Nursing Teaching on Precautions to be Exercised While Taking Dilaudid

1. Dilaudid must be avoided or used cautiously in individuals allergic to other opioid analgesics, such as Hydrocodone, Morphine, and Codeine.
2. Dilaudid slows down the bowel movements heavily and leads to constipation. Increase intake of daily fiber can help the situation and promote regular bowel movements. Any signs and symptoms of intestinal obstruction and ileus, such as, intense bloating, constipation, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting must be immediately reported. Any lack of bowel movement in 3 days must be reported to the physician.
3. Dilaudid produces an intense feeling of drowsiness and dizziness, as a side effect to modifying the pain perception of brain. Patients can also experience hallucinations and mood changes due to Dilaudid use. Dilaudid must be avoided or used with extreme caution in individuals taking antidepressants and other psychotropic medications that have the potential to induce hallucinations and mood changes. Avoid driving or operating machinery until you know how Dilaudid affects you.
4. Do not share your Dilaudid with any family and friends. Keep a regular track of the number of pills left in your pillbox, to prevent a chance for abuse, as this is one of the most commonly abused drug.
5. Do not change the dose on Dilaudid without consulting your doctor.
6. Dilaudid has the potential to increase the intracranial pressure. Maintain a close watch for signs of elevated intracranial pressure, such as, headache, vomiting, double vision, and confusion. Individuals with history of head injury, curvature of the spine, and intracranial lesions are at increased risk for elevated intracranial pressures. Report any such findings to your physician immediately for a change in plan of care to be considered.
7. 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.
8. Do not take Dilaudid with alcohol. Both alcohol and Dilaudid depress the respirations. When taken together, their effects on respirations can get added up and lead to severe respiratory depression, coma, and can even be fatal. Also, though Dilaudid individually does not cause much damage to the liver, combining Dilaudid with alcohol can increase the chance for liver injury.
9. Dilaudid is metabolized by the liver and individuals with history of compromised liver function cannot metabolize Dilaudid and this can lead to increased blood levels of Dilaudid for longer duration, leading to toxicity. Dilaudid should be avoided or used with extreme caution in such individuals. Observe compliance with any labs ordered for evaluation of hepatic function.
10. Drink plenty of water with Dilaudid and keep up with your daily fluid requirements without fail. This can help prevent episodes of constipation. Also, maintain compliance with laxative intake, as recommended by your doctor.
11. 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. Observe compliance with any labs ordered for evaluation of renal function.
12. Do not abuse Dilaudid by continuing to take the medication, even after the pain resolved.
13. Watch out for any continuing or worsening pain, to report to your doctor immediately, so that, a change in plan could be considered.
14. If you miss a dose, try taking it at the earliest notice of noncompliance. If it is time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take the dose scheduled. Do not take an extra dose to try making up for the missed dose. Notify your doctor and other health care personnel regarding your dose noncompliance.