Hydromorphone

The Basics

What is Hydromorphone?

An opioid medication used to treat moderate to severe pain. The extended-release form of this medicine is for around-the-clock treatment of moderate to severe pain, not for use on an as-needed basis for pain.

Brand names for Hydromorphone

Dilaudid

How Hydromorphone is classified

Analgesics – Opioid, Narcotics, Antitussive Agents, Opiates

Hydromorphone During Pregnancy

Hydromorphone pregnancy category

Category N/ANote that the FDA has deprecated the use of pregnancy categories, so for some medications, this information isn’t available. We still think it’s useful to list historical info, however, given what a common proxy this has been in the past.

What we know about taking Hydromorphone while pregnant

Prolonged use of opioid analgesics during pregnancy may cause neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome . There are no available data with DILAUDID in pregnant women to inform a drug-associated risk for major birth defects and miscarriage. In animal reproduction studies, reduced postnatal survival of pups, and decreased were noted following oral treatment of pregnant rats with hydromorphone during gestation and through lactation at doses 0.8 times the human daily dose of 24 mg/day (HDD), respectively. In published studies, neural tube defects were noted following subcutaneous injection of hydromorphone to pregnant hamsters at doses 6.4 times the HDD and soft tissue and skeletal abnormalities were noted following subcutaneous continuous infusion of 3 times the HDD to pregnant mice. No malformations were noted at 4 or 40.5 times the HDD in pregnant rats or rabbits, respectively . Based on animal data, advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus. The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. All pregnancies have a background risk of birth defect, loss, or other adverse outcomes. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2 to 4% and 15 to 20%, respectively.

Taking Hydromorphone While Breastfeeding

What are recommendations for lactation if you're taking Hydromorphone?

Limited data indicate that hydromorphone is excreted into breastmilk in small amounts, but large maternal dosages have caused neonatal central nervous system depression. In general, maternal use of oral narcotics during breastfeeding can cause infant drowsiness, central nervous system depression and even death. Hydromorphone use should be limited in nursing mothers.[1] Newborn infants seem to be particularly sensitive to the effects of even small dosages of narcotic analgesics. Once the mother’s milk comes in, it is best to provide pain control with a nonnarcotic analgesic and limit maternal intake of hydromorphone to a few days at a low dosage with close infant monitoring. If the baby shows signs of increased sleepiness (more than usual), difficulty breastfeeding, breathing difficulties, or limpness, a physician should be contacted immediately.

Maternal / infant drug levels

Limited data indicate that hydromorphone is excreted into breastmilk in small amounts, but large maternal dosages have caused neonatal central nervous system depression. In general, maternal use of oral narcotics during breastfeeding can cause infant drowsiness, central nervous system depression and even death. Hydromorphone use should be limited in nursing mothers.[1] Newborn infants seem to be particularly sensitive to the effects of even small dosages of narcotic analgesics. Once the mother’s milk comes in, it is best to provide pain control with a nonnarcotic analgesic and limit maternal intake of hydromorphone to a few days at a low dosage with close infant monitoring. If the baby shows signs of increased sleepiness (more than usual), difficulty breastfeeding, breathing difficulties, or limpness, a physician should be contacted immediately.

Possible effects of Hydromorphone on milk supply

Narcotics can increase serum prolactin.[4] However, the prolactin level in a mother with established lactation may not affect her ability to breastfeed.

Possible alternatives to Hydromorphone

Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen, Morphine.