• Basic Info
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What is hydromorphone?
Hydromorphone is in a group of drugs called narcotic pain relievers, also called opioids. It is similar to morphine. Hydromorphone is used to treat moderate to severe pain. The extended-release form of this medication is for around-the-clock treatment of pain. Hydromorphone may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

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What is the price of this medication and similar alternatives?

This pricing information is subject to change at the sole discretion of DS Pharmacy. For the most current and up-to-date pricing information, please visit drugstore.com.

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What are the possible side effects of hydromorphone?

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

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• shallow breathing, slow heartbeat;

• seizure (convulsions);

• cold, clammy skin;

• confusion;

• severe weakness or dizziness; or

• feeling light-headed, fainting.

Less serious side effects are more likely to occur, such as:

• nausea, vomiting, constipation, loss of appetite;

• warmth, tingling, or redness under your skin;

• dizziness, headache;

• dry mouth;

• sweating; or

• itching.

This list is not complete and other side effects may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

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How should I use hydromorphone?
Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Never take hydromorphone in larger amounts, or use it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label. Tell your doctor if the medicine seems to stop working as well in relieving your pain. Take the pill form of this medicine with a full glass of water. Do not crush, chew, break, or open an extended-release tablet or capsule. Swallow the pill whole. It will release medicine slowly in the body. Breaking or opening the pill would cause too much of the drug to be released at one time.

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What is the most important information I should know about hydromorphone?
Hydromorphone may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Hydromorphone should never be given to another person, especially someone who has a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a secure place where others cannot get to it. Do not drink alcohol while you are taking hydromorphone. Dangerous side effects or death can occur when alcohol is combined with a narcotic pain medicine. Check your food and medicine labels to be sure these products do not contain alcohol.

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What happens if I miss a dose?
Since hydromorphone is sometimes used as needed, you may not be on a dosing schedule. If you are using the medication regularly, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and wait until your next regularly scheduled dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose. Extended-release hydromorphone is not for use on an as-needed basis for pain.

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What other drugs will affect hydromorphone?
Do not take hydromorphone with other narcotic pain medications, sedatives, tranquilizers, muscle relaxers, or other medicines that can make you sleepy or slow your breathing. Dangerous side effects may result. Before taking hydromorphone, tell your doctor if you are using pentazocine (Talwin), nalbuphine (Nubain), butorphanol (Stadol), or buprenorphine (Buprenex, Subutex). If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use hydromorphone, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.

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Can I take this if I am pregnant or trying to get pregnant or if I am breastfeeding?

Hydromorphone has been assigned to pregnancy category C by the FDA. Detailed information about the use of hydromorphone in pregnancy is not available. Animal studies have reported the occurrence of teratogenic effects at doses 600 times the human dose. Withdrawal symptoms have been reported in neonates whose mothers took other narcotic analgesics during pregnancy. In general, hydromorphone should only be given during pregnancy when benefit outweighs risk. However, the manufacturer reports that use of hydromorphone is contraindicated for obstetric analgesia.

Infants born to mothers physically dependent on hydromorphone will also be physically dependent and may exhibit respiratory difficulties and withdrawal symptoms.

One study on eight lactating healthy women has reported that hydromorphone distributes rapidly from plasma into breast milk. However, the drug does not partition into fat. The suckling infant would receive approximately 0.67% of the maternal dose of hydromorphone (adjusted for body weight).

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Who should NOT use this medication?

• Known hypersensitivity to hydromorphone or any ingredient in the formulation.
• Respiratory depression in the absence of resuscitative equipment.
• Acute or severe asthma.
• Obstetrical analgesia.
• 10-mg/mL injection is contraindicated in patients not already receiving large doses of parenteral opiate agonists.

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What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. An overdose of hydromorphone can be fatal. Overdose symptoms may include extreme drowsiness, pinpoint pupils, confusion, cold and clammy skin, weak pulse, shallow breathing, fainting, or breathing that stops.

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What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using hydromorphone?
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 take hydromorphone if you are having an asthma attack or if you have a bowel obstruction called paralytic ileus. Hydromorphone may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Hydromorphone should never be given to another person, especially someone who has a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a secure place where others cannot get to it.

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Can I stop taking the medication if I feel better?
If you are taking an analgesic for pain and you are no longer experiencing the pain you may stop using the medication. In general, pain medications are to be used on an as needed basis.

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I am on so many medications; do I have to take them all?
This is called polypharmacy—many different medications being used at the same time by one person. Sometimes, being on multiple medications is acceptable and appropriate but at other times it may be problematic. If you are receiving your medications from multiple physicians you need to ensure that they all know what medications you are taking. The best way to do this is to make a list of all the medications you are currently using, including all nutritional supplements, homeopathic remedies, vitamins and over-the-counter drugs (if possible, also include all the diseases you have been diagnosed with). Give a copy to every doctor who takes care of you so they have it on file, this way they can avoid duplicating medications and perhaps even try to consolidate some. After every doctor's visit remember to update the list accordingly. Also, as much as you possibly can, try to use the same pharmacy to fill all your prescriptions, this way any potential drug interactions can be caught and averted.

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Where can I get more information?
More Information

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