Category: hydromorphone

Side effects of Hydromorphone that cannot be ignored

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Narcotic or opioid medications always come with a lot of side effects that range from mild to severe. You cannot ignore even mild side effects that continue to exist for a long time. You should immediately call your health care provider if you notice any unusual side effects that bother you. This article will illustrate side effects of Hydromorphone that cannot be ignored and need immediate medical attention

Major – Less Common side effects

In case you notice the below given side effects,, call your medical help immediately.

  • Blurred vision
  • Dry mouth
  • behavioral changes
  • chest discomfort or pain
  • mental or mood changes
  • fainting, dizziness or lightheadedness
  • convulsions
  • decreased urination
  • irregular, pounding, fast pulse or heartbeat
  • stiff neck
  • breathing problems
  • irregular or slow heartbeat
  • rapid breathing
  • severe stomach burning, cramping or pain
  • sunken eyes
  • suicidal thoughts
  • unusual tiredness
  • wrinkled skin
  • severe and continuous vomiting

Occurrence not known

  • confusion
  • dizziness
  • headache
  • cough
  • clammy or cold skin
  • bluish skin or lips
  • change in vision to see colors like yellow and blue the most
  • heart stops
  • decreased urination
  • weak or fast pulse
  • noisy breathing
  • painful urination
  • not breathing
  • appetite loss
  • sweating
  • unconscious
  • sleeping problems
  • chest tightness
  • no pulse or no BP
  • shallow, slow, fast or irregular breathing

Get emergency medical help in case you notice any of these symptoms of overdose

Overdose symptoms

  • no muscle movement or muscle tone
  • increased eyes sensitivity to light
  • unusual drowsiness or sleepiness
  • decreased responsiveness or awareness

 

Minor side effects

Some of the Hydromorphone side effects that need no medical attention are some minor side effects which go away with time as your body gets used to the medicine.  You can speak to your physician to know how to prevent or reduce these minor side effects. If you notice any of the minor side effects continue to exist for a long time, then call your doctor immediately.

More Common

  • nausea
  • problems with moving
  • joint pain
  • muscle stiffness or pain
  • troublesome bowel movement

Less Common

  • belching
  • diarrhea
  • sour or acid stomach
  • discouragement
  • back pain
  • muscles spasms
  • irritability
  • pain in legs and arms
  • trouble concentrating
  • unusual weight loss or weight gain
  • tingling of feet and hands
  • stomach pain, upset or discomfort
  • indigestion
  • heartburn
  • loss of pleasure or interest
  • feeling empty or sad
  • bloating feet, legs, arms or face
  • irritability

Some rare side effects are

  • double vision
  • being forgetful
  • clumsiness
  • crying
  • full feeling
  • extra heartbeats
  • hearing loss
  • increased appetite
  • muscles aches
  • passing gas
  • shivering
  • week pulse

In case you notice any symptoms that are unusual, it is always better to speak to your doctor and your doctor can advice you how to prevent or treat the side effects safely.

Hydromorphone drug interactions elaborated

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While taking Hydromorphone, you should speak to your doctor about drug interactions related to Hydromorphone. Knowing about various drug interactions can help you to be alert for any unusual side effects that you may experience because of drug interactions. This article will help you know the Hydromorphone drug interactions.

Hydromorphone with CNS depressants

Using CNS depressants like general anesthetics, tranquilizers, phenothiazines and alcohol parallel with opioids can lead to added depressant effects. Hypertension, respiratory depression, coma or profound sedation can occur. When the combination of medications is observed, the dose of one or other medication needs to be reduced. Hydromorphone tablets should not be taken with alcohol. Hydromorphone can increase the neuromuscular blocking action and create high level of respiratory depression.

Hydromorphone with Mixed Antagonist/Agonist opioid analgesics

Antagonist analegesic/Agonist like butorphanol, nalbuphine, buprenophine, pentazocine should be examined with caution to the patient who is receiving or has received a session of therapy using pure opioid agonist anlegesic like hydromorphone. In such instances mixed antagonist analgesic/agonist can decrease the hydromorphone effect or lead to withdrawal symptoms.

