Hydromorphone how long does it take

You or your pharmacy will have to contact your doctor for a new prescription if you need to refill this medication. Your doctor may monitor certain health issues during your treatment.

This can help make sure you stay safe while you take this drug. These issues include:. Many insurance companies require a prior authorization for this drug.

That means your doctor will need to get approval from your insurance company before your insurance company will pay for the prescription. There are other drugs available to treat your condition. Some may be better suited for you than others. Talk to your doctor about other drug options that may work for you.

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or other healthcare professional before taking any medication.

The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects.

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Hydromorphone side effects. How to take hydromorphone. Take as directed. Hydromorphone warnings. Hydromorphone may interact with other medications. Important considerations for taking this drug.

Are there any alternatives? Hydrocodone for Pain Relief. Opioids Opiates Abuse and Addiction. Withdrawing from Opiates and Opioids. Liver Function Tests. Always ask your health care professional for complete information about this product and your specific health needs.

Hydromorphone has a risk for abuse and addiction, which can lead to overdose and death. Hydromorphone may also cause severe, possibly fatal, breathing problems.

To lower your risk, your doctor should have you take the smallest dose of hydromorphone that works, and take it for the shortest possible time. See also How to Use section for more information about addiction. Taking this medication with alcohol or other drugs that can cause drowsiness or breathing problems may cause very serious side effects, including death.

Be sure you know how to take hydromorphone and what other drugs you should avoid taking with it. See also Drug Interactions section. Keep this medicine in a safe place to prevent theft, misuse, or abuse.

If someone accidentally swallows this drug, get medical help right away. Before using this medication, women of childbearing age should talk with their doctor s about the risks and benefits. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or if you plan to become pregnant. During pregnancy, this medication should be used only when clearly needed. It may slightly increase the risk of birth defects if used during the first two months of pregnancy.

Also, using it for a long time or in high doses near the expected delivery date may harm the unborn baby.

To lessen the risk, take the smallest effective dose for the shortest possible time. Babies born to mothers who use this drug for a long time may develop severe possibly fatal withdrawal symptoms. Hydromorphone extended-release should be used only if you have been regularly taking moderate to large amounts of opioid pain medication. This medication may cause overdose even death if taken by a person who has not been regularly taking opioids.

This product is designed to slowly release hydromorphone. Do not break, crush, dissolve, or chew this medication. Taking broken, crushed, dissolved, or chewed forms of extended-release hydromorphone could cause a fatal overdose. This medication contains hydromorphone in a long-acting form.

It is used to help relieve severe ongoing pain such as due to cancer. Hydromorphone belongs to a class of drugs known as opioid analgesics. It works in the brain to change how your body feels and responds to pain.

Do not use the extended-release form of hydromorphone to relieve pain that is mild or that will go away in a few days. This medication is not for occasional "as needed" use. Read the Medication Guide and, if available, the Patient Information Leaflet provided by your pharmacist before you start taking this product and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions regarding the information, consult your doctor or pharmacist. Take this medication by mouth as directed by your doctor, usually once daily at the same time each day, not as needed for sudden breakthrough pain.

You may take this drug with or without food. If you have nausea, it may help to take this drug with food. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about other ways to decrease nausea such as lying down for 1 to 2 hours with as little head movement as possible.

Swallow the tablet whole. Do not crush, break, chew, or dissolve the tablet. Doing so can release all of the drug at once, increasing the risk of side effects. Hydromorphone comes in a rapid-acting form and a slow-release form. Check with your pharmacist to make sure you are taking the correct form. The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment. Do not increase your dose, take the medication more frequently, or take it for a longer time than prescribed. Properly stop the medication when so directed.

If you do not take this medication for 3 days in a row, call your doctor before restarting the medication. Your restarting dose may need to be lower. Before you start using this medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist if you should stop or change how you use your other opioid medication s. Other pain relievers such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen may also be prescribed. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about using hydromorphone safely with other drugs.

Suddenly stopping this medication may cause withdrawal, especially if you have used it for a long time or in high doses. To prevent withdrawal, your doctor may lower your dose slowly. When this medication is used for a long time, it may not work as well. CMAJ Open. National Library of Medicine. Updated January 23, Hydromorphone overdose. Updated June 2, National Institute on Drug Abuse. Benzodiazepines and Opioids. Updated March 15, Food and Drug Administration. Dilaudid Prescribing Information.

Updated December American Addiction Centers. The Effects of Mixing Hydromorphone and Alcohol. Updated June 1, Hydromorphone use for acute pain: Misconceptions, controversies, and risks. J Opioid Manag. Updated March 10, J Clin Psychopharmacol. Opioid Testing. March 15, Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellMind. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page.

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Table of Contents View All. Table of Contents. Detection Time. Symptoms of Overdose. Getting Help. Understanding Opioid Overdoses. Treatment for Opioid Addiction. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign Up.