Re: /Dilaudid (was: Re: My FIL Arrived Yesterday...UPDATE)

[Guest guest]

I'm having the same problem. When my husband was in

the Sr. Diagnostics a week ago, they started him on

fentanyl patch for pain (morphine-based). I didn't

want it, but they didn't think Tylenol was enough,

even tho they kept him on it. He has had the patch

for approximately 10 days-two weeks now. Tonight, he

was itching like crazy, just squirming in his chair

trying to scratch his back. I finally started

scratching it for him, but it didn't help. Then I got

his lotion and rubbed it on his back, and there was

the patch, with lots of red and hives near it, and I

think where the last patch was removed. I asked for

cortisone cream or calamine lotion, as regular lotion

wasn't doing the trick, but they didn't have any, and

even if they had, couldn't use it w/o dr. order. They

called the dr. later, and he prescribed a cream, and

they had samples there, so said they would try that on

him. It get so discouraging trying to make them

understand that the patch is probably the problem, and

it should be removed. He always complains about his

back itching when allergic to a drug, and generally he

will start seeing bugs, etc. He also is not opening

his eyes, and I have to feed him and constantly remind

him to open his mouth and take a bite. He spits lots

of it out. He does drink well, though, so hopefully

won't get dehydrated.

--- jacqui wrote:

> stimtimminss wrote:

>

> >I am always wondering about medication changes and

> behaviour. Last evening Mom started on Dilotid for

> pain, today was uncommunicative, unable to open her

> eyes, eating and drinking less, after what was for

> her, a great day yesterday and the day before. From

> the medication so soon, or the roller coaster? Now

> I have to go back tomorrow to assess

> >again and talk with the nurses.

> >

>

> Following is some information I think is important

> to know about

> Dilaudid (from www.rxlist.com, a favorite reference

> of mine - I use it

> constantly in my work as a medical transcriptionist

> to verify

> medicatoins and dosages). My opinion is that she is

> probably responding

> poorly to the Dilaudid (which is a substitute for

> and - I think - a

> derivative of morphine, which is known to be a " very

> bad thing " for LBD):

>

> " DILAUDID (hydromorphone hydrochloride) (*WARNING*:

> May be habit

> forming), a hydrogenated ketone

> <javascript:defwindow('ketone')> of

> morphine, is a narcotic

> <javascript:defwindow('narcotic')> analgesic. "

>

> Possible side effects of Dilaudid are:

>

> */Central Nervous System:/* Sedation, drowsiness

> <javascript:defwindow('drowsiness')>, mental

> <javascript:defwindow('mental')> clouding, lethargy,

> impairment

> <javascript:defwindow('impairment')> of mental

> <javascript:defwindow('mental')> and physical

> <javascript:defwindow('physical')> performance,

> anxiety

> <javascript:defwindow('anxiety')>, fear, dysphoria,

> dizziness

> <javascript:defwindow('dizziness')>, psychic

> <javascript:defwindow('psychic')> dependence

> <javascript:defwindow('dependence')>, mood

> <javascript:defwindow('mood')> changes.

>

> */Gastrointestinal System:/* Nausea and vomiting

> <javascript:defwindow('vomiting')> occur

> infrequently; they are more

> frequent in ambulatory than in recumbent

> <javascript:defwindow('recumbent')> patients. The

> antiemetic

> phenothiazines are useful in suppressing these

> effects; however, some

> phenothiazine derivatives seem to be antianalgesic

> and to increase the

> amount of narcotic required to produce pain

> <javascript:defwindow('pain')> relief, while other

> phenothiazines

> <javascript:defwindow('phenothiazines')> reduce

> <javascript:defwindow('reduce')> the amount of

> narcotic

> <javascript:defwindow('narcotic')> required to

> produce a given level of

> analgesia. Prolonged administration of DILAUDID may

> produce

> constipation. Opiate agonist- induced increase in

> intra-luminal pressure

> <javascript:defwindow('pressure')> may endanger

> surgical

> <javascript:defwindow('surgical')> anastomosis.

>

> */Cardiovascular System:/* Circulatory depression

> <javascript:defwindow('depression')>, peripheral

> circulatory collapse

> <javascript:defwindow('collapse')> and cardiac

> <javascript:defwindow('cardiac')> arrest

> <javascript:defwindow('arrest')> have occurred after

> rapid intravenous

> injection. Orthostatic hypotension

> <javascript:defwindow('hypotension')>

> and fainting may occur if a patient stands up

> suddenly after receiving

> an injection <javascript:defwindow('injection')> of

> DILAUDID.

>

> */Genitourinary System:/* Ureteral spasm

> <javascript:defwindow('spasm')>, spasm

> <javascript:defwindow('spasm')>

> of vesical sphincters and urinary

> <javascript:defwindow('urinary')>

> retention <javascript:defwindow('retention')> have

> been reported.

>

> ***

>

> I hope this helps.

>

> jacqui

>

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

When was in the hospital he was started on dilaudid. At the time he

had septicemia and was in a lot of pain so it made sense. They also gave

him Tylenol every four hours. Two months later, when he was finally sent

home he still was prescribed dilaudid twice daily plus the Tylenol. They put

the pills in a bubble pack so I would automatically give him the correct

pills every four hours. I asked the doctor why the dilaudid because he was

no longer in any pain, but they insisted the dilaudid was why the pain was

gone. was totally doped, unresponsive, unaware of his surroundings

and appeared to be near death. I was assured he would not live any time.

After a week I stopped giving him dilaudid. I was sure he was not in pain

and if he was going to die anyway, what was the harm? In about two days he

started to wake up. Finally I also stopped the Tylenol. He did fine without

either. He lasted almost four months, and was able to see his children

and grandkids, talk with his dog, kiss me and even tell a few jokes. With

dilaudid he could not do any of that. I recommend questioning, questioning,

questioning, any drug given to a LO with LBD.

Dixie McIlwraith

West Vancouver, BC V7W 2P5