Chronic nausea and morphine-6-glucuronide Journal Article


Authors: Hagen, N. A.; Foley, K. M.; Cerbone, D. J.; Portenoy, R. K.; Inturrisi, C. E.
Article Title: Chronic nausea and morphine-6-glucuronide
Abstract: Morphine-6-glucuronide is an active metabolite of morphine that has analgesic properties and is measurable in the plasma and cerebrospinal fluid of patients treated with this opioid. Decreased clearance of the compound has been observed in patients with renal insufficiency, and this has been associated with an increase in the ratio of morphine-6-glucuronide to morphine. Clinical effects from accumulation of morphine-6-glucuronide have not been described with the exception of case reports in which patients with renal failure were noted to develop opioid toxicity with high plasma levels of the metabolite and low levels of the parent drug. We describe a patient who experienced chronic nausea and an episode of confusion while treated with a small, stable dose of oral morphine in the setting of mild renal insufficiency. Relatively high levels of morphine-6-glucuronide were measured and all symptoms resolved promptly as the concentration of this metabolite declined. This case provides suggestive evidence that morphine-6-glucuronide can produce clinically significant effects in patients with mild renal insufficiency. © 1991.
Keywords: adult; case report; cisplatin; pancreatic neoplasms; cytarabine; adenocarcinoma; pain; nausea; lorazepam; cancer pain; kidney failure; confusion; opioids; morphine; prochlorperazine; morphine 6 glucuronide; oral drug administration; blood level; diphenhydramine; middle age; kidney failure, chronic; caffeine; morphine-6-glucuronide; morphine derivatives; human; female; article
Journal Title: Journal of Pain and Symptom Management
Volume: 6
Issue: 3
ISSN: 0885-3924
Publisher: Elsevier Inc.  
Date Published: 1991-04-01
Start Page: 125
End Page: 128
Language: English
DOI: 10.1016/0885-3924(91)90961-3
PUBMED: 2016556
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 27 September 2019 -- Source: Scopus
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  1. Kathleen M Foley
    199 Foley
  2. Russell K. Portenoy
    165 Portenoy