Hydromorphone oral – artemether-lumefantrine (oral)

Hydromorphone oral can enhance the effect of artemether-lumefantrine(oral) by changing drug metabolism

Hydromorphone oral- selegiline hcl (oral)

Hydromorphone oral can enhance the toxicity of selegiline hcl (oral) through unknown mechanism. There should be a gap of 14 days between halting the use of MAO inhibiting medication and beginning Hydromorphone.

Hydromorphone- Tramadol

Check with your doctor before you use the combination of Hydromorphone and tramadol. Taking these medications together can enhance the risk of breathing problems, seizures and other serious side effects. If your health care provider prescribes the combination of these two medicines, you might need dose adjustments or certain special tests in order to use both medications safely. Speak to your doctor, if you have tremors, seizures, shallow breathing, speech problems, problems with walking or balance. Avoid driving till the time you know how the medication works for you. Also let your doctor know about any other medication you use including herbs and vitamins.

Hydromorphone- Lorazepam

Using Hydromorphone and lorazepam together can enhance the side effects such as drowsiness, dizziness, confusion and difficulty in concentrating. Some elderly people also experience impairment in judgment, thinking and motor coordination. Try to avoid consuming alcohol or limit the use of alcohol when you are on these medications. Do not engage yourself in activities that  need extra alertness such as driving.  In case you have any questions, speak to your doctor  and also let him know about all other medications you are using currently.

Taking two medications together does not necessarily or always mean that you should discontinue taking either of them. Speak to your  health care provider so that the drug interactions are managed well by him. Apart from drugs some other things that can interact with the drug are caffeine, nicotine (through cigarettes), street drugs or supplements that you use for various purposes. Let your physician know about these medications as they can also affect how Hydromorphone works for you. You need to follow doctor’s instructions in order to use the drugs safely.

Hydromorphone dosage information and treating overdose

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Use Hydromorphone as prescribed by the doctor. Do not use in large doses or for a longer period than recommended by the doctor. This is important for old patients, who are often very sensitive to pain medication effects. Taking the medication in large amounts can lead to habit-forming or drug dependency.

Dosing Information

For extended-release tablets or capsules

Extended-release tablets or capsule forms of Hydromorphone are recommended for patients who are opioid tolerant only. If you are not sure whether you are tolerant to opioids or not, discuss with your doctor before you start using this medication.

There is a medication guide that comes with the medicine. Read the instructions carefully and follow them. In case you have any queries speak to your doctor.

Take the medicine the same time every day, with food or without food. Swallow the tablet as whole and do not chew, break or crush it. When using this tablet some portion of tablet can pass into stools, which is normal and you need to worry about that.

Do not shift from extended release to immediate release tablets unless your physician asks you to do so.

The dose of this medication will vary from person to person. Follow the instructions of your doctor and read the label carefully. The information given below includes average doses of Hydromorphone. If doctor has prescribed you a different dose, do not try to change the dose without doctor’s consultation.

Oral dosage – extended release form- capsules – for moderate- severe pain

For patients shifting from other narcotic drugs

Adults

The capsule is recommended once in a day. The first dose entirely depends on the amount of narcotic medication you are taking on a daily basis. Your doctor will suggest you the right dose and can increase the dose if required. For patients who shift from fentanyl transdermal, this medication should be taken at least after 18 hours of fentanyl patch removal.

Children

For right use and the right dose you should consult your doctor.

Oral dosage – extended release form- tablets – for moderate- severe pain

For patients shifting from regular forms of Hydromorphone

Adults

The tablet is recommended once in a day. The total quantity of mg (milligrams) each day is exactly same as quantity of Hydromorphone that is used per day.

Children

For right use and the right dose you should consult your doctor.

 

For patients shifting from regular forms of Hydromorphone

Adults

The capsule is recommended once in a day. The first dose entirely depends on the amount of narcotic medication you are taking on a daily basis. Your doctor will suggest you the right dose and can increase the dose if required. For patients who shift from fentanyl transdermal, this medication should be taken at least after 18 hours of fentanyl patch removal.

Children

For right use and the right dose you should consult your doctor.

Oral dosage- Liquid form

For pain

Adults

At first – 2.5-10ML or 1-1/2 – 2 teaspoonful after every 3-6 hours as required.

Children

For right use and the right dose you should consult your doctor.

Hydromorphone overdose treatment

Overdose of Hydromorphone can be fatal and if you notice any unusual symptoms call poison centre for help.

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