What Are the Side Effects of Hydromorphone vs. Morphine?

Many opioids are available today to help people who are suffering from severe pain that isn’t controlled well by other medications, as well as chronic pain that requires round-the-clock management. One of these prescriptions is hydromorphone, a semi-synthetic opioid that is provided to patients with acute, severe, or chronic pain. But how does hydromorphone vs. morphine compare—especially because one is derived from the other—and do each of these medications carry the same potential risks of side effects and serious medical problems like brain damage and drug overdose?

---

Table of contents

» What Is Hydromorphone?

» Do Hydromorphone and Morphine Have the Same Risk of Dependence and Addiction?

» Are Older Adults More Sensitive to the Side Effects of Hydromorphone or Morphine?

» What Should Patients Do if Side Effects From Hydromorphone or Morphine Become Severe?

» Key Takeaways on Hydromorphone vs. Morphine

» Resources

---

What Is Hydromorphone?

Hydromorphone is among the semi-synthetic opioids, meaning they aren’t naturally derived, that are used as a prescription treatment for the management of severe, ongoing pain. It’s made from morphine, a non-synthetic opioid that is also most commonly prescribed to treat pain and help patients cope with severe or ongoing problems. It’s been used in clinical practices for nearly a century. While oral morphine is considered to be the more standard course of treatment for pain in cancer patients, hydromorphone has, over time, become known as a possible alternate option, especially in those who don’t get enough pain relief or don’t tolerate morphine well.

When looking at the chemical structure, hydromorphone vs. morphine are very similar, with just a couple of minor differences. Both drugs work by interacting with opioid and delta receptors in the brain, changing how the person’s brain reacts to and feels the sensations of pain. However, these minor differences of chemical structure have a significant impact on how the liver and body metabolize the drugs, and hydromorphone is considerably more potent as an opioid.

Hydromorphone is available in many different oral formulations, including powders, solutions, immediate-release tablets, and extended-release tablets. Immediate-release formulations will typically start to take effect after just 30 minutes and last for several hours, while extended-release medications can have an impact for 12 or even 24 hours. It can also be administered through injections or epidurals.

---

Do Hydromorphone and Morphine Have the Same Risk of Dependence and Addiction?

If you’re thinking about the differences and similarities between hydromorphone vs. morphine, it’s important to keep in mind that the former is much more potent than the latter. Even though that crucial detail is accurate, there is no medical evidence that one is more likely than the other to lead to the main problems associated with opioids: Dependence and addiction. There are a few essential points to consider when thinking about the risks of these two drugs:

• Potency: Hydromorphone is at least twice as potent as morphine, with some estimates saying it’s eight times stronger. That doesn’t necessarily mean it has a higher risk of leading to dependence, misuse, and addiction, but the potency could be a potential risk factor.
• How It’s Taken: Injectable formulations of opioids can be more likely to increase the risk of misuse or abuse of a drug, and it’s possible that injections of the stronger hydromorphone could make someone more likely to struggle with potential problems down the road.
• Euphoric Feelings: People who experience feelings of euphoria when taking opioids like hydromorphone or morphine are in danger of developing an addiction to these drugs.

If someone is struggling with misuse, dependence, or addiction to opioids, they need to get help from the best prescription drug rehab in Florida to break the chains of addiction once and for all and achieve long-lasting recovery.

---

Are Older Adults More Sensitive to the Side Effects of Hydromorphone or Morphine?

Another thing to consider about hydromorphone vs. morphine is their possible side effects. Hydromorphone can cause many common issues, including:

• Constipation
• Nausea or vomiting
• Drowsiness
• Dizziness
• Dry mouth
• Sweating
• Itching
• Headaches
• Appetite and weight loss
• Anxiety, depression, euphoria, or other mood changes

These same potential side effects are also possible when taking morphine. Like other opioids, both of these drugs can also cause some serious side effects that can be life-threatening, such as:

• Slow or shallow breathing
• Stopping breathing
• Seizures
• Losing consciousness
• Severe drowsiness or confusion
• Hallucinations
• Slow, fast, or irregular heartbeat
• Low blood pressure
• Chest pain

The risk of severe side effects is significantly increased if an opioid interacts with another substance, especially another central nervous system depressant such as alcohol, benzodiazepines, or other opioids. When combined, two depressants can amplify potentially dangerous side effects of the original medication, including slow or stopped breathing, heart problems, seizures, and more. Multiple substances interacting together can also lead to other potential serious medical risks, such as serotonin syndrome, which can cause agitation, fever, sweating, muscle stiffness, coordination loss, and even death.

---

---

What our customers are saying

---

What Should Patients Do if Side Effects From Hydromorphone or Morphine Become Severe?

Opioids like hydromorphone and morphine can cause many different common side effects, which can often be managed with other medications or supplements, or at least be minimally disruptive while effectively treating pain. Examples include things like constipation, dry mouth, nausea or vomiting, headaches, sweating, itching, and appetite loss, as well as mood changes like anxiety or depression.

However, several severe and even dangerous side effects can occur while taking opioids. Anyone showing possible signs of a serious adverse reaction or allergic reaction to an opioid should get immediate emergency medical attention because their life could be in danger without treatment. Call 911, stay with them until help arrives, and consider administering a dose of naloxone (which can reverse an opioid overdose). Signs of serious and potentially life-threatening reactions to opioids include:

• Slow or shallow breathing
• Stopped breathing
• Unable to wake up, even if someone yells in their ear or shakes them to try to wake them up
• Discolored (blue or pale) skin, lips, or fingernails
• Unusual snoring or gurgling sounds from someone who is unresponsive
• Hives or rash
• Excessive itchiness
• Swelling of the tongue, throat, or face
• Struggling to breathe or swallow

On top of these immediate medical emergencies, people who take opioids for long periods of time or start to misuse prescription drugs, such as taking someone else’s prescription, using more than prescribed, or crushing up and snorting oral tablets, are at a high risk of developing a dependence on and addiction to the drug. Opioid addiction ruins lives and hurts far too many people these days. The good news is that compassionate, effective help is available at Florida prescription drug addiction treatment centers.

---

 

---

---

Key Takeaways on Hydromorphone vs. Morphine

• Hydromorphone is a semi-synthetic opioid derived from morphine.
• This medication is prescribed to help patients manage severe, acute, or chronic pain, especially in those with cancer or recovering from surgeries.
• Hydromorphone is chemically very similar to morphine, but is much more potent.
• Like all opioids, these drugs can cause minor to severe side effects that can even become life-threatening.
• Opioids have a high potential for misuse, dependency, and addiction.

If you’re still wondering about hydromorphone vs. morphine, the answers are clear: Both can effectively help people manage and deal with pain, but they also can be addictive and dangerous in some cases. Across Florida, WhiteSands Treatment’s prescription drug rehab centers offer compassionate, effective treatment options to help people who are struggling with addiction to opioids like hydromorphone or morphine. Call WhiteSands Alcohol and Drug Rehab at 877-855-3470 today to learn how to get started on your road to recovery.

---

Resources

• Anesthesia & Analgesia – The Side Effects of Morphine and Hydromorphone Patient-Controlled Analgesia
• National Library of Medicine – Morphine Versus Hydromorphone: Does Choice of Opioid Influence Outcomes?
• ScienceDirect – Hydromorphone
• Journal of Pain and Symptom Management – Hydromorphone

If you or a loved one needs help with abuse and/or treatment, please call the WhiteSands Treatment at (877) 855-3470. Our addiction specialists can assess your recovery needs and help you get the addiction treatment that provides the best chance for your long-term recovery.