TheraRadar
Data updated: May 26, 2026

HYDROMORPHONE HYDROCHLORIDE

Pain Approved 1995-08-23

Hydromorphone hydrochloride is an opioid agonist indicated for the management of pain severe enough to require an opioid analgesic and for which alternative treatments are inadequate. Due to the risks of addiction, abuse, and misuse, it is reserved for patients where non-opioid analgesics or opioid combination products have not provided adequate analgesia, or are not expected to be tolerated.

Source: FDA Label • LANNETT

How HYDROMORPHONE HYDROCHLORIDE Works

Hydromorphone is a full opioid agonist with relative selectivity for the mu-opioid receptor, though it may bind to other opioid receptors at higher doses. Its primary therapeutic effect is analgesia, mediated by binding to specific opioid receptors throughout the brain and spinal cord. As a full agonist, hydromorphone has no ceiling effect for analgesia; clinical dosage is titrated to effect and is primarily limited by adverse reactions such as respiratory and CNS depression.

22
Indications
--
Phase 3 Trials
30
Years on Market

Details

Status
Prescription
First Approved
1995-08-23
Routes
ORAL, INJECTION, INTRAMUSCULAR, INTRAVENOUS, SUBCUTANEOUS
Dosage Forms
TABLET, INJECTABLE, TABLET, EXTENDED RELEASE, SOLUTION

HYDROMORPHONE HYDROCHLORIDE Approval History

1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
Original
New Indication
New Form
Label Update
426 FDA actions from 1995 to 2025
Dec 2025 SUPPL
Label · Labeling
Oct 2025 SUPPL
Label · Labeling
Oct 2025 SUPPL
Label · Labeling

What HYDROMORPHONE HYDROCHLORIDE Treats

1 indications

HYDROMORPHONE HYDROCHLORIDE is approved for 1 conditions since its original approval in 1995. These indications span multiple therapeutic areas including oncology, immunology, and more.

  • Pain
Source: FDA Label

HYDROMORPHONE HYDROCHLORIDE Boxed Warning

RISK OF MEDICATION ERRORS; ADDICTION, ABUSE, AND MISUSE; RISK EVALUATION AND MITIGATION STRATEGY (REMS); LIFE THREATENING RESPIRATORY DEPRESSION; ACCIDENTAL INGESTION; NEONATAL OPIOID WITHDRAWAL SYNDROME; RISKS FROM CONCOMITANT USE WITH BENZODIAZEPINES OR OTHER CNS DEPRESSANTS Addiction, Abuse, and Misuse Hydromorphone Hydrochloride Tablets expose patients and other users to the risks of opioid addiction, abuse, and misuse, which can lead to overdose and death. Assess each patient’s risk prior t...

HYDROMORPHONE HYDROCHLORIDE Competitive Set

Pro

Three rings of competition based on shared molecular targets and treated indications.

Unlock 22 more competitors across all three rings.
Upgrade to Pro

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 HYDROMORPHONE HYDROCHLORIDE

3 of 20

FDA-approved drugs for similar conditions. Compare mechanisms and indications to understand treatment alternatives.

ACUVAIL
KETOROLAC TROMETHAMINE
1 shared
AbbVie
Shared indications:
BELBUCA
BUPRENORPHINE HYDROCHLORIDE
1 shared
BDSI
Shared indications:
BUPRENORPHINE
BUPRENORPHINE
1 shared
DIFGEN PHARMS
Shared indications:
📋

Clinical Trial Registry

5 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
🔬

Active Pipeline

Pro

Ongoing clinical trials by development phase

Loading...

Key Completed Trials

Pro

Completed studies with published results, ranked by significance

Loading...
📊

Trial Timeline

Full development history with FDA approval milestones

|
Loading...
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.

HYDROMORPHONE HYDROCHLORIDE FDA Label Details

Indications & Usage

FDA Label (PDF)

HYDROMORPHONE HYDROCHLORIDE is indicated for the treatment of Pain.

⚠️ BOXED WARNING

WARNING: RISK OF MEDICATION ERRORS; ADDICTION, ABUSE, AND MISUSE; RISK EVALUATION AND MITIGATION STRATEGY (REMS); LIFE THREATENING RESPIRATORY DEPRESSION; ACCIDENTAL INGESTION; NEONATAL OPIOID WITHDRAWAL SYNDROME; RISKS FROM CONCOMITANT USE WITH BENZODIAZEPINES OR OTHER CNS DEPRESSANTS Addiction, Ab...

Looking for the branded version?

DILAUDID

Full clinical data, patents, trials, and competitive landscape for hydromorphone hydrochloride.

See DILAUDID

Data Sources

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