg/hr = 1.4 to 5.6mg/hr. Run at 3.5 to 14ml/hr (20 to 80mcg/70kg/hr) Or for practical purposes: 5 to 15ml/hr. | Paediatric rate: 1 to 4ml/hr (20 to 80mcg/kg/hr). |
| Neonatal rate: 0.5 to 1.5ml/hr (10 to 30mcg/kg/hr). | |
| Alternative adult regime: | Alternative paediatric regime: |
| Mixture: 40mg morphine in 50ml total volume. | Mixture: |
| Rate: Morphine concentration 1mg/ml at rate 1 to 10ml/hr. | Rate: |
| Additional notes: Many units consider 2 to 5mg/70kg/hr adequate. However, if a higher dose is required, the GSH C27 Respiratory ICU high-dose infusion at a concentration of 1mg/ml with a rate of 1 to 10ml/hr, titrated to effect, may be required. This provides a maximum rate of 143mcg/kg/hr for a 70kg patient. Australian Royal Flying Doctor Service (Western Operations) use a morphine infusion regimen of concentration 1mg/ml (50mg/50ml), run at a rate of 2.5 to 15ml/hr. | |