Final answer:
The major limiting side effects of morphine are respiratory depression, constipation, and sedation, which can impact patient safety and quality of life.
Step-by-step explanation:
The major limiting side effects of morphine include respiratory depression, constipation, and sedation. These side effects can be significant and may limit the use of morphine in pain management. Respiratory depression is particularly dangerous as it can lead to insufficient breathing and potentially fatal outcomes. Constipation is a common issue with opioid use due to reduced bowel motility. Sedation, leading to drowsiness and a decrease in mental alertness, can affect a patient's ability to perform daily activities and operate machinery. These side effects, along with concerns about addiction and overdose, contribute to the need for careful monitoring when prescribing opioids such as morphine.
Morphine's potential for causing physical dependence and tolerance means that over time, users might need increasing doses to achieve the same level of pain relief, and stopping the medication can lead to withdrawal symptoms. The drug naloxone can be used to reverse respiratory depression in cases of overdose by antagonizing the effects of morphine at opioid receptors, but it must be administered carefully due to its short duration of action and the risk of precipitating withdrawal symptoms.