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Dilaudid is an opioid pain medication. Sometimes an opioid medication is also known as
a narcotic.
Dilaudid is indicated for the relief of moderate to severe pain. Dilaudid may also be used
for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Important Information
Dilaudid is a drug used to treat moderate to severe pain. It is possibly used to treat a
specific type of cough. It is derived from morphine and binds to opioid receptors in the
central nervous system.
The extended-release form of Dilaudid is also available for around-the-clock treatment
of moderate to severe pain. Hydrocodone is not used on an as-needed basis for pain.
What to know before taking Dilaudid?
Don’t take Dilaudid or any other narcotic medicines if you have an allergic reaction to it,
or if you have:
● A blockage in your stomach or intestines.
● Severe asthma or breathing problems.
● A bowel obstruction is called ileus.
Do not use Dilaudid if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past two weeks. MAO
includes methylene blue injection, linezolid, isocarboxazid, selegiline, etc.
Certain medicines can interact with hydromorphone and result in a serious health
condition called serotonin.
Before taking this medicine, make sure that this medicine is safe for you or not. Consult
your doctor if you have before ever:
● A problem in urination,
● Liver or kidney disease,
● Sulfite allergy,
● Problem with your gallbladder, pancreas, or thyroid, or
● If you use a sedative like valium such as lorazepam, diazepam etc.
● Brain tumor, or seizures,
● History of drug abuse, mental illness, alcohol addiction,
● Noisy breathing, shallow breathing, sleep apnea.
It is not known if the drug will affect the baby or not. Still need to take some precautions.
How to take Dilaudid?
Dilaudid can form a habit due to frequent doses. It can stop or slow your breathing,
mainly when you start using this medicine.
Do not use Dilaudid in larger doses or for a more extended period than prescribed.
Never break, chew or crush Dilaudid tablets to intake the powder or mix it into a liquid to
inject the drug into your vein because this practice can cause death too.
Consult your doctor regarding how to stop using Dilaudid carefully. Do not stop using
Dilaudid all of a sudden; otherwise, it can cause some unwanted symptoms and effects.
You should not let anyone use your medicine without a prescription or in an improper
way.
Measure liquid medicine carefully. Always use the dosing syringe provided by your
pharmacist.
Misuse of drugs can cause addiction, overdose, abuse, and few other problems. Use
this medicine with a proper prescription written by your pharmacist/doctor.
Dosing Information
Starting treatment with Dilaudid oral solution or Dilaudid tablets
Dilaudid tablets
Starting treatment with a Dilaudid tablet in a dosing range of 2 mg to 4 mg, every four to
six hours.
Dilaudid oral solutions
Starting treatment with Dilaudid solutions in a dosing range of one-half to two
teaspoonfuls (10 mL), 2.5 mg to 10 mg, every three to six hours as needed for pain.
Overdose
An overdose of Dilaudid can be fatal, mostly in person using the medicine without the
doctor’s prescriptions or in a child.
Overdose symptoms of Dilaudid are:
● Muscle weakness,
● Severe drowsiness,
● Cold and clammy skin,
● Slow heart rate, or slow breathing,
● Fainting and pinpoint pupils
If you experience any of these symptoms, then immediately inform your pharmacist.
What should you avoid while taking Dilaudid?
Please do not drink alcohol while taking Dilaudid.
When alcohol and hydromorphone are combined, it may lead to severe overdose
effects.
This medication may damage your reactions or thoughts. Avoid operating heavy
machinery while taking Dilaudid. It may cause drowsy effects, which can result in severe
injury or accidents.
Possible side effects
If you have an allergic reaction to Dilaudid:
● Difficulty in breathing,
● Swelling of your lips, face, tongue, or throat.
Dilaudid can slow your breathing like other narcotic medicine. Death may occur if
breathing is too weak.
Call to your doctor if you have:
● Severe weakness or drowsiness,
● Missing menstrual periods, infertility,
● Low cortisol levels—vomiting, dizziness,
● Loss of interest in sex, or any sexual problems,
● Feeling of extreme sad or happiness, confusion
● Shallow breathing, noisy breathing, sleep apnea,
The common side effect of Dilaudid may include;
● Headache, tired feeling,
● Dry mouth,
● Dizziness, drowsiness,
● Flushing,
● Vomiting, stomach pain,
● Constipation, nausea,
What drugs can interact with Dilaudid?
Dilaudid can interact with many other drugs and cause unwanted side effects. To take a
beneficial treatment with this opioid, please let your doctor know if you are also taking
drugs like:
· Drug that affects serotonin levels in your body,
· Other narcotic medicine like prescription cough medicine,
· A sedative like valium,
· Drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing- sleeping pills, muscle relaxers,
and medicine treat mood disorders or mental illnesses.
