Did you know there was a time when Arizonans were being prescribed opioids at alarming rates? At one point, enough pills were dispensed to supply every man, woman, and child in the state with a two-and-a-half-week supply.
To combat the opioid epidemic while also protecting individuals who live with chronic pain, The Arizona Opioid Act was born. While this Act has helped decrease opioid dependence and overdose by limiting initial opioid prescriptions to 5 days, opioids like morphine remain an ongoing threat.
Here in Arizona, there have been 138 confirmed opioid deaths as of May 2025. Even one death is too many, as it leaves behind a heartbroken family, forever missing someone they deeply loved. Wolf Creek Recovery strives to educate individuals and families on the dangers of opioids, including those that are legitimately prescribed.
Below is more information on morphine withdrawals, why they occur, and how long they last. With the right support, you can safely detox from morphine and start the path to recovery.
Morphine Withdrawals
Morphine may not get the same attention as opioids, but it can still have devastating consequences when it’s taken improperly. Like any other opioid, morphine suppresses the central nervous system, which can cause breathing problems or death when taken in large doses.
Generally speaking, morphine is prescribed to treat severe pain, especially when other pain medications have proven ineffective. Even with legitimate use, it’s still possible to become dependent on the medication. However, dependence is most common with misuse. Trying to stop can cause uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms, but this doesn’t need to stop you from quitting. Medications and therapies are available to make this process safe, comfortable, and successful.
What Is Morphine Withdrawal?
When you use morphine on a regular basis, it causes the body to become desensitized to its effects. Over time, you need more and more to achieve the same effects (tolerance). This can be dangerous and increases your risk of overdose. Prolonged use of morphine also changes how the nerve receptors work. They essentially become dependent on morphine to function. Therefore, if you start feeling sick when you stop or reduce your dose, you are likely experiencing withdrawal.
Withdrawal symptoms can be intense, but they do go away after a few days or weeks as your body adjusts to not having opioids in its system. There are also medications and therapies that treat the symptoms you’re experiencing, helping to make the process a bit easier for you. Morphine withdrawal can be classified as mild, moderate, moderately severe, and severe and is usually tied to how much and how often you use the substance.
Morphine Withdrawal Symptoms
Not everyone experiences severe withdrawal symptoms when stopping morphine. If the dose was low or the medication was used for a short time, withdrawal symptoms may be mild and improve by the end of the week. However, if morphine was misused, such as by taking higher or more frequent doses, the withdrawal symptoms may be more severe and intense, with some symptoms lingering for weeks or months.
Mild but Noticeable Signs of Withdrawal
People who are going through mild morphine withdrawals often experience mild anxiety, restlessness, irritability, low motivation and fatigue, aches and pains, gastrointestinal upset, trouble sleeping, and cravings for morphine. Essentially, people end up feeling uneasy and have a hard time winding down. Most of these symptoms peak around 2-3 days before tapering off within the week. During this time, it’s important to eat well, stay hydrated, and get light exercise. Warm showers, over-the-counter pain relievers, and relaxation techniques can all be helpful.
The Turning Point: Moderate Signs
When you’ve used morphine regularly, long-term, or in high doses, withdrawal symptoms tend to be moderate in intensity. As long as they are managed properly, they shouldn’t be dangerous, but they can still be uncomfortable and persistent.
Moderate symptoms include heightened anxiety, depressed mood, vivid dreams, abdominal cramping, watery eyes, runny nose, excessive yawning, and cravings. There are also autonomous symptoms that can be uncomfortable, such as sweating, chills or hot flashes, and increased heart rate and blood pressure. Symptoms typically start within 24 hours from the last dose, peak in 2-4 days, and then improve over the next 5-10 days. Residual symptoms can linger for 2-3 weeks.
Facing the Hardest Stage: Severe Signs
Severe morphine withdrawals typically occur in those who use morphine long-term and in high doses and then suddenly stop. The physical and psychological symptoms that occur can be dangerous without support. People often feel in a state of turmoil, experiencing symptoms like uncontrollable anxiety or panic, shaking or tremors, crippling muscle and bone pain, intense cravings, violent vomiting or profuse diarrhea, and autonomic symptoms (sweating, fever, chills, goosebumps).
Psychological symptoms can also be intense, causing desperation, hopelessness, and suicidal thoughts or urges. These symptoms generally occur within 6-24 hours from the last dose, peak in about a day or two, and then taper around 7-10 days. However, it’s not uncommon for some of these symptoms to last for weeks or months.
Morphine Cravings
Cravings are one of the most powerful and persistent features of morphine dependence. People usually know that they can occur during withdrawal, but they’re often unaware that they can also happen when you’re least expecting them, such as long after physical symptoms fade or unexpectedly after a period of sobriety. This is why it’s important not to let your guard down—recovery is intentional.
So why do these cravings happen in the first place? Morphine hijacks the brain’s reward system, causing a persistent drive to restore the substance when it’s removed from the body. Cravings can spike at various times, such as during withdrawal, when feeling stressed or bored, when structure or connection is missing, and when you’re exposed to certain environmental cues (sight, smells, people, music, locations, etc.).
While cravings tend to occur more often at the start of recovery, they can happen any time. The good news is that they tend to decrease in frequency and intensity over time, and you will learn effective ways to manage them. Some of the best treatment options for morphine cravings are medication-assisted treatment, cognitive behavioral therapy, distraction and delay techniques, mindfulness or grounding exercises, avoiding triggers, and support groups.
Morphine Use and the Brain
Morphine binds to mu-opioid receptors in the brain, spinal cord, and other areas of the central nervous system. In doing so, it blocks the transmission of pain signals, providing pain relief. Morphine also affects the brain’s mesolimbic dopamine system, stimulating dopamine release and leading to a sense of euphoria. While these effects are favorable, they also create positive reinforcement, which can quickly lead to psychological dependence. The limbic system is also affected by morphine, reducing the emotional response to pain and stress.
How Long Does Withdrawal From Morphine Last?
Withdrawal from morphine typically lasts about 7-10 days, but various factors can affect this timeline, such as how much morphine a person uses, how often, and their individual health. A person who uses morphine in small doses and has good health is more likely to have a shorter and less intense withdrawal period compared to someone who uses morphine in high doses on a regular basis.
It’s also worth pointing out the potential for post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS), as it often takes people by surprise. While the withdrawal period from morphine is about a week or so, it is possible to experience certain symptoms for weeks or even months. PAWS is most likely to happen to those who use morphine chronically and in high doses. Common symptoms include insomnia, mood swings, and cravings. While these symptoms may persist for a longer period of time, they can be managed with self-care, therapy, and medications.
Morphine Withdrawals Treatment and Medications in Prescott, AZ
The goal of morphine rehab is to ease symptoms, prevent complications, and support long-term recovery. It can take place in a residential or intensive outpatient facility where individuals have access to medications, therapy, and ongoing support. Supervised detox kicks off this process and ensures safety while the body detoxes from morphine and any other substances. Medical staff monitor vital signs and provide supportive care. If any complications arise, they can step in and manage them on the spot, such as treating dehydration with IV fluids.
Several medications can be used to reduce discomfort and manage cravings, such as methadone, buprenorphine, clonidine, NSAIDs, and sleep aids. Always remember that detox is just the first step. Behavioral therapy, counseling, and support groups are vital for addressing the psychological components of morphine use and reducing the risk of return to use. Healthy lifestyle changes are also part of a comprehensive recovery, including nutrition, exercise, rest, and stress management. This approach ensures every aspect of your health and well-being are accounted for so that full healing can occur.
Wolf Creek Recovery understands that recovering from a substance use disorder is deeply personal and often challenging, but it’s not something that you have to face alone. We are here for you, providing evidence-based therapies and personalized support to help you along your journey. Our outdoor therapy program offers opportunities to be in nature, learning new skills and creating lasting memories. To start your recovery, contact our team at 833-732-8202. Build a life you love.
FAQs About Morphine Withdrawal
What is morphine withdrawals?
Morphine withdrawal is the body’s response to suddenly stopping or reducing use after becoming dependent on it. It causes a range of symptoms, such as anxiety, muscle aches, nausea, and cravings as the body adjusts.
Why does morphine withdrawal occur?
Morphine withdrawals occur because the body becomes physically dependent on the substance to function. When morphine is removed from the body, the nervous system is thrown off balance and needs time to rebalance itself.
Can you die from morphine withdrawal?
Typically, morphine withdrawal is not life-threatening, but it can be extremely uncomfortable and may lead to serious complications if not properly managed. Medical supervision is strongly recommended.
