The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has authorised the supply of an alternative product to address a current shortage of DILAUDID hydromorphone hydrochloride 1mg/mL oral liquid.
Hydromorphone hydrochloride preparations are indicated for the short-term management of severe pain for which other treatment options have failed, are contraindicated, not tolerated or otherwise inappropriate to provide sufficient management of pain.
DILAUDID hydromorphone hydrochloride 1mg/mL oral liquid (AUST R 67360) is the only registered hydromorphone hydrochloride oral liquid product marketed in Australia. The sponsor has advised the TGA that it is in shortage until 9 December 2021. Updated information provided by the company is available on the Medicine Shortage Reports Database.
Details of overseas alternative medicine
The alternative product, HYDROmorphone Hydrochloride 1mg/mL oral solution, USP 473 mL (Rhodes) (Rhodes HYDROmorphone), is usually only supplied overseas but has been approved for import and supply during the shortage.
IMPORTANT: ALLERGY WARNING
Rhodes HYDROmorphone CONTAINS SULFITES
- Rhodes HYDROmorphone contains sodium metabisulfite, a sulfite that may cause allergic-type reactions including anaphylactic symptoms and life-threatening or less severe asthmatic episodes in certain susceptible people.
- Use of Rhodes HYDROmorphone is contraindicated in patients with hypersensitivity to sulfites.
- Sulfites are not declared on the medicine label.
