Patient was educated on contraindications for using Dilaudid as follows:
- Dilaudid should be avoided or used with extreme caution in individuals with history of head injury, coma, and brain surgery. These individuals are at increased risk for depression of the respiratory center and coma with Dilaudid.
- Dilaudid is mainly excreted in the urine. Individuals with compromised renal functions tend to retain the drug in the circulation longer, thus resulting in toxicity. Dilaudid should be avoided or used with extreme caution in such individuals.
- Avoid using Dilaudid along with other medications that have a potential to cause respiratory depression, such as, muscle relaxants, sedatives, and antianxiety medications. Though they cause mild respiratory depression individually, they can have an additive effect when combined with Dilaudid and thus, precipitate severe respiratory depression.
- Dilaudid has the potential to increase the intracranial pressure. Individuals with history of head injury, curvature of the spine, and intracranial lesions are at increased risk for elevated intracranial pressures, secondary to Dilaudid use, with consequent headache, vomiting, double vision, and confusion.
- Dilaudid should be avoided in individuals with history of drug and alcohol addiction. Do not take alcohol with Dilaudid, as this can lead to severe depression of the respiratory center in the brain, respiratory arrest, and coma. Though Dilaudid individually does not cause much damage to the liver, combining Dilaudid with alcohol can increase the chance for liver injury.
