Side Effects

A pain diary can help your doctor help you.

At your next doctor's appointment, share information you record in this pain diary about possible causes, pain intensity, medications, and more.

Common side effects.

All medicines have side effects. Some may require medical attention. Others may not. It is important to tell your doctor if you have any of the following problems:

Constipation
Nausea
Vomiting
Drowsiness/sleepiness
Dizziness
Headache
Fatigue

Constipation (not enough or hard bowel movements) is a common side effect of pain medicines (opioids) including EXALGO and is unlikely to go away without treatment. Talk to your healthcare provider about dietary changes and the use of laxatives (medicines to treat constipation) and stool softeners to prevent or treat constipation while taking EXALGO.

Talk to your doctor about a side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. These are not all the possible side effects of EXALGO. For a complete list, ask your doctor or see the section on Adverse Reactions in the Prescribing Information.

For further information or to report suspected adverse reactions, contact Covidien Product Monitoring at 1-800-778-7898. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may also report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA.
Visit http://www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Scroll down for Important Risk Information including boxed warning

INDICATION

EXALGO^® is a strong opioid pain medicine