Medications

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GENERIC NAME: HYDROMORPHONE EXTENDED RELEASE - ORAL (hi-dro-MORE-fown)

BRAND NAME(S): Palladone

WARNING: This medication is a strong narcotic pain reliever similar to morphine. This medication is used to treat moderate to severe pain that is expected to last for a long period of time (weeks to months). It should be used on a regular schedule as prescribed by your doctor, not on an as-needed basis. You should use this medication only if you have been taking moderate to large amounts of a potent narcotic medication (e.g., morphine) for a week or longer. Use of these high-strength capsules by someone who is not regularly taking narcotic medications can cause serious (possibly fatal) breathing problems (e.g., very slow and shallow breathing). Swallow the capsule whole. Broken, chewed, crushed, or dissolved capsules may release large (possibly life-threatening) amounts of medication into your body.

USES: This drug is used to treat moderate-to-severe chronic pain (e.g., cancer pain). This medication acts on certain centers in the brain to give you pain relief. It is a long-acting narcotic pain reliever (opiate-type). This medication should not be used as needed for mild pain which will go away in a few days or for prevention of pain after surgery. If you have not been on this medication before surgery, you should not use it for acute pain after surgery.

HOW TO USE: See also Warning section. Take this medication by mouth, usually once daily (every 24 hours) or as directed by your doctor. Do not break, crush, chew, dissolve, or open the capsule(s). If you have nausea, you may take this drug with food. If nausea persists or worsens, consult your doctor or pharmacist about alternatives for decreasing nausea (e.g., antihistamines, lying down for 1 to 2 hours with minimal head movement). Read the Patient Information Leaflet available from your pharmacist. Consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions. The dosage is based on your medical condition, use of other pain relievers, and response to therapy. Do not change your dose without talking to your doctor or pharmacist first. You may take immediate-release narcotic pain medications for acute pain if so directed by your doctor. Also follow your doctor's or pharmacist's instruction for the safe use of non-narcotic pain relievers (e.g., acetaminophen, ibuprofen). If you have been using other long-acting narcotic pain medications or narcotic patches regularly, check with your doctor or pharmacist since they may need to be discontinued before starting this medication. If you are currently using a narcotic-containing patch (e.g., fentanyl), the effects may continue after removal of the patch. Ask your doctor or pharmacist when it is safe to start taking this medication (usually 18 hours after removing the patch). This medication may cause dependence, especially if it has been used regularly for an extended period of time (more than a few weeks), or if it has been used in high doses. If you suddenly stop this drug, withdrawal reactions (e.g., anxiety, irritability, sweating, trouble sleeping, diarrhea) may occur. Report any such reactions to your doctor immediately. When stopping extended regular use of this medication, gradually reducing the dosage as directed will help prevent withdrawal reactions. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details. Although it is very unlikely to occur, this medication can also result in abnormal drug-seeking behavior (addiction/habit-forming). Do not increase your dose, take it more frequently, or use it for a longer period of time than prescribed. Properly stop the medication when so directed. This will lessen the chances of becoming addicted. If you use this medication for an extended period of time, it may not be as effective and you will need a different dose. Talk with your doctor if you think this medication has stopped working well. Inform your doctor if your pain persists or worsens.