TheraRadar
Data updated: May 26, 2026

DILAUDID (hydromorphone hydrochloride)

Pain Approved 1984-01-11

Dilaudid is an injectable medication used to manage severe pain in patients who have not found relief with alternative options like non-opioid drugs or combination products. It helps patients whose pain is intense enough to require a potent opioid analgesic and for whom other treatments are either ineffective or poorly tolerated. Because of the risks associated with addiction and misuse, this medication is reserved for situations where severe pain persists and alternative therapies remain inadequate.

Source: FDA Label • Fresenius Kabi

How DILAUDID Works

Hydromorphone is a full opioid agonist with relative selectivity for mu-opioid receptors located throughout the brain and spinal cord. Binding to these receptors produces analgesia, though the precise mechanism remains unknown. As a full agonist, hydromorphone exhibits no ceiling effect for analgesia; however, clinical dosage titration is limited by dose-dependent adverse reactions, most notably respiratory and CNS depression.

3
Indications
--
Phase 3 Trials
1
Priority Reviews
42
Years on Market

Details

Status
Prescription
First Approved
1984-01-11
Patent Cliff
2034

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Patent cliff and revenue data

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Routes
INJECTION, ORAL
Dosage Forms
INJECTABLE, SOLUTION, TABLET

DILAUDID Approval History

1985
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2000
2001
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2026
Original
New Indication
New Form
Label Update
178 FDA actions from 1984 to 2025 · 1 indication expansions
Dec 2025 SUPPL
Label · Labeling
Oct 2024 SUPPL
Update · REMS
Dec 2023 SUPPL
Label · Labeling

What DILAUDID Treats

1 indications

DILAUDID is approved for 1 conditions since its original approval in 1984. These indications span multiple therapeutic areas including oncology, immunology, and more.

  • Pain
Source: FDA Label

DILAUDID Boxed Warning

SERIOUS AND LIFE-THREATENING RISKS FROM USE OF DILAUDID INJECTION WARNING: SERIOUS AND LIFE-THREATENING RISKS FROM USE OF DILAUDID INJECTION See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning. • DILAUDID INJECTION exposes users to risks of addiction, abuse, and misuse, which can lead to overdose and death. Assess patient's risk before prescribing and reassess regularly for these behaviors and conditions. ( 5.1 ) • Serious, life-threatening, or fatal respiratory depression may occur. Mon...

DILAUDID Competitive Set

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Filters applied: drops same-active-ingredient (505(b)(2) reformulations), route-mismatch (topical vs systemic), and cross-therapeutic-area matches in same-indication rings.

Drugs Similar to DILAUDID

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Clinical Trial Registry

7 trials
Trial Sponsor ID Phase Status Title
NCT03214510 2016-1111 NCI-2018-01124, 2016-1111 Ph 3 active not recruiting Thoracic Epidural Analgesia or Four-Quadrant Transversus Abdominus Plane Block in Reducing Pain in Patients Undergoing Liver Surgery
NCT01709721 results posted CNS-HYD201US Ph 3 completed Safety and Efficacy Study of Hydromorphone Hydrochloride by Intrathecal Administration
NCT01709747 results posted CNS-HYD202US Ph 3 completed Single-arm Study to Assess the Safety of Hydromorphone Hydrochloride by Intrathecal Administration
NCT02459964 results posted 2015-0086 NCI-2015-01509 Ph 4 completed Compare Fentanyl Nasal Spray With Intravenous Opioids to Treat Severe Pain
NCT04081376 HM IMIMFTCL/HM Ph 1 completed Generation of Biological Samples Positive to Hydromorphone for Anti-doping Control
NCT01986946 results posted Pro00041252 Ph 3 terminated Epidural Analgesia Versus IV Analgesia in Lumbar Spine Fusions
NCT02110719 Pain REAG00414HU Ph 4 completed Decreasing Narcotics in Advanced Pelvic Surgery
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Active Pipeline

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Key Completed Trials

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Completed studies with published results, ranked by significance

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Trial Timeline

Full development history with FDA approval milestones

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Understanding FDA Approval Types
Count Type What it means
- ORIG Original approval - drug first enters market
- SUPPL - Efficacy New indication (new disease/condition approved)
- SUPPL - Labeling Label text changes (warnings, dosing updates)
- SUPPL - Manufacturing Production changes (new facility)
- SUPPL - Chemistry Formulation changes (new dosage strength)

Green lines in the timeline show ORIG and Efficacy approvals - the clinically meaningful milestones.

DILAUDID FDA Label Details

Indications & Usage

FDA Label (PDF)

DILAUDID is indicated for the treatment of Pain.

⚠️ BOXED WARNING

WARNING: SERIOUS AND LIFE-THREATENING RISKS FROM USE OF DILAUDID INJECTION WARNING: SERIOUS AND LIFE-THREATENING RISKS FROM USE OF DILAUDID INJECTION See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning. • DILAUDID INJECTION exposes users to risks of addiction, abuse, and misuse, which can le...

View full patent landscape →
2 OB patents · 2 families · 46 international docs across 13 countries

DILAUDID Patents & Exclusivity

Latest Patent: Mar 2034

Patents (2 active)

US9248229 Expires Mar 12, 2034
US9731082 Expires Apr 23, 2032
Source: FDA Orange Book

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Revenue Insights

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Patent Timeline

  • Cliff: 2034
  • 70 active patents

Trial Analysis

  • Clinical trial tracking
  • Development stage analysis

Competitive Landscape

  • 20 similar drugs
  • Same target/indication analysis
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Data Sources

Data sourced from official FDA and NIH databases. Click links to verify on original sources.