Accepted Answer

Dear XXXXXXXXXXX,

Thank you for writing to JustAnswer with your question.

Yes, morphine can cause memory problems and confusion:
See: http://www.drugs.com/morphine.html
But these side effects should not be permanent.

Morphine can cause hypotension (low blood pression), may decrease the respiratory rate, and can cause over sedation, and is well known to be highly addictive.

Morphine should be very carefully given along with Ativan. These two together can cause over sedation, memory problems, sedation, and respiratory depression. For some people that have a tendency to be "hyper" Ativan can actually increase agitation.

It sounds like he needs an evaluation. He may need an examination by a neurologist, a psychiatrist and /or addictionologist - a psychiatrist that is a certified additionologist may be a good choice. I'm refering to your stated need to hide his medication. Also with the agitation (you apparently find it difficult to be around him) So, his mental status needs evaluation as well to make sure there is not any dementia forming. Along with these factors, he may need evaluation with a pain clinic to find the correct dosage or combination of medications to give him pain relief, without over sedating him. A pain clinic also will help him learn other techniques to deal with the pain. It would be great if you had a general practitioner that could help coordinate an evaluation amongst the different doctors, rather than each doctor separately evaluating him.

I hope this helps. Please feel free to reply with comments or questions.

Expert:	Susan Ivy
Pos. Feedback:	99.2 %
Accepts:
Answered:	3/10/2009

Nurse (RN)

BSN, MSN, CNS