Visit: https://nursing.com/140meds to request your free copy of "140 Must Know Meds" Generic Name hydromorphone Trade Name Dilaudid Indication moderate to severe pain Action alters the perception and reaction to pain by binding to opiate receptors in the CNS, also suppresses the cough reflex Therapeutic Class Opioid Analgesic, allergy, cold and cough remedies, antitussive Pharmacologic Class opioid agonist Nursing Considerations • Assess BP, respirations, and pulse before and during administration – medication causes general CNS depression • Narcan (nalaxone) is the antidote for overdose • use caution with concurrent use of MAOI – avoid use within 14 days of each other • may be used as an antitussive • advised to dilute with NS prior to administration and to administer slowly to decrease CNS depression