Hydromorphone (Dilaudid) Side Effects

Possible side effects of hydromorphone are listed below. Call your doctor if these side effects are severe or continue after a few days.

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Drowsiness
• Dry mouth
• Constipation
• Insomnia
• Excessive sweating
• Stomach pain
• Muscle pain, back pain, joint pain
• Itching 
• Flushing
• Anxiety
• Depression 

Less commonly, hydromorphone can cause more serious side effects. Seek immediate medical help if you have the following symptoms:

• Skin rash, hives, itching (signs of allergic reactions)
• Swelling of the face, eyes, lips, tongue, mouth, throat, hands, lower legs, ankles, or feet
• Hoarseness
• Trouble breathing or swallowing
• Chest pain
• Fever, shivering, sweating, confusion, agitation, hallucinations, fast heartbeat, muscle stiffness, muscle twitching, loss of coordination, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
• Dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite
• Irregular menstrual periods in women
• Erectile dysfunction (inability to achieve or keep an erection) in men
• Decreased libido (low sexual desire)
• Seizures
• Extreme drowsiness
• Lightheadedness or fainting, especially when changing positions

The above list may not include all the adverse effects of hydromorphone. Call your doctor if the side effects are unusual or severe or they do not get better over time. You can also report unusual side effects to the Food and Drug Administration at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Hydromorphone (Dilaudid) Overdose: In case of an overdose of hydromorphone, contact your doctor immediately. You can also call the National Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222. Call 911 if a person has collapsed, cannot be awakened, has trouble breathing, or has had a seizure.

Symptoms of a hydromorphone overdose can include difficulty breathing, slowed or stopped breathing, slowed or stopped heartbeat, sleepiness, dizziness, fainting, unresponsiveness, muscle weakness, constricted pupils, and cold and clammy skin.

Talk to your provider about having a rescue medication called naloxone available. Naloxone can reverse the life-threatening effects of an overdose, such as CNS depression and slowed or stopped breathing. Make sure you and others around you know how to recognize an overdose, how to use naloxone, and what to do until emergency medical services arrive.

Source: FDA