Kadian ER and Voraxaze

• Generic Name: morphine
• Dosage Forms: capsule, extended release
• Other Brand Names: Kadian, Arymo ER, MorphaBond ER, Avinza, MS Contin, Duramorph PF, Infumorph, Mitigo, RMS, Roxanol

Morphine tablet is used to relieve short-term (acute) or long-term (chronic) moderate to severe pain. The extended-release capsule and extended-release tablet are used to treat pain severe enough to require daily, around-the-clock, long-term opioid treatment and when other pain medicines did not work well enough or cannot be tolerated. Morphine belongs to the group of medicines called narcotic analgesics (pain medicines). It acts on the central nervous system (CNS) to relieve pain.

Morphine extended-release capsules and extended-release tablets should not be used if you need pain medicine for just a short time, such as when recovering from surgery. Do not use this medicine to relieve mild pain, or in situations when non-narcotic medication is effective. This medicine should not be used to treat pain that you only have once in a while or "as needed".

When morphine is used for a long time, it may become habit-forming, causing mental or physical dependence. However, people who have continuing pain should not let the fear of dependence keep them from using narcotics to relieve their pain. Mental dependence (addiction) is not likely to occur when narcotics are used for this purpose. Physical dependence may lead to withdrawal side effects if treatment is stopped suddenly. However, severe withdrawal side effects can usually be prevented by gradually reducing the dose over a period of time before treatment is stopped completely.

This medicine is available only under a restricted distribution program called the Opioid Analgesic REMS (Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy) program.

• Generic Name: glucarpidase
• Dosage Forms: injection, powder, for solution
• Other Brand Names: Voraxaze

Voraxaze (glucarpidase) is used in patients who develop kidney failure while receiving high doses of methotrexate (a chemotherapy drug).

Voraxaze is an enzyme that breaks down methotrexate in the body so the drug can be easily eliminated when the kidneys are not working properly.

Voraxaze may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.