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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Prescribed Morphine, Sulf Morphine For Breakthrough Pain. Unable To Sleep For More Than 1 Hour. Take Ambien With Morphine?

my husband is prescribed 100mg morphine twice a day and 30 mg sulf morphine for break through pain. He s still having a problem staying asleep for longer than an hour and has 10 mg ambien he was prescribed before the Morphine. Can he take the ambien to see if it will help his sleep better or should the two not be mixed?
Fri, 29 Nov 2013
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Internal Medicine Specialist,  's  Response
Hi and thanks so much for this query.

I am so sorry to hear about the difficulties your husband has sleeping. Ambien can be taken with morphine but you have to be very cautious. This is because ambien and morphine can both cause respiratory depression. The combination of this would further drive respiration down leading to risk of dying from respiratory depression. I will suggest that you talk with his doctor before putting him on this drug so that safe doses taking into account the effects of morphine can be prescribed.

Ambien will certainly help him sleep better but we have to watch out for the risk of respiratory depression. Please, let his doctor assess him before authorizing that combination.


I hope you find this helpful and provides enough information for you to make and informed decision on how to tackle this. Thank you so much for having used our services and we do hope to see you next time if need be. I wish you good health.

Dr. Ivo Ditah, MD.
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Prescribed Morphine, Sulf Morphine For Breakthrough Pain. Unable To Sleep For More Than 1 Hour. Take Ambien With Morphine?

Hi and thanks so much for this query. I am so sorry to hear about the difficulties your husband has sleeping. Ambien can be taken with morphine but you have to be very cautious. This is because ambien and morphine can both cause respiratory depression. The combination of this would further drive respiration down leading to risk of dying from respiratory depression. I will suggest that you talk with his doctor before putting him on this drug so that safe doses taking into account the effects of morphine can be prescribed. Ambien will certainly help him sleep better but we have to watch out for the risk of respiratory depression. Please, let his doctor assess him before authorizing that combination. I hope you find this helpful and provides enough information for you to make and informed decision on how to tackle this. Thank you so much for having used our services and we do hope to see you next time if need be. I wish you good health. Dr. Ivo Ditah, MD.