Dilaudid

Dilaudid cannot be used in pregnant women during labor or delivery.

Special warnings about Dilaudid

Do not stop taking this medication without your doctor's approval. Abruptly stopping Dilaudid could cause withdrawal symptoms within the first 24 hours, including restlessness, tearing or watery eyes, dilated pupils, runny nose, yawning, sweating, goosebumps, and restless sleep. These symptoms could increase during the next 72 hours, and new withdrawal symptoms may appear, including irritability, anxiety, weakness, muscle spasms, severe backache, stomach or leg pain, insomnia, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Dilaudid may impair the mental and/or physical abilities required for the performance of potentially hazardous tasks such as driving a car or operating machinery.

Dilaudid should be used with caution if you are in a weakened condition or if you have a severe liver or kidney disorder, hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland), Addison's disease (adrenal gland failure), severe lung problems, an enlarged prostate, a urethral stricture (narrowing of the urethra), low blood pressure, or a head injury.

It's important to tell the doctor if you've ever suffered from alcoholism or other drug dependencies. Abusing Dilaudid, or combining it with other nervous system depressants, can cause serious--and possibly life-threatening--side effects.

Dilaudid suppresses the cough reflex; therefore, the doctor will be cautious about prescribing Dilaudid after an operation or for patients with a lung disease.

High doses of Dilaudid may produce labored or slowed breathing. This drug also affects centers that control breathing rhythm and may produce irregular breathing. People who already have breathing difficulties should be very careful about taking Dilaudid. Be especially cautious if you have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or a condition that reduces oxygen to the tissues (hypoxia) or causes an excess of carbon dioxide in the blood (hypercapnia).

Let the doctor know if you're scheduled to have any surgical procedures involving the biliary tract, since Dilaudid could increase the chance of muscle spasms in this area.