A mixture of opium alkaloids used for strong pain
Papaveretum
A strong opioid painkiller, mainly morphine, used for moderate to severe pain, often around the time of surgery.
What is Papaveretum?
Papaveretum is a strong opioid painkiller made from a mixture of opium alkaloids, of which morphine is the main one. It is used for moderate to severe pain, particularly around the time of surgery, and is usually given by injection in hospital. Like other strong opioids, its most important risks are slowing of breathing (respiratory depression), drowsiness and, with longer use, dependence, so it is a controlled drug given under close supervision. It also commonly causes constipation, nausea and a feeling of being sleepy or muddled. It should not be mixed with alcohol or other sedating medicines without medical advice.
Education and reference only. This is a plain-language guide to Papaveretum — it deliberately contains no doses. Doses depend on the person, the brand and the reason for treatment, and belong with your prescriber. Always check the BNF, the product labelling (SmPC) and follow medical advice.
What it is
Papaveretum is a strong painkiller belonging to the opioid family, the same group as morphine. It is actually a mixture of natural substances from opium (called alkaloids), with morphine making up most of its effect. It is used to control moderate to severe pain, most often in hospital and especially around the time of an operation. It is usually given by injection rather than as a tablet. Because it is a powerful opioid, it is a controlled drug, prescribed and given by healthcare professionals who can monitor how a person responds to it.
How it works
Papaveretum works in the same way as morphine, by acting on opioid receptors in the brain and spinal cord that control how pain is felt. By switching on these receptors, it reduces the pain messages reaching the brain and changes how the body responds to pain, so severe pain becomes much more bearable. The same action on the brain is also why it causes drowsiness and slows breathing at higher doses, and why the body can become used to it over time. This is why it is used carefully, at the lowest effective amount and for the shortest time needed, under supervision.
Company & origin
Originated / developed by: Specialist manufacturers.
A strong opioid painkiller, made up of a mixture of opium alkaloids (mainly morphine), used in hospital for moderate to severe pain.
Practical use
How to take Papaveretum
General, dose-free guidance — always follow your prescriber's and the leaflet's specific instructions.
- It is usually given by injection by a healthcare professional, most often in hospital, at the lowest effective amount for the shortest time needed.
- Do not drive or operate machinery while you feel drowsy or affected by it.
- Do not drink alcohol while taking it, as this increases the risk of dangerous breathing problems and excessive drowsiness.
- Tell the team about all your other medicines, especially sedatives or other painkillers, before it is given.
- If it has been used for a while, follow advice to reduce it gradually rather than stopping suddenly.
Weighing it up
Advantages & disadvantages of Papaveretum
Advantages
- A powerful painkiller that effectively controls moderate to severe pain, including around surgery.
- Works in the same reliable way as morphine, which it is mostly made of.
- Can be given by injection, which is useful when pain is severe or someone cannot take tablets.
Disadvantages
- Can slow breathing, which is its most serious risk, so it needs close supervision.
- Commonly causes drowsiness, constipation, and nausea or vomiting.
- Can lead to dependence with longer use, and it is a controlled drug.
Practical use
Good to know
The most important thing to understand about papaveretum is that, like all strong opioids, it can slow down breathing, which is the main serious risk and the reason it is given under close supervision, particularly in hospital. It commonly causes drowsiness, so people must not drive or operate machinery while affected by it. Constipation is very common and often needs treating with a laxative, and nausea and vomiting can happen, especially at first. Mixing it with alcohol or other medicines that cause drowsiness, such as sleeping tablets, some anxiety medicines or other strong painkillers, increases the risk of dangerous breathing problems, so this should only be done under medical advice. With longer use the body can become dependent on it, so it is used for as short a time as possible and stopped gradually if it has been used for a while.
Who should not take it / use with caution
- People with breathing problems such as severe asthma or significant lung disease should not normally be given it.
- People who have had a serious allergic reaction to it or to other opioids should not use it.
- It is used with great caution, or avoided, in people who are very drowsy, have a head injury, or have certain bowel problems.
- It is used with care in older people, in pregnancy, and in those with kidney or liver problems.
Monitoring
- Close monitoring of breathing, alertness and pain relief, especially after it is first given.
- Watching for and treating constipation, nausea and vomiting.
- Reviewing how long it is needed and reducing it gradually if it has been used for a while.
Side effects
- Drowsiness, dizziness and a feeling of being muddled or sleepy.
- Constipation, which is very common and often needs treating.
- Nausea and vomiting, especially when treatment first starts.
- Slowed breathing (respiratory depression), which is the most serious risk and needs urgent medical attention.
Key interactions
- Alcohol and other sedating medicines, such as sleeping tablets, some anxiety medicines and other strong painkillers, add to drowsiness and breathing risk.
- Certain antidepressants and other medicines acting on the brain can interact, so the team should know all your medicines.
- Other opioids should not usually be taken at the same time without medical advice.
Available as: A solution given by injection, usually in hospital.
Answers
Papaveretum: frequently asked questions
What is papaveretum?
It is a strong opioid painkiller made from a mixture of opium alkaloids, mainly morphine, used for moderate to severe pain, often around the time of surgery.
Why is it given so carefully?
Like all strong opioids it can slow breathing, cause heavy drowsiness and lead to dependence, so it is a controlled drug given under close supervision.
Can I drink alcohol while having it?
No. Alcohol adds to its effects and increases the risk of dangerous breathing problems and excessive drowsiness, so it should be avoided.
Will it make me constipated?
Constipation is very common with this and other opioids, and a laxative is often used to prevent or treat it.
Can I become dependent on it?
With longer use the body can become dependent, which is why it is used for as short a time as possible and reduced gradually rather than stopped suddenly.
The wider class
About Opioid painkiller (controlled drug)
Papaveretum belongs to the opioid painkiller (controlled drug) class. For how the class as a whole works, its shared safety principles and monitoring, see the full guide.
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Authoritative sources
- BNF
- NICE CKS
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