Dilaudid Side Effects Center

What Is Dilaudid?

Dilaudid (hydromorphone hydrochloride) and Dilaudid Injection (also termed Dilaudid HP) are the tablet, liquid and IV forms of an opioid analgesic used for control of moderate to severe pain. Dilaudid is available in generic form.

What Are Side Effects of Dilaudid?

Common side effects of Dilaudid include

• flushing (warmth,
• redness, or tingling of skin),
• itching,
• sweating,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• constipation,
• diarrhea,
• stomach pain,
• dizziness,
• drowsiness,
• blurred vision,
• double vision,
• headache,
• sleep problems (insomnia),
• strange dreams, and
• dry mouth.

Serious side effects of Dilaudid include

• shallow, weak, or very slow breathing,
• trouble breathing,
• slow heart rate,
• confusion,
• lightheadedness or fainting,
• seizures (convulsions),
• cold clammy skin,
• pounding heartbeats or fluttering in your chest,
• wheezing,
• chest pain,
• welling of your face, tongue, or throat
• extreme drowsiness,
• feeling faint,
• high body temperature,
• trouble walking,
• trouble walking,
• stiff muscles,
• severe weakness or drowsiness,
• mental/mood changes (such as agitations, confusion, hallucinations),
• severe stomach or abdominal pain,
• difficulty urinating, or
• death.

After a few weeks of use, patients may develop both tolerance and physical dependence on Dilaudid and may need to be slowly weaned off the drug to avoid withdrawal symptoms.

Dosage for Dilaudid

Dilaudid is available in tablets in 8 mg strength, in liquid form in 5 mg strength per 5 ml of liquid, and Dilaudid Injection is available as sterile solution containing 1, 2, or 4 mg hydromorphone hydrochloride with 0.2% sodium citrate and 0.2% citric acid solution. Dosage of tablets usually begins at 2-4 mg every 4-6 hours; liquid begins at 2.5 mg (2.5 ml) every 3-6 hours and may be modified according to patient response and doctor's prescription. Dilaudid injection starting dose is 1-2 mg subcutaneously or intramuscularly every 4 to 6 hours as necessary for pain; it can also be given IV slowly over 2-3 min but respiration needs to be monitored.

What Drugs, Substances, or Supplements Interact with Dilaudid?

Dilaudid may interact with alcohol, other narcotic pain medications, sedatives, tranquilizers, muscle relaxers, other medicines that can make you sleepy or slow your breathing, buprenorphine, butorphanol, nalbuphine, pentazocine, atropine, belladonna, benztropine, dimenhydrinate, methscopolamine, scopolamine, bladder or urinary medicines, bronchodilators, irritable bowel medicines, or ulcer medications. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.

Dilaudid During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Dilaudid should be used in pregnant women only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus or breastfeeding infant; the drug should not be used for labor or delivery; pregnant women taking the medication will usually cause the fetus/infant to be dependent on opioids and likely will have other effects on the infant. There are no Dilaudid studies on pediatric patients.

Additional Information

Our Dilaudid and Dilaudid Injection Side Effects Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information on the potential side effects when taking this medication.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Opioid medicine can slow or stop your breathing, and death may occur. A person caring for you should seek emergency medical attention if you have slow breathing with long pauses, blue colored lips, or if you are hard to wake up.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

• noisy breathing, sighing, shallow breathing, breathing that stops during sleep;
• a slow heart rate or weak pulse;
• confusion, feelings of extreme happiness or sadness;
• severe weakness or drowsiness;
• a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
• low cortisol levels--nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, dizziness, worsening tiredness or weakness.

Seek medical attention right away if you have symptoms of serotonin syndrome, such as: agitation, hallucinations, fever, sweating, shivering, fast heart rate, muscle stiffness, twitching, loss of coordination, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

Serious side effects may be more likely in older adults and those who are malnourished or debilitated.

Long-term use of opioid medication may affect fertility (ability to have children) in men or women. It is not known whether opioid effects on fertility are permanent.

Common side effects may include:

• drowsiness, tiredness;
• dizziness;
• headache; or
• constipation, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.