hydromorphone vs morphine
Side-by-side comparison of hydromorphone and morphine Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Dilaudid
MS Contin, Kadian
Hydromorphone (Dilaudid) is a strong pain medicine. It is used to treat severe pain when other pain medicines do not work well enough.
Morphine is a strong pain medicine. It is used to treat severe pain that needs an opioid medicine when other treatments don't work well enough.
This medicine treats severe pain that requires an opioid pain medicine. It is for use when other treatments are not adequate. Do not use it for long periods unless your pain stays severe and other options are still not adequate. This medicine carries risks of addiction, abuse, and misuse.
Morphine is used to manage severe pain in adults and children who weigh at least 110 pounds. It is for pain that requires an opioid medicine. It is used when other pain treatments are not strong enough or cannot be tolerated.
Hydromorphone works by binding to receptors in the brain and spinal cord. This blocks pain signals from reaching the brain. This results in a decreased feeling of pain.
Morphine works by attaching to receptors in the brain and spinal cord. These receptors are involved in sending pain signals. By binding to these receptors, morphine blocks pain signals and reduces pain.
- • Lightheadedness
- • Dizziness
- • Sleepiness
- • Nausea
- • Vomiting
- • Constipation
- • Nausea
- • Feeling sleepy
- • Lightheadedness
- • Dizziness
- Addiction to the drug 35,077
- Taking too much of the drug 22,994
- Pain 22,132
- Emotional upset 17,685
- Death 14,869
- Pain 5,857
- Feeling sick to your stomach 5,534
- Medicine not working 5,006
- Throwing up 4,333
- Death 4,305
This medicine has a boxed warning. It can cause serious and life-threatening risks. Taking too much can cause overdose and death. It can cause addiction, abuse, and misuse. It can also cause very slow or stopped breathing. Accidental intake, especially by a child, can cause a fatal overdose. Taking with alcohol or other depressants can cause coma and death. If you are pregnant, long-term use can cause withdrawal symptoms in the newborn.
Morphine can cause addiction, abuse, and misuse, which can lead to overdose and death. It can also cause life-threatening breathing problems, especially when you start taking it or after a dose increase. Accidental ingestion, especially by children, can cause a fatal overdose. Taking morphine with benzodiazepines or other CNS depressants (including alcohol) can cause severe sedation, breathing problems, coma, and death. If you use morphine for a long time during pregnancy, your baby could have withdrawal symptoms after birth.
Using this medicine for a long time during pregnancy can cause withdrawal symptoms in the baby after birth. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. This medicine may not be recommended during labor.
Morphine may harm your unborn baby. Using morphine for a long time during pregnancy can cause withdrawal symptoms in the newborn. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
Also Compare — Nearby Drugs
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How to Read This hydromorphone vs morphine Comparison
hydromorphone is classified in the Opioid Analgesic drug class, while morphine sits within the Opioid Analgesic class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory — but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, hydromorphone has 112,757 submissions while morphine has 25,035. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between hydromorphone and morphine — always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.