(Montreal) Health Canada has issued an advisory regarding a lot of two milligram tablets of pms-Hydromorphone (lot 639,268) because the bottles may contain tablets of a higher strength, i.e. eight milligrams of hydromorphone.
Posted at 4:58 p.m.
This drug from the Pharmascience company is sold in pharmacies in bottles of 100 tablets for distribution to consumers. The products in question were sold between May and August 2022.
Hydromorphone is an opioid used to treat pain and opioid use disorder.
The two-milligram pill is orange, round with the number “2” stamped on one side and “pms” on the other. The eight-milligram tablet is white with the number “eight” written on one side.
Those who have such a drug at home should check the contents of the bottle to make sure they have the correct dose.
Health Canada warns in a statement that accidentally taking too much hydromorphone or suddenly increasing the dose could lead to an overdose, which can be life-threatening, even in people who have a some opioid tolerance.
Symptoms of hydromorphone overdose include dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, slow heartbeat, slow and difficult breathing, cold clammy skin, seizures, coma, and death.
If you accidentally take the eight milligram tablet of hydromorphone instead of the two milligram tablet, contact a healthcare practitioner or regional Poison Control Center immediately, even if there are no symptoms. If naloxone is available, prepare to administer it, advises Health Canada.