Hydromorphone

alkaloid · nervous · Oral · IV · Intramuscular · Subcutaneous

Hydromorphone, an alkaloid. Hydrogenated ketone of morphine — μ-opioid agonist with ~5× morphine potency. Less histamine release → less itching… Oral half-life 2.5 h.

Hydrogenated ketone of morphine — μ-opioid agonist with ~5× morphine potency. Less histamine release → less itching and hypotension than morphine. Used for severe pain when morphine is poorly tolerated.

Pharmacokinetics

• IV — t½ 2.6 h · F 100% · Vd 85 L
• Oral — t½ 2.5 h · F 33% · Vd 85 L

Sources: PMID:1851921, PMID:6165742, PMID:33177323, PMID:22884788, PMID:12587803