Hydromorphone (By injection)
Hydromorphone (hye-droe-MOR-fone)
Treats moderate to severe pain. This medicine is a narcotic pain reliever.
Brand Name(s):
Simplist Dilaudid
There may be other brand names for this medicine.When This Medicine Should Not Be Used:
This medicine is not right for everyone. You should not receive it if you had an allergic reaction to hydromorphone or sulfites, or if you have severe lung or breathing problems or bowel blockage (including paralytic ileus).How to Use This Medicine:
Injectable
- Your doctor will prescribe your exact dose and tell you how often it should be given. This medicine is given as a shot under your skin, into a muscle, or into a vein.
- A nurse or other health provider will give you this medicine.
- You may be taught how to give your medicine at home. Make sure you understand all instructions before giving yourself an injection. Do not use more medicine or use it more often than your doctor tells you to.
- You will be shown the body areas where this shot can be given. Use a different body area each time you give yourself a shot. Keep track of where you give each shot to make sure you rotate body areas.
- Use a new needle and syringe each time you inject your medicine.
- Missed dose: Call your doctor or pharmacist for instructions.
- If you store this medicine at home, keep it at room temperature, away from heat and direct light.
- Ask your pharmacist, doctor, or health caregiver about the best way to dispose of any leftover medicine, containers, and other supplies. Throw away old medicine after the expiration date has passed. Ask your pharmacist about the best way to dispose of medicine you do not use.
- Throw away used needles in a hard, closed container that the needles cannot poke through. Keep this container away from children and pets.
Drugs and Foods to Avoid:
Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.
- Do not use this medicine if you are using or have used an MAO inhibitor within the past 14 days.
- Some medicines can affect how hydromorphone works. Tell your doctor if you are using any of the following:
- Blood pressure medicine
- Diuretic (water pill)
- Medicine to treat depression
- Phenothiazine medicine
- Do not drink alcohol while you are using this medicine. Do not take any medicine with alcohol in it.
- Tell your doctor if you use anything else that makes you sleepy. Some examples are allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, and alcohol. Tell your doctor if you are also using buprenorphine, butorphanol, nalbuphine, pentazocine, or a muscle relaxer.
Warnings While Using This Medicine:
- Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have kidney disease, liver disease, lung disease or breathing problems (including apnea), gallbladder or pancreas problems, an enlarged prostate, problems with urination, or digestion problems, adrenal problems or other thyroid disorder, or a history of head injury, brain tumor, seizures, depression, or drug or alcohol abuse.
- This medicine may cause the following problems:
- High risk of overdose, which can lead to death
- Respiratory depression (serious breathing problem that can be life-threatening)
- Serotonin syndrome, when used with certain medicines
- This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you. Sit or lie down if you feel dizzy. Stand up carefully.
- This medicine can be habit-forming. Do not use more than your prescribed dose. Call your doctor if you think your medicine is not working.
- Do not stop using this medicine suddenly. Your doctor will need to slowly decrease your dose before you stop it completely.
- This medicine may cause constipation, especially with long-term use. Ask your doctor if you should use a laxative to prevent and treat constipation.
- This medicine could cause infertility. Talk with your doctor before using this medicine if you plan to have children.
- Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.
Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine:
Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:
- Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
- Anxiety, restlessness, fast heartbeat, fever, sweating, muscle spasms, twitching, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, seeing or hearing things that are not there
- Blue lips, fingernails, or skin
- Extreme dizziness or weakness, shallow breathing, slow heartbeat, sweating, cold or clammy skin, seizures
- Severe confusion, lightheadedness, dizziness, fainting
- Severe constipation, stomach pain, or vomiting
- Trouble breathing or slow breathing
If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:
- Mild constipation, nausea, vomiting
- Pain, itching, or burning, swelling, or a lump under your skin where the shot was given
If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088
Last Updated: 3/6/2023