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In this Article

• What is hydromorphone injection (Dilaudid-HP)?
• What are the possible side effects of hydromorphone injection (Dilaudid-HP)?
• What is the most important information I should know about hydromorphone injection (Dilaudid-HP)?
• What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before receiving hydromorphone injection (Dilaudid-HP)?
• How is hydromorphone injection used (Dilaudid-HP)?
• What happens if I miss a dose (Dilaudid-HP)?
• What happens if I overdose (Dilaudid-HP)?
• What should I avoid while receiving hydromorphone injection (Dilaudid-HP)?
• What other drugs will affect hydromorphone injection (Dilaudid-HP)?
• Where can I get more information?

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before receiving hydromorphone injection (Dilaudid-HP)?

Do not use this medication if you have ever had an allergic reaction to a narcotic medicine (examples include codeine, methadone, morphine, Oxycontin, Darvocet, Percocet, Vicodin, Lortab, and many others). You should also not use hydromorphone injection if you are having an asthma attack.

Hydromorphone may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Hydromorphone should never be shared with another person, especially someone who has a history of drug abuse or addiction.

Before receiving hydromorphone, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

• asthma, COPD, sleep apnea, or other breathing disorders;
• liver or kidney disease;
• underactive thyroid;
• curvature of the spine;
• a history of head injury or brain tumor;
• epilepsy or other seizure disorder;
• low blood pressure;
• gallbladder disease;
• Addison's disease or other adrenal gland disorders;
• enlarged prostate, urination problems;
• mental illness; or
• a history of drug or alcohol addiction.

FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby, and could cause addiction or withdrawal symptoms in a newborn. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

Hydromorphone can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

You should not use hydromorphone injection unless you are already being treated with a similar opioid pain medicine and your body is tolerant to it. Opioid medicines include fentanyl (Actiq, Duragesic), methadone (Methadose, Dolophine), morphine (Kadian, MS Contin, Oramorph, and others), oxycodone (Oxycontin), oxymorphone (Opana), and any other forms of hydromorphone. Talk with your doctor if you are not sure you are opioid-tolerant.

Older adults may be more sensitive to the effects of this medicine.

How is hydromorphone injection used (Dilaudid-HP)?

This medication is given as an injection through a needle placed under your skin or into a muscle. You will receive this injection in a clinic or hospital setting.

Tell your doctor if the medicine seems to stop working as well in relieving your pain.

If you need to have any type of surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using hydromorphone. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time.

Do not stop using hydromorphone suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Talk to your doctor about how to avoid withdrawal symptoms when stopping the medication.