Pain is defined as an unpleasant experience for each person. Everyone requires different ways to manage pain. Healthcare experts can recommend different drugs to different patients. Morphine and Dilaudid are the two drugs that are used to treat moderate to severe conditions of pain. These drugs may be recommended by doctors for patients who are experiencing pain.
Both of these are pain-relieving medications, which are used to treat moderate to severe pain. The pain can be caused due to injury, after operation, cancer-related pain, etc. These drugs work by targeting the cause of the pain and help in reducing the pain in patients.
In this blog, we will discuss these two drugs Morphine and Dilaudid. Also, you will learn about these drugs such as their mechanism of action, uses, dosage strengths, side effects, and precautions.
Overview of Both Medications
Morphine Drug
This is a prescription medicine that is used to relieve moderate to severe pain““““ when other drugs are not effective or tolerated by the patients. Morphine is a generic drug and it is an opioid pain-reducing medicine. It gives immediate pain relief in short-term or chronic pain.
Morphine medication belongs to a class of drugs known as narcotic analgesics, and this drug directly acts on the central nervous system (CNS) to relieve pain. It is prescribed to treat other types of severe pain, such as pain that occurs due to cancer and heart attack.
Morphine is a Schedule II controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). In 1987, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Morphine, a drug that is used to treat various types of pain. This drug is a prescription-only drug.
Dilaudid Medication
This is an opioid pain reliever drug. It is a brand-name medication and its generic drug ‘is hydromorphone’. A generic version of Dilaudid drug was approved by the FDA in 1992. These opioid drugs are also called narcotic drugs. These drugs are used to manage chronic to acute pain which is caused by various injuries and other medical conditions.
It is classified as a Schedule II controlled substance by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which means it has a high potential for abuse and can lead to addiction.
Dilaudid can be used after getting a prescription from the doctor. It belongs to the narcotic analgesic drugs class that works by blocking pain receptors in the brain.
Most of the time, pain occurs due to different kinds of medical problems, such as swelling in the body parts, physical pain, muscle pain, back pain, etc. There are so many pain relief drugs available in the market for treating different conditions of pain. These opioid drugs are Morphine, Tramadol, Aspirin, Vicodin, Percocet, Dilaudid etc.
Mechanism of Action of Both Medication
Working of Morphine Drug
It works by altering the way in which the nervous system and the brain react to pain. This is a process of binding to the mu-opioid receptors within the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS). The half-life of the Morphine drug is around 4 hours.
Working of Dilaudid Medication
This drug works directly in the central nervous system (CNS) of the brain to change feelings and respond to pain in the body. The half-life of Dilaudid medication is around 2 to 3 hours.
Dose & Doses
Forms & Strength of Morphine Drug
Form of oral solutions tablets, injections, ER (Extended-Release) tablets, ER (Extended-Release), and oral capsules.
- ER Tablet (abuse-deterrent): 15 mg, 30 mg, 60 mg and 100 mg strengths.
- ER Capsule (morphine sulfate): 10 mg, 20 mg, 30 mg, 45 mg, 50 mg, 60 mg, 75 mg, 80 mg, 90 mg, 100 mg and 120 mg strengths.
- Injectable solution (morphine sulfate): 0.5 mg/ml, 1 mg/ml, 2 mg/ml, 4 mg/ml, 5 mg/ml, 8 mg/ml, 10 mg/ml, 15 mg/ml, 25 mg/ml and 50 mg/ml strengths.
- Oral solution (morphine sulfate): 10 mg/ 5mL and 20 mg/5 mL strengths.
Forms & Strengths of Dilaudid Medications
- Oral Tablet Form: 2 mg, 4 mg and 8 mg strengths.
- Extended-release (ER) Tablet Form : 8 mg, 12 mg, 16 mg and 32 mg strengths.
- Injection Solution: 1 mg/ml, 2 mg/ml and 4 mg/ml strengths.
- Oral Solution: 5 mg/ml.
Dosages of Morphine Drug
Morphine Tablet
- The starting dose is between 15 mg to 30 mg. Patients can take these drugs in intervals of 4 hours on a regular basis or suggested by the doctor.
Morphine Intravenous Injection
- 0.1 mg to 0.2 mg per kg is the advised dose. It should be taken every four hours or as per requirement.
Morphine Oral Solution
- The oral solution of 10 mg to 20 mg can be consumed within the gap of 4 hours on a regular basis.
Dosages of Dilaudid Medicines
Initiating Treatment with Dilaudid Oral Solution or Tablets
- ​ A dose of 2.5 mL to 10 mL, 2.5 mg to 10 mg can be suggested by a doctor every 3 to 6 hours. The lowest dose necessary to achieve adequate analgesia.
- Patients are advised to take a dose of 2 mg to 4 mg, orally, in every 4 to 6 hours as needed for pain.
- For intramuscular or subcutaneous use, the starting dose of injection is 1 to 2 mg, taken in intervals of 2 to 3 hours.
- Intravenous injection is administered initially in the dose of 0.2 to 1 mg in every 2 to 3 hours.
- Healthcare experts can recommend dosage form and strength of this drug on the basis of an individual’s health condition.
Uses
Uses of Morphine Medication
- Morphine drug is used to treat severe pain that requires daily, around-the-clock, long-term opioid treatment.
- It is used treat pain caused by cancer, post or pre-surgery pain, injury
- A doctor can also recommend this drug for chronic conditions such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, or neuropathic pain.
Uses of Dilaudid Medication
- Healthcare professionals can recommend this drug because it gives relief from severe pain, for example cancer pain, or pain caused by injury & surgery.
- It can be used for treating pain caused by chronic conditions, such as arthritis or fibromyalgia.
Side Effects
Common Side Effects of Both Drugs
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Tiredness
- Anxiety
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Stomach Pain
- Constipation
- Sweating
- Feeling Light-Headed
Serious Side Effects of Dilaudid & Morphine Medicines
- Allergic reactions
- Hives
- Swelling on face
- Chest pain
- Loss of coordination
- Irregular of heartbeat
- Agitation
- Hallucination
- Breathing problems
- Dry mouth
- Vision problems
Precautions
- Patients should swallow the whole tablet without crushing, chewing and dissolving it.
- If patients have used an MAO inhibitor within the last two weeks, then they should avoid these two medications.
- Patients should inform their healthcare expert about medical history before starting the treatment.
- Always avoid the consumption of alcohol while taking these drugs because these may make a person feel more dizzy and drowsy.
- Overdose of both drugs can be fatal, do not use these medications without a prescription.
