24.07 Hydromorphone (Dilaudid)
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Generic Name
hydromorphone
Trade Name
Dilaudid
Indication
moderate to severe pain
Action
alters the perception and reaction to pain by binding to opiate receptors in the CNS, also suppresses the cough reflex
Therapeutic Class
Opioid Analgesic, allergy, cold and cough remedies, antitussive
Pharmacologic Class
opioid agonist
Nursing Considerations
• Assess BP, respirations, and pulse before and during administration – medication causes general
CNS depression
• Narcan (nalaxone) is the antidote for overdose
• use caution with concurrent use of MAOI – avoid use within 14 days of each other
• may be used as an antitussive
• advised to dilute with NS prior to administration and to administer slowly to decrease CNS
depression
Jon Haws, BS, BSN, RN, Alumnus CCRN 
Tarang Patel DNP-NA, RN, CCRN, RPh 
Nichole Weaver MSN/Ed, RN, CCRN 
Miriam Wahrman MSN/Ed, RNC-MNN 
Kara Tarr BSN, RN 
Nacole Riccaboni, MSN, AGACNP-BC, FNP-BC, CCRN, CMC 