Dilaudid/Dilantin

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I feel there is some confusion here. Dilaudid is an opiate pain killer. Dilantin

is an anti-seizure medication used in controlling tremors.

WARNING: DILAUDID ORAL LIQUID AND DILAUDID 8 MG TABLETS CONTAIN HYDROMORPHONE,

WHICH IS A POTENT SCHEDULE II CONTROLLED OPIOID AGONIST. SCHEDULE II OPIOID

AGONISTS, INCLUDING MORPHINE, OXYMORPHONE, OXYCODONE, FENTANYL, AND METHADONE,

HAVE THE HIGHEST POTENTIAL FOR ABUSE AND RISK OF PRODUCING RESPIRATORY

DEPRESSION. ALCOHOL, OTHER OPIOIDS AND CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DEPRESSANTS

(SEDATIVE-HYPNOTICS) POTENTIATE THE RESPIRATORY DEPRESSANT EFFECTS OF

HYDROMORPHONE, INCREASING THE RISK OF RESPIRATORY DEPRESSION THAT MIGHT RESULT

IN DEATH.

Because of the effect on the lungs, anyone with CMT and breathing problems

should be aware of this medication as well as Dilantin as they may exacerbate

lung function.

More about it at http://www.rxlist.com/dilaudid-drug.htm

Dilantin (Phenytoin) is primarily a anti-seizure medication but has been used to

help painful nerve conditions like Neurontin (Gabapentin) See

http://www.rxlist.com/dilantin-drug.htm dose is not known. The lethal dose in

adults is estimated to be 2 to 5 grams. The initial symptoms are nystagmus,

ataxia, and dysarthria. Other signs are tremor, hyperreflexia, lethargy, slurred

speech, nausea, vomiting. The patient may become comatose and hypotensive. Death

is due to respiratory and circulatory depression.

My own experience with a Phenytoin deritative medication was Mysoline

(Primidone) which an internist believed would help control my tremors. It is

also an anti-convulsent medication. It is also of use in controlling essential

tremor. Unfortunately, when I received the bottle of Primidone I didn't research

it until I started feeling WAY WORSE - back to ataxia, falling, staggering

around, and spacisty.

Then I discovered it has Phenytoin in it, and this was creating an overnight

return to my horrible CMT symptoms experienced as a young teen. When I

discovered Phenytoin on the Medication Alert List, I stopped it immediatly, went

to a new neurologist, who confirmed my discovery and found me something very

safe, non-seizure med, for tremors and I was back to normal within a couple of

days.

In re-reading the Medication Alert List, I don't find Dilaudid there, nor on the

expanded list, but it is still extremely important to recognize the effect on

breathing. http://www.charcot-marie-tooth.org/med_alert.php at this site there

is a primary list of medications for people with CMT to avoid, if you click on

the 'expanded list' there are more.

Please understand I am not judging what medication anyone takes or why, nor am I

questioning what your doctor has prescribed. We are all different, some of us

have pain, others don't. But please be aware of side

effects/contraindications/and chemical makeup of medications because one or more

may cause CMT to worsen. Please be very careful and question what you are

prescribed and why, you can also ask your pharmacist to break down the chemistry

of a medication to see if there are any derivatives from the Medication Alert

List in your prescription.

Gretchen