Morphine is one chemical that almost always serves as an effective painkiller. By acting on the central nervous system, it numbs the area of the brain that detects pain. Due to its highly addictive quality, it is not used unless absolutely necessary.
Morphine is one of many narcotic analgesics—chemicals that relieve pain. Apart from its vital role in medicine, it is known for being a principal component of opium, which is used to produce heroin, explaining morphine’s addictive characteristic. In fact, the only difference between morphine and heroin is that the latter has two additional acetyl groups, allowing it to penetrate the brain faster than morphine.
German scientist Friedrich Sertürner isolated morphine in 1804. He named it after the Greek god of dreams, Morpheus, because of its ability to psychologically detach a human being from pain and reality. By the 1850s, morphine could be injected into humans. Its power as a painkiller was recognized during the American Civil War where it was used extensively. Slowly, its addictive nature was recognized, as several soldiers came back from war with what was known as “soldier’s disease.”
Luckily, morphine only becomes addictive after extensive use, so it can be prescribed to patients who are in desperate need of relief. Use is discontinued as soon as possible in order to avoid dependence on the drug, which can lead to vomiting, insomnia, irritability, and several other undesirable symptoms.
Despite its severe effects, it is still regarded as one of the most useful chemicals in medicine, as it is extremely reliable.
