Can I give breakthrough morphine or other medicines myself?

Australia · 29 August 2026 · 4 min read · Reviewed by Dr Kane Treble

Sometimes, yes, but only if the medicine has been prescribed for that person and you have clear instructions.

Sometimes, yes, but only if the medicine has been prescribed for that person and you have clear instructions. For injections under the skin, carers should only give them if they have been trained and the local service has agreed that this is part of the care plan.

Breakthrough medicines are extra doses for symptoms that break through the regular plan. They may be used for pain, breathlessness, nausea, agitation or other symptoms. They are not the same as changing the regular dose yourself.

General information: This page gives general information for people in Australia. It cannot tell you exactly what is happening in one person's situation. If you have concerns about a symptom, medicine, treatment decision or change in someone's condition, contact their doctor, palliative care team, nurse or other treating health professional.

What needs to be in place

Before giving breakthrough medicine, you should know:

the name of the medicine
the symptom it is for
the exact dose
how to give it
how often it can be repeated
the maximum allowed in a set time, if listed
what side effects to watch for
when to call for advice

This should be written down in the person's own plan. Do not rely on memory, especially overnight.

Oral medicines and injections are different

Some carers are asked to give liquid or tablet medicines by mouth. Others may be trained to give subcutaneous medicines, which means medicine under the skin through a small cannula or injection.

caring@home provides Australian resources to help health professionals train carers to give subcutaneous medicines safely for breakthrough symptoms at home. This does not mean every carer is expected to do it. It depends on the person, the carer, the local service, the medicine plan and safety.

If you have not been trained, do not give an injection. Call the palliative care team, nurse, GP or after-hours number.

Check before each dose

Before giving a breakthrough dose, pause and check the written plan. Make sure it is the right person, right medicine, right dose, right route and right time.

Check when the last dose was given. If another family member is helping, make sure only one person is responsible for recording medicines at a time. Use the medicine diary, chart or notebook the team has provided.

If the symptom is not listed in the plan, or you are unsure whether the medicine matches the symptom, call for advice.

What if it does not work?

Breakthrough medicine may take time to work. The expected timing depends on the medicine and route. Ask the team what to expect for this person.

If the symptom does not settle, do not keep repeating doses beyond the written instructions. Call the palliative care team or after-hours service. Needing repeated breakthrough doses can mean the regular plan needs review, the symptom has changed, or something else is happening.

Keep medicines safe

Store medicines as instructed, away from children, visitors and pets. Some medicines need special handling or storage. Keep labels on containers. Do not use another person's medicine, even if it has the same name.

If a dose is dropped, spilled, drawn up wrongly, or you think the wrong medicine was given, call for advice. If the person is in danger, call 000.

When to get help now

Call the palliative care team, nurse or after-hours number if:

you are unsure whether to give the medicine
the written plan is missing or unclear
the symptom is severe or not settling
more breakthrough doses are needed than usual
the person becomes much sleepier, confused or hard to wake
a medicine error may have happened

Call 000 if the person is not breathing, cannot be woken, has signs of overdose, or there is a life-threatening emergency.