morphine + scopolamine

Morphine + scopolamine is a historical combination drug consisting of the opioid analgesic morphine and the anticholinergic agent scopolamine. This combination was primarily used in the early 20th century to induce "twilight sleep," a state characterized by analgesia (pain relief) and amnesia (loss of memory), most notably during childbirth. Morphine acts as a μ-opioid receptor agonist, providing strong pain relief, while scopolamine is a muscarinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist that impairs memory formation and reduces awareness of pain. The combined effect allowed patients to remain conscious but unable to recall painful procedures. Although once popular for obstetric anesthesia, this combination fell out of favor due to significant risks, including respiratory depression in both mother and infant[1][5][9].

Other names

twilight sleep mixture