Does morphine remain a standard of care in acute myocardial infarction?

Abstract

Morphine is routinely used for pain relief in patients with acute myocardial infarction. However, it was documented that morphine decreases the bioavailability and antiplatelet effect of P2Y 12 receptor inhibitors. Multiple strategies to overcome this undesirable interaction are currently under investigation; they include the follwing: administration of crushed ticagrelor tablets, co-administration of metoclopramide, bridging with intravenous antiplatelet agents, or replacement of morphine with other analgesic. Adequately powered randomised trials examining the clinical consequences of concomitant use of morphine and P2Y 12 receptor inhibitors are still lacking.