Opioids Interesting, is IV hydromorphone replacing IV morphine?

[Flabu]

Hey all, I have a question regarding hydromorphone and morphine.


I currently work at a hospital, its in a wealthy area and has very good doctors and nurses and other staff. When I am walking around I notice things. One thing I noticed is that everybody I have seen that is getting a IV pain drip is getting IV hydromorphone, not morphine.


I thought this was interesting because I thought that morphine was the gold standard for IV pain management in hospitals.

Anybody else work at hospitals or been treated with IV hydromorphone? Anybody read anything or know anything about this?

 

[Nexus298]

I have been to the hospital a couple times in the last 2 or 3 years and everytime they would give me IV hydromorphone instead of morphine. Its a hell of a lot more powerful/euphoric IMO. I am in Florida though so they basically hand the shit out like candy.

 

[tricomb]

Hydromorphone is used all the time on a PCA pump, I don't think it's more common than morphine, but I can see it having less side effects than morphine in some patients.

 

[Alex000]

Dilaudid does seem to be getting more common for inpatient pain control.

 

[Tryptamino]

i get more side effects than morphine from dilaudid

 

[tricomb]

i get more side effects than morphine from dilaudid

Me too

 

[BIGsherm7272]

Morphine usually has a higher incidence for side effects, such as histamine release and hallucinations due to it's kappa-receptor activity. Whenever I was in the hospital I always received hydromorphone. Most of the synthetics have a lower side-effect profile.

 

[BiggDirty01]

I too have seen a slide towards emphasizing hydromorphone in my go around with my fused spine.

To be honest what has really surprised me has been in my 2 spinal fusions they split IV doses of Hydromorphone and Methadone. And to be honest in the recovery room it seemed as though the methadone was having a better effect on the pain (analgesia) versus the high/sedation/analgesia of the hydromorphone. The hospital where I have had my procedures is world renown and the pain management department specifically manages the medications once surgery is complete. They told me they are using methadone alot more in post-operative pain control.

Anyway, just my .02