Postoperative analgesic medications

Hydromorphone

Note: always check the prescribing information and your local formulary.

Administration Oral, SC, IV
Starting dose Oral: 0.5 mg
IV/SC: 0.2 mg
Frequency Oral:
- Every 4–6 hours for short-acting immediate-release products
- Every 12 hours for controlled-release products
IV/SC: Every 4–6 hours
Monitoring
Comments Elimination is less dependent on renal function.
Provide breakthrough reserve by using short-acting immediate-release hydromorphone (1/6 to 1/10 of daily dose)

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