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:
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asthma, COPD, sleep apnea, or other breathing disorders;
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liver or kidney disease;
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underactive thyroid;
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curvature of the spine;
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a history of head injury or brain tumor;
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epilepsy or other seizure disorder;
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low blood pressure;
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gallbladder disease;
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Addison’s disease or other adrenal gland disorders;
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enlarged prostate, urination problems;
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mental illness; or
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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.
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.
Since hydromorphone is usually given by a healthcare provider, it is not likely that you will miss a dose.
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:
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shallow breathing, slow heartbeat;
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seizure (convulsions);
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cold, clammy skin;
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confusion;
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severe weakness or dizziness; or
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feeling light-headed, fainting.
Less serious side effects are more likely to occur, such as:
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constipation;
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warmth, tingling, or redness under your skin;
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nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite;
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dizziness, headache;
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pain or tenderness where the injection was given;
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dry mouth;
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sweating;
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itching; or
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sleep problems (insomnia).
This list is not complete and other side effects may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.
Hydromorphone may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Hydromorphone injection should never be shared with another person, especially someone who has a history of drug abuse or addiction.
Do not drink alcohol while you are receiving hydromorhphone. 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.
Hydromorphone can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
Do not stop using hydmorphone suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Talk to your doctor about how to avoid withdrawal symptoms when stopping the medication.
You should not receive hydromorphone injection unless you are already being treated with a similar opioid pain medicine and your body is tolerant to it. Talk with your doctor if you are not sure you are opioid-tolerant.
Do not drink alcohol while you are using this medication. Dangerous side effects or death can occur when alcohol is combined with hydromorphone. Check your food and medicine labels to be sure these products do not contain alcohol.
Hydromorphone can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
Do not use 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 receiving hydromorphone injection, 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.
There may be other drugs not listed that can interact with hydromorphone. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have received 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.