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Kentucky Dilaudid Administration Lawyers
Holding pharmaceutical companies and physicians accountable when dangerous drugs cause harm
Dilaudid is a narcotic (opiate) medication that is used for pain management but is dangerous if not prescribed or used correctly. The drug has addictive qualities, a risk of respiratory depression, and a long list of side effects that can cause numerous medical disorders and death. At Crandall & Pera Law, we have the experience and resources to hold the manufacturers of dangerous drugs and the physicians who improperly prescribe and administer dangerous drugs like Dilaudid accountable for the injuries and fatalities the drugs cause. Our Kentucky Dialdudid administration lawyers file product liability claims and medical malpractice claims. We also file wrongful death claims on behalf of families and demand full compensation for your financial and personal damages. Call us today if Dilaudid caused you or a loved one harm.
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What is Dilaudid?
According to Drugs.com, Dilaudid is a brand name for hydromorphone, which may be used to relieve pain. “Hydromorphone is a derivative of morphine and binds to mu-opioid receptors in the brain and stomach with strong pain-relieving effects.” Dilaudid belongs to the class of medicines called narcotic analgesics (also called opioid analgesics). Drugs such as analgesics are used to relieve pain. Doctors generally prescribe opioids to block pain signals to the brain.
Dilaudid may be used (when non-narcotic pain medications fail to work) to relieve moderate-to-severe acute and chronic pain. Dilaudid is “approximately 5 times more potent than morphine on a weight-for-weight basis.”
What are the risk factors for using Dilaudid?
Generally, Dilaudid is not recommended for children, seniors, and people with certain medical disorders (such as diabetes, heart diseases, kidney or liver disorders, and seizures). The drug is also not recommended for people who take certain other medications.
“Dilaudid is classed as a schedule II controlled drug, because of its high potential for abuse and risk of respiratory depression.”
The possible side effects for patients between the ages of 18 and 60 (who aren’t taking other medications and have no other medical conditions) include the following:
- “Light-headedness, nausea, vomiting, constipation, dizziness, low blood pressure, flushing, itching, red eyes, and headache.”
- Fatigue and sedation.
- Respiratory depression (unusually slow or shallow breathing), which is more dangerous for the elderly and other patients with certain disorders - even at dosages usually recommended.
- Addiction – even at normal doses. Dilaudid has the potential for abuse. Babies born to mothers who are addicted to Dilaudid may be born physically dependent on Dilaudid.
- Increased dosages may be necessary to cause the same amount of pain relief as patients are able to tolerate the effect of Dilaudid.
Patients should avoid alcohol at all times. Dilaudid is generally only recommended for short-term use, and doctors should monitor patients for withdrawal symptoms. Patients may have allergic reactions.
Doctors and pharmacists need to know what other drugs their patients are taking because Dilaudid can be dangerous when it interacts with other medications. Some of the drugs that may interact with Dilaudid include antidepressants, anticonvulsants, antipsychotics, any medication that may cause tiredness, and other opioids.
Other medical problems involved with Dilaudid, according to the Mayo Clinic, include:
- Breathing or lung problems
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Depression
- Gallbladder disease
- Obesity
- Narrowing of the stomach or bowels
- Hypotension (low blood pressure) or
- Pancreatitis (swelling of the pancreas) or
- Seizures
Who is responsible when Dilaudid causes harm in Kentucky?
Healthcare providers
At Crandall & Pera Law, we work with physicians, drug safety experts, and others to verify that you (or someone you loved) received a dangerous drug such as Dilaudid and that the healthcare providers who prescribed or administered the drug committed medical malpractice. Medical malpractice may include:
- Failing to take a full patient history, including understanding all the drugs a patient is taking
- Failing to conduct a physical exam to determine what other medical disorders a patient may have
- Failing to understand the side effects of using Dilaudid
- Failing to properly inform the patient of the dangers of using Dilaudid
- Prescribing the wrong dosage of Dilaudid
- Prescribing the correct dosage of Dilaudid for the wrong amount of time
- Failing to monitor the patient while they were using Dilaudid
According to the National Institutes of Health:
Healthcare providers are strongly encouraged to complete a REMS (Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy) compliant education program and to counsel patients and caregivers on serious risks, safe use, and the importance of reading the Medication Guide with each prescription.
There have been many successful lawsuits brought against physicians for the improper administration of Dilaudid.
Drug manufacturers
Our Kentucky Dilaudid lawyers also file strict liability claims against manufacturers of drugs that are defective if the drugs cause injuries or fatalities. Drugs may be defective due to improper design, manufacture, warnings, or instructions.
What damages can victims receive when Dilaudid causes harm in Kentucky?
At Crandall & Pera Law, we work with your doctors to understand the full scope of harm that Dilaudid causes. We demand compensation for all of your:
- Medical bills, including ER care, surgeries, hospitalizations, psychological counseling, rehabilitative care, assistive help, and medications
- Loss of income, including wages, benefits, business income, and permanent disability
- Physical pain and emotional suffering
- Addiction
- Inability to enjoy life’s pleasures
- Any other financial or personal damages
We file punitive damage claims for unconscionable conduct.
If a family member dies due to the improper administration of Dilaudid, we file wrongful death claims on behalf of the family members. Wrongful death damages include the funeral and burial expenses, the loss of financial support, and the loss of personal support (comfort, guidance, and love).
Do you have a Kentucky Dilaudid administration lawyer near me?
Yes. At Crandall & Pera, we meet clients at our Lexington, Kentucky office located at 201 E Main St., Suite 530. We discuss cases by phone and through online video consultations such as Zoom or FaceTime.
Our lawyers understand the unique challenges involved with medical malpractice and product liability claims.
Talk with our accomplished Kentucky lawyers today
We understand how frightened you are. Dilaudid can cause severe injuries, addiction, and death. At Crandall & Pera Law, we can calmly and clearly guide you through each step of the claims process. We have a strong record of recoveries (jury verdicts and settlements) in medical malpractice cases. Please call us or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation. Our Kentucky Dilaudid administration lawyers handle medical malpractice cases on a contingency fee basis.