Dangerous Drug Recalled: Palladone

Generic name: Hydromorphone
Manufactured and marketed by: Purdue Pharma

Purpose: It was prescribed for the management of persistent, moderate-to-severe pain in patients requiring continuous, around-the-clock pain relief with a high-potency opioid for an extended period of time.

Recall: On July 13, 2005, Purdue Pharma voluntarily took its Palladone capsules off the market. The company took the action following an FDA request to withdraw Palladone because of safety concerns.

If you have suffered a life-altering injury from taking Palladone, complete this form for free evaluation.

Side Effects Reported

• Adverse effects of hydromorphone are similar to those of other opioid analgesics, such as morphine. The major hazards of hydromorphone include dose-related respiratory depression and sometimes circulatory depression. More common side effects include light-headedness, dizziness, sedation, constipation, nausea, vomiting, and sweating.
• Massive overdoses are rarely observed in opioid-tolerant individuals, but, when they occur, they may lead to circulatory system collapse. A particular problem that may occur with hydromorphone is accidental administration in place of morphine due to a mix-up between the similar names, either at the time the prescription is written or when the drug is dispensed.
• This has led to several deaths and calls for hydromorphone to be distributed in distinctly different packaging from morphine to avoid confusion. The effects of overdose can be exaggerated by dose dumping if the medication is taken with alcohol or benzodiazepines.

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