Dilaudid

Dilaudid Hydromorphone, also known as dihydromorphinone, and sold under the brand name Dilaudid among others, is an opioid used to treat moderate to severe pain. Typically, long-term use is only recommended for pain due to cancer. It may be used by mouth or by injection into a vein, muscle, or under the skin. Effects generally begin within half an hour and last for up to five hours.

What is the Dilaudid Hydromorphone drug?

Dilaudid is a brand name for hydromorphone which is a painkiller drug belonging to the opioid class of drugs. It was first created in Germany in the year 1922 and it was sold under the name of Dilaudid in the year 1926. Dilaudid or hydromorphone is created from morphine and like morphine, it is a central nervous acting drug having suppressing effects on the parts of the brain which reacts to the sensation of pain. Hydromorphone is created in such a way that its activity is eight times greater than that of morphine. Hydromorphone is also known by different trade names such as dihydromorphinone, contin, and hydromorph.

The chemical name for Dilaudid is ‘4, 5-α-epoxy-3-hydroxy-17-methyl morphinan-6-one’ while the molecular formula of the drug is ‘C17H19NO3’. The molecular formula of hydromorphone is 285.3 g/mol. On administration of a dosage amount of the drug, the effects are expected to last for around 2 – 3 hours after which the effects start to wear off. The modes of administration for the hydromorphone morphine medicine are numerous such as oral, rectal, sublingual, transdermal and intramuscular.

Hydromorphone exists in white crystalline or powder form and the salt of the drug is soluble in water. Hydromorphone or Dilaudid is highly addictive in nature and an addiction to the drug builds up with continuous use.

Read the Medication Guide provided by your pharmacist before you start taking hydromorphone and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Take this medication by mouth as directed by your doctor. You may take this drug with or without food. If you have nausea, it may help to take this drug with food. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about other ways to decrease nausea (such as lying down for 1 to 2 hours with as little head movement as possible).

If you are using the liquid form of this medication, carefully measure the dose using a special measuring device/spoon. Do not use a household spoon because you may not get the correct dose. Do not confuse the dose of hydromorphone liquid in milligrams (mg) with the dose in milliliters (mL). Ask your pharmacist or doctor if you are not sure how to check or measure the dose. If your liquid is a suspension, shake the bottle well before each dose.

The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment. Do not increase your dose, take the medication more frequently, or take it for a longer time than prescribed. Properly stop the medication when so directed.

Pain medications work best if they are used when the first signs of pain occur. If you wait until the pain has worsened, the medication may not work as well.

If you have ongoing pain (such as due to cancer), your doctor may direct you to also take long-acting opioid medications. In that case, this medication might be used for sudden (breakthrough) pain only as needed. Other pain relievers (such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen) may also be prescribed. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about using hydromorphone safely with other drugs.

Suddenly stopping this medication may cause withdrawal, especially if you have used it for a long time or in high doses. To prevent withdrawal, your doctor may lower your dose slowly. Tell your doctor or pharmacist right away if you have any withdrawal symptoms such as restlessness, mental/mood changes (including anxiety, trouble sleeping, thoughts of suicide), watering eyes, runny nose, nausea, diarrhea, sweating, muscle aches, or sudden changes in behavior.

When this medication is used for a long time, it may not work as well. Talk with your doctor if this medication stops working well.

Though it helps many people, this medication may sometimes cause addiction. This risk may be higher if you have a substance use disorder (such as overuse of or addiction to drugs/alcohol). Take this medication exactly as prescribed to lower the risk of addiction. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details.

Tell your doctor if your pain does not get better or if it gets worse.