Dilaudid is a pain reliever that helps relieve moderate to severe pain. Dilaudid is a brand name for hydromorphone which is available in most pharmacies. You can also buy Dilaudid online with a prescription.
Do not take Dilaudid if you have severe breathing problems or a blockage in your stomach or intestines. Dilaudid may slow or stop your breathing, especially when you first start taking it or when your dose is changed. Do not take Dilaudid in high doses or for a longer time than prescribed. Extended-release pills should not be crushed, broken, or opened. Swallow it whole to avoid being exposed to a potentially lethal dose. Dilaudid has the potential to become habit-forming, even at regular doses. Take this medication exactly as your doctor has instructed. Never give the medicine to anyone else. If you misuse narcotic pain medication or use it without a prescription, it may result in addiction, overdose, or death. If you are pregnant, notify your doctor. If the mother used Dilaudid during pregnancy, the newborn might develop a life-threatening addiction and withdrawal symptoms. Do not drink alcohol while taking Dilaudid. When alcohol and hydromorphone are combined, dangerous side effects or death may occur.
Do not take Dilaudid if you have ever had an allergic reaction to hydromorphone or other narcotic medications or if you have any of the following conditions:
This medicine may contain inactive ingredients such as sulfites, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. If you have used MAO inhibitors within the last 14 days, do not take Dilaudid. A dangerous drug interaction may occur. The MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, and tranylcypromine. Some medicines may interact with hydromorphone and cause a serious condition called serotonin syndrome.
Make sure your doctor is aware of any medications you are taking for depression, mental illness, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, serious infections, or nausea and vomiting prevention. Before making changes to how or when you take your medications, consult with your doctor. You may be unable to take Dilaudid if you are not already treated with a similar opioid (narcotic) pain medicine and are not tolerant of it. Talk to your doctor if you are not sure you are opioid-tolerant. To make sure Dilaudid is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:
It is unclear whether this medication will harm an unborn child. If you take hydromorphone while pregnant, your baby might become addicted to it. This can cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms after the baby is born. Babies who are born addicted to a habit-forming drug may require medical attention for several weeks. You should tell your doctor if you are pregnant. Hydromorphone can enter the breast milk and harm a nursing baby. Do not breastfeed while taking Dilaudid.
Take Dilaudid by mouth as prescribed by your doctor. Take this medicine with or without food. If you have nausea, taking this medication with food may help. The dosage of this drug depends upon your medical condition and treatment response. Do not take your medication in higher doses, more frequently, or for longer than recommended. If you stop using Dilaudid suddenly, you may experience unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Your doctor may lower your dosage gradually to avoid withdrawal. Consult your doctor about how to stop using this drug safely.
Dosage for adults (ages 18 to 64 years): The starting dosage for oral tablets is 2 to 4 mg once every four to six hours. Only opioid-tolerant people should use extended-release oral tablets. Dosage for children (ages 0 to 17 years): This medicine is not for people younger than 18 years.
The overdose symptoms may include slow breathing and heart rate, muscle weakness, severe drowsiness, cold and clammy skin, pinpoint pupils, and fainting.
Avoid consuming alcohol while using this medicine. Combining alcohol with hydromorphone may lead to dangerous side effects or death. Dilaudid may impair your thinking or reactions. Avoid driving an automobile or operating machinery until you know how Dilaudid will affect you. Dizziness or extreme drowsiness can cause falls or other accidents.
Some common Dilaudid side effects may include:
Hydromorphone may slow down your breathing. Slow breathing may result in death. Dilaudid may cause a serious condition called serotonin syndrome. The symptoms include shivering, fast heart rate, muscle stiffness, twitching, loss of coordination, agitation, hallucinations, fever, sweating, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
Many other drugs can interact with hydromorphone, resulting in dangerous side effects or death.
Tell your doctor if you also use: