Hydromorphone [Dihydromorphinone]

This chapter describes trade name, classification, approved indications for psychological disorders, available dosage forms, storage, and compatibility, usual dosage and administration, relative contraindications, and clinically significant drug interactions of Hydromorphone [Dihydromorphinone]. The advantage of oral hydromorphone pharmacotherapy over other oral opiate analgesic pharmacotherapy, such as morphine or meperidine pharmacotherapy, is its better oral absorption. Hydromorphone’s analgesic action is apparent within 15 minutes after injection and may last five or more hours. Hydromorphone is rapidly absorbed after oral ingestion and produces analgesia within 30 minutes. Hydromorphone is addicting and habituating and has significant abuse potential. Short-term hydromorphone pharmacotherapy for the symptomatic management of acute pain rarely results in addiction and habituation. Hydromorphone pharmacotherapy commonly has been associated with nausea, respiratory depression, and vomiting. Hydromorphone overdosage requires emergency symptomatic medical support of body systems with attention to increasing hydromorphone elimination, particularly when the overdosage has involved oral dosage forms. The opiate antagonist naloxone is the specific antidote against respiratory depression.