Details for: DILAUDID

To help avoid side effects and ensure proper use, talk to your healthcare professional before you take DILAUDID. Talk about any health conditions or problems you may have, including if you:

• have a history of illicit or prescription drug or alcohol abuse
• have severe kidney, liver or lung disease
• have heart disease
• have low blood pressure
• have a history of sleep apnea
• have past or current depression
• suffer from chronic or severe constipation
• have problems with your adrenal or prostate gland
• have, or had in the past, hallucinations or other severe mental problems
• suffer from migraines
• are pregnant or planning to become pregnant

Other warnings you should know about:

Opioid dependence and addiction

There are important differences between physical dependence and addiction. It is important that you talk to your doctor if you have questions or concerns about abuse, addiction or physical dependence.

Pregnancy, nursing, labour, and delivery

Do not use DILAUDID while pregnant, nursing, during labour or delivery. Opioids can be transferred to your baby through breast milk, or while still in the womb. DILAUDID can then cause life-threatening breathing problems in your unborn baby or nursing infant.

If you are pregnant and are taking DILAUDID, it is important that you don’t stop taking your medication all of a sudden. If you do, it can cause a miscarriage or a still-birth. Your doctor will monitor and guide you on how to slowly stop taking DILAUDID. This may help avoid serious harm to your unborn baby.

Driving and using machines

Before you do tasks which may require special attention, you should wait until you know how you react to DILAUDID. DILAUDID can cause:

• drowsiness
• dizziness or
• light-headedness

This can usually occur after you take your first dose and when your dose is increased.

Disorder of the adrenal gland

You may develop a disorder of the adrenal gland called adrenal insufficiency. This means that your adrenal gland is not making enough of certain hormones. You may experience symptoms such as:

• nausea, vomiting
• feeling tired, weak or dizzy
• decreased appetite

You may be more likely to have problems with your adrenal gland if you have been taking opioids for longer than one month. Your doctor may do tests, give you another medication, and slowly take you off DILAUDID.

Serotonin Syndrome

DILAUDID can cause serotonin syndrome, a rare but potentially life-threatening condition. It can cause serious changes in how your brain, muscles and digestive system work. You may develop serotonin syndrome if you take DILAUDID with certain anti-depressants or migraine medications.

Serotonin syndrome symptoms include:

• fever, sweating, shivering, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting;
• muscle shakes, jerks, twitches or stiffness, overactive reflexes, loss of coordination;
• fast heartbeat, changes in blood pressure;
• confusion, agitation, restlessness, hallucinations, mood changes, unconsciousness, and coma.

Sexual Function/Reproduction

Long term use of opioids may lead to a decrease in sex hormone levels. It may also lead to low libido (desire to have sex), erectile dysfunction or being infertile.

Sleep Apnea

Opioids can cause a problem called sleep apnea (stopping breathing from time to time while sleeping). Tell your doctor if you have a history of sleep apnea or if anyone notices that you stop breathing from time to time while sleeping.