Avinza is meant to be taken every day on a regular schedule. It is not approved for "as needed" use (unscheduled use only when needed) or for short-term use. Avinza is not appropriate for treating pain after a surgery, unless you were already taking Avinza before the surgery. People who are unaccustomed to taking opioid medications should not take the higher-strength capsules (60, 90, and 120 mg).
Avinza is used to provide a steady "background" level of pain relief. Often, people need to take additional short-acting "rescue" painkillers in addition to Avinza for "breakthrough" pain. Because Avinza contains morphine, it can be used (or rather, abused) inappropriately
(see Avinza Abuse).
Avinza capsules contain tiny extended-release beads that are specially designed to release morphine evenly throughout the day, allowing for once-daily dosing.
Morphine is an opioid narcotic medication. It binds to opioid receptors throughout the body and produces a number of different effects, some desirable (such as pain control) and some undesirable (such as itching). These effects include, but are not limited to:
- Pain relief
- Cough suppression
- Unusual unpleasant feelings (dysphoria) or unusual pleasant feelings (euphoria)
- Slowing of the digestive tract
- Drowsiness
- Release of histamine (which often causes itching)
- Decreased breathing (slow or shallow breathing)
- Certain changes in the circulatory system
- Physical dependence.
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