Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Dilaudid?What Is Oxycodone?Safe Guidance OverviewSide EffectsDosage GuidelinesPotential for InteractionWhich One Is Right for Me?Frequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is Dilaudid?
What Is Oxycodone?
Safe Guidance Overview
Side Effects
Dosage Guidelines
Potential for Interaction
Which One Is Right for Me?
Frequently Asked Questions
Dilaudid (hydromorphone)andoxycodoneare prescriptionopioid pain medicationsused to relieve pain that is severe enough to require strong pain relief, generally when other, less strong medications do not provide adequate pain relief.
While these medications are used for similar purposes, they carry notable differences, such as in dosing requirements, forms of administration, and potential side effects.
This article will provide an in-depth analysis of Dilaudid and oxycodone.
Lawrence K. Ho / Getty Images
Dilaudid contains the active ingredient hydromorphone, which is chemically related tomorphine, is Food and Drug Administration (FDA)–approved to manage moderate to severe pain in adults.
How It Works
More specifically, opiate analgesics act on opioid receptors to produce morphine-like effects.
Because of the risks of misuse, abuse, and addiction, even at usual doses, Dilaudid should only be used when other options are not adequate—for example when other, less potent medications have not provided sufficient pain relief.
Administration
Dilaudid is administered in a variety of ways, including as an orally administered extended-release (ER) tablet, an immediate-release (IR) tablet, a liquid solution, and as an intravenous (IV, within a vein) injection.
The active ingredient in Dilaudid, hydromorphone, is also available as a generic product and administered in multiple forms, such as an IV injection or suppository.
Off-Label Uses
Sometimes, healthcare professionals may prescribe a drug for non-FDA-approved uses. This is called off-label prescribing.
An example of off-label prescribing with Dilaudid would be its use in children and teenagers for the management of severe pain.
Oxycodone is an FDA-approved generic opioid to relieve pain that is severe enough to require strong pain relief, generally when other, less strong medications do not provide adequate pain relief.
Like Dilaudid, oxycodone should only be used when other options are not adequate or cannot be tolerated.
More specifically, oxycodone blocks pain signals that stem from thecentral nervous system (CNS). It also reduces the anxiety and stress that accompanies ATC pain.
Oxycodone dosing depends on the needs of the person, as well as the dosage form the drug is in. Oxycodone is administered as an IR tablet, ER tablet, ER capsule, or liquid solution.
Brand-name versions of oxycodone exist, such as OxyContin and Xtampza ER.
As an off-label use, healthcare providers sometimes prescribe oxycodone for children and adolescents.
Both Dilaudid and oxycodone, as well as all other prescription opioids, carry aboxed warning.
Boxed Warning
For opioids like Dilaudid and oxycodone, the warnings state:
Other safety information about Dilaudid and oxycodone includes:
Dilaudid-Specific Warning
Dilaudid’s boxed warning notes that careful attention should be given when prescribing, dispensing, and taking Dilaudid oral solution.
This is because dosing mistakes could occur, which can lead to accidental overdose and death.
Oxycodone-Specific Warning
Oxycodone carries another aspect of its boxed warning that states that combining certain medications (enzyme inhibitors) with oxycodone can lead to an overdose and death.
The following sections will compare and contrast potential side effects associated with Dilaudid and oxycodone.
Common Side Effects: Dilaudid
Common side effects of Dilaudid include:
Common Side Effects: Oxycodone
Common side effects of oxycodone include:
Severe Side Effects: Dilaudid & Oxycodone
Serious side effects and their symptoms can include some of the following:
Call your healthcare provider right away if you have serious side effects.
Dial 911 if your symptoms feel life-threatening or if you think you or a loved one is experiencing a medical emergency.
With any opioid, healthcare providers aim to prescribe the lowest effective dose for the shortest period.
Dosing is individualized based on factors such as the person’s severity of pain, risk factors for abuse, and response to treatment.
People with kidney or liver problems generally require lower doses and close monitoring. When an opioid is discontinued after some time, the healthcare professional will provide instructions on how you can taper off the medication safely and slowly.
Also, anyone who takes an opioid pain medicine should have naloxone on hand in case of overdose. Narcan, a commonly dispensed form of naloxone, is a nasal spray that can be used to reverse an opioid overdose and save lives.
It is now available over the counter (OTC).
Learn how to use it, and teach your family, caregivers, and close friends where it is and how to use it on you in case of an overdose.
Dilaudid
Brand-name Dilaudid is administered as oral tablets, most commonly as IR tablets.
Additionally, generic hydromorphone ER tablets are also available.
Brand-name Dilaudid is administered as an oral liquid solution and intravenously. As mentioned above, Dilaudid is only approved for adults, not children or adolescents.
Examples of commonly administered doses include:
Oxycodone
Oxycodone is administered as an IR tablet, ER tablet, ER capsule, or liquid solution.
Xtampza ER, Roxicodone, and Oxycontin are brand-name versions of oxycodone.
Oxycodone is also available as an active ingredient in combination products, such asPercocet, which contains oxycodone and acetaminophen.
Tell your healthcare provider about all of the medicines you take, including:
While taking Dilaudid or Oxycodone, do not start any new medications without approval from your healthcare provider.
Interactions: Dilaudid & Oxycodone
Some drug interactions that apply to both Dilaudid and oxycodone are:
Note that this is not a complete list of drug interactions. Other drug interactions may occur with Dilaudid or oxycodone.
Oxycodone-Specific Interactions
Oxycodone has some additional interactions, such as:
Consult your healthcare provider for more information about drug interactions and how they may affect you.
More data is needed to effectively compare Dilaudid and oxycodone directly.
In treating pain, however, many healthcare providers look to the World Health Organization (WHO) analgesic guidelines, which outline treatment for pain as follows:
One consideration may be how fast the medicine works and how long the pain relief lasts.
For example, Dilaudid reaches its highest levels in the body within 30 minutes to one hour, and one dose lasts up to four to five hours.
In comparison, IR oxycodone reaches its highest levels within the body at just over one hour, and one dose lasts between three to four hours.
Another consideration may be which drug is more potent or more potent. When comparing strength, Dilaudid is more potent, or stronger, than oxycodone.
In choosing the best pain medication for you, your healthcare provider will take many individual factors into account, such as:
Summary
Dilaudid (hydromorphone) and oxycodone are prescription opioid pain medications.
They are prescribed for pain when other non-opioid medications are not effective or cannot be tolerated. As Schedule II controlled substances, however, they have the potential for abuse, addiction, and dependence.
While these medications are used for similar purposes, they carry notable differences, such as differences in dosing requirements, forms of administration, and potential side effects, among others.
Consult your healthcare provider for more information and medical advice to see if one of these medications is appropriate.
Frequently Asked QuestionsNonopioid analgesic medications such asTylenol (acetaminophen)may help with pain whilenonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as Motrin orAdvil (ibuprofen), may help with pain and inflammation.Other measures, like physical therapy, may also help with pain relief.Because of the potential for abuse, misuse, and addiction, these medications should be stored where no one can get to them, especially children.Keep track of your medication so you know if any medicine is missing. Keep the bottle tightly closed when not in use.Store at room temperature (68-77 degrees F), away from direct light, heat, and moisture. Ask your pharmacist about the best way to dispose of your medication when you no longer need it.
Nonopioid analgesic medications such asTylenol (acetaminophen)may help with pain whilenonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as Motrin orAdvil (ibuprofen), may help with pain and inflammation.Other measures, like physical therapy, may also help with pain relief.
Nonopioid analgesic medications such asTylenol (acetaminophen)may help with pain whilenonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as Motrin orAdvil (ibuprofen), may help with pain and inflammation.
Other measures, like physical therapy, may also help with pain relief.
Because of the potential for abuse, misuse, and addiction, these medications should be stored where no one can get to them, especially children.Keep track of your medication so you know if any medicine is missing. Keep the bottle tightly closed when not in use.Store at room temperature (68-77 degrees F), away from direct light, heat, and moisture. Ask your pharmacist about the best way to dispose of your medication when you no longer need it.
Because of the potential for abuse, misuse, and addiction, these medications should be stored where no one can get to them, especially children.
Keep track of your medication so you know if any medicine is missing. Keep the bottle tightly closed when not in use.
Store at room temperature (68-77 degrees F), away from direct light, heat, and moisture. Ask your pharmacist about the best way to dispose of your medication when you no longer need it.
22 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Hydromorphone.MedlinePlus.Oxycodone.Drug Enforcement Administration.Drug scheduling.DailyMed.Label: Dilaudid- hydromorphone hydrochloride tablet Dilaudid- hydromorphone hydrochloride solution.DailyMed.Label: Hydromorphone hydrochloride tablet, extended release.DailyMed.Label: Dilaudid- hydromorphone hydrochloride injection, solution.DailyMed.Label: Hydromorphone hydrochloride injection, solution.DailyMed.Label: Hydromorphone hydrochloride suppository.Rodieux F, Ivanyuk A, Besson M, et al.Hydromorphone prescription for pain in children-what place in clinical practice?Front Pediatr. 2022;10:842454. doi:10.3389/fped.2022.842454National Health Service.Common questions about oxycodone.DailyMed.Label: Oxycontin- oxycodone hydrochloride tablet, film coated, extended release.DailyMed.Label: Xtampza ER- oxycodone capsule, extended release.Czaja AS, Reiter PD, Schultz ML, et al.Patterns of off-label prescribing in the pediatric intensive care unit and prioritizing future research.J Pediatr Pharmacol Ther. 2015;20(3):186-196. doi:10.5863/1551-6776-20.3.186Luedtke KE, Buck ML.Evaluation of off-label prescribing at a children’s rehabilitation center.J Pediatr Pharmacol Ther. 2014;19(4):296-301. doi:10.5863/1551-6776-19.4.296O’Connor NR.FDA boxed warnings: How to prescribe drugs safely.Am Fam Physician. 2010;81(3):298-303.Food and Drug Administration.FDA approves first over-the-counter naloxone nasal spray.Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Non-prescription (“over-the-counter”) naloxone frequently asked questions.DailyMed.Label: Roxicodone- oxycodone hydrochloride tablet.DailyMed.Label: Oxycontin- oxycodone hydrochloride tablet, film coated, extended release.DailyMed.Label: Percocet- oxycodone hydrochloride and acetaminophen tablet.WHO guidelines for the pharmacological and radiotherapeutic management of cancer pain in adults and adolescents. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2018. Table A6.2.American Society of Anesthesiologists.Non-opioid treatment.
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Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Hydromorphone.MedlinePlus.Oxycodone.Drug Enforcement Administration.Drug scheduling.DailyMed.Label: Dilaudid- hydromorphone hydrochloride tablet Dilaudid- hydromorphone hydrochloride solution.DailyMed.Label: Hydromorphone hydrochloride tablet, extended release.DailyMed.Label: Dilaudid- hydromorphone hydrochloride injection, solution.DailyMed.Label: Hydromorphone hydrochloride injection, solution.DailyMed.Label: Hydromorphone hydrochloride suppository.Rodieux F, Ivanyuk A, Besson M, et al.Hydromorphone prescription for pain in children-what place in clinical practice?Front Pediatr. 2022;10:842454. doi:10.3389/fped.2022.842454National Health Service.Common questions about oxycodone.DailyMed.Label: Oxycontin- oxycodone hydrochloride tablet, film coated, extended release.DailyMed.Label: Xtampza ER- oxycodone capsule, extended release.Czaja AS, Reiter PD, Schultz ML, et al.Patterns of off-label prescribing in the pediatric intensive care unit and prioritizing future research.J Pediatr Pharmacol Ther. 2015;20(3):186-196. doi:10.5863/1551-6776-20.3.186Luedtke KE, Buck ML.Evaluation of off-label prescribing at a children’s rehabilitation center.J Pediatr Pharmacol Ther. 2014;19(4):296-301. doi:10.5863/1551-6776-19.4.296O’Connor NR.FDA boxed warnings: How to prescribe drugs safely.Am Fam Physician. 2010;81(3):298-303.Food and Drug Administration.FDA approves first over-the-counter naloxone nasal spray.Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Non-prescription (“over-the-counter”) naloxone frequently asked questions.DailyMed.Label: Roxicodone- oxycodone hydrochloride tablet.DailyMed.Label: Oxycontin- oxycodone hydrochloride tablet, film coated, extended release.DailyMed.Label: Percocet- oxycodone hydrochloride and acetaminophen tablet.WHO guidelines for the pharmacological and radiotherapeutic management of cancer pain in adults and adolescents. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2018. Table A6.2.American Society of Anesthesiologists.Non-opioid treatment.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
MedlinePlus.Hydromorphone.MedlinePlus.Oxycodone.Drug Enforcement Administration.Drug scheduling.DailyMed.Label: Dilaudid- hydromorphone hydrochloride tablet Dilaudid- hydromorphone hydrochloride solution.DailyMed.Label: Hydromorphone hydrochloride tablet, extended release.DailyMed.Label: Dilaudid- hydromorphone hydrochloride injection, solution.DailyMed.Label: Hydromorphone hydrochloride injection, solution.DailyMed.Label: Hydromorphone hydrochloride suppository.Rodieux F, Ivanyuk A, Besson M, et al.Hydromorphone prescription for pain in children-what place in clinical practice?Front Pediatr. 2022;10:842454. doi:10.3389/fped.2022.842454National Health Service.Common questions about oxycodone.DailyMed.Label: Oxycontin- oxycodone hydrochloride tablet, film coated, extended release.DailyMed.Label: Xtampza ER- oxycodone capsule, extended release.Czaja AS, Reiter PD, Schultz ML, et al.Patterns of off-label prescribing in the pediatric intensive care unit and prioritizing future research.J Pediatr Pharmacol Ther. 2015;20(3):186-196. doi:10.5863/1551-6776-20.3.186Luedtke KE, Buck ML.Evaluation of off-label prescribing at a children’s rehabilitation center.J Pediatr Pharmacol Ther. 2014;19(4):296-301. doi:10.5863/1551-6776-19.4.296O’Connor NR.FDA boxed warnings: How to prescribe drugs safely.Am Fam Physician. 2010;81(3):298-303.Food and Drug Administration.FDA approves first over-the-counter naloxone nasal spray.Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Non-prescription (“over-the-counter”) naloxone frequently asked questions.DailyMed.Label: Roxicodone- oxycodone hydrochloride tablet.DailyMed.Label: Oxycontin- oxycodone hydrochloride tablet, film coated, extended release.DailyMed.Label: Percocet- oxycodone hydrochloride and acetaminophen tablet.WHO guidelines for the pharmacological and radiotherapeutic management of cancer pain in adults and adolescents. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2018. Table A6.2.American Society of Anesthesiologists.Non-opioid treatment.
MedlinePlus.Hydromorphone.
MedlinePlus.Oxycodone.
Drug Enforcement Administration.Drug scheduling.
DailyMed.Label: Dilaudid- hydromorphone hydrochloride tablet Dilaudid- hydromorphone hydrochloride solution.
DailyMed.Label: Hydromorphone hydrochloride tablet, extended release.
DailyMed.Label: Dilaudid- hydromorphone hydrochloride injection, solution.
DailyMed.Label: Hydromorphone hydrochloride injection, solution.
DailyMed.Label: Hydromorphone hydrochloride suppository.
Rodieux F, Ivanyuk A, Besson M, et al.Hydromorphone prescription for pain in children-what place in clinical practice?Front Pediatr. 2022;10:842454. doi:10.3389/fped.2022.842454
National Health Service.Common questions about oxycodone.
DailyMed.Label: Oxycontin- oxycodone hydrochloride tablet, film coated, extended release.
DailyMed.Label: Xtampza ER- oxycodone capsule, extended release.
Czaja AS, Reiter PD, Schultz ML, et al.Patterns of off-label prescribing in the pediatric intensive care unit and prioritizing future research.J Pediatr Pharmacol Ther. 2015;20(3):186-196. doi:10.5863/1551-6776-20.3.186
Luedtke KE, Buck ML.Evaluation of off-label prescribing at a children’s rehabilitation center.J Pediatr Pharmacol Ther. 2014;19(4):296-301. doi:10.5863/1551-6776-19.4.296
O’Connor NR.FDA boxed warnings: How to prescribe drugs safely.Am Fam Physician. 2010;81(3):298-303.
Food and Drug Administration.FDA approves first over-the-counter naloxone nasal spray.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Non-prescription (“over-the-counter”) naloxone frequently asked questions.
DailyMed.Label: Roxicodone- oxycodone hydrochloride tablet.
DailyMed.Label: Percocet- oxycodone hydrochloride and acetaminophen tablet.
WHO guidelines for the pharmacological and radiotherapeutic management of cancer pain in adults and adolescents. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2018. Table A6.2.
American Society of Anesthesiologists.Non-opioid treatment.
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