What it means
An opioid analgesicOH-pee-oyd an-ul-JEE-zikA strong drug that relieves moderate to severe pain by acting on the brain and spinal cord.Full entry used for severe pain. Milligram for milligram it is several times stronger than morphineMOR-feenA strong opioid drug used to relieve moderate to severe pain.Full entry , so a dose that would be safe for morphine can be an overdose of hydromorphone. Mix-ups between the two have killed clients, and ISMP lists them as confused names. Like other opioids, it can cause slow breathing, sedation, low blood pressure, nausea, itching and constipation.
For the nurse
Check pain, respiratory rate and level of sedation before each dose and again when it peaks; hold the dose and report a client who is hard to wake or breathing slowly. Keep naloxone on hand. Double-check the drug name and dose, never substitute it for morphine, and prevent constipation with fluids, fiber and stool softeners as ordered.
At a glance
| Drug class | opioid agonist |
|---|---|
| Brand names | Dilaudid |
| Spanish | hidromorfona |
| Also written | Dilaudid |
Easy to confuse with
morphine
A strong opioid drug used to relieve moderate to severe pain.
Related terms
opioid analgesic
A strong drug that relieves moderate to severe pain by acting on the brain and spinal cord.
analgesic
A drug that relieves pain.
morphine
A strong opioid drug used to relieve moderate to severe pain.
oxycodone
An opioid pain medicine taken by mouth, as quick-acting or long-acting tablets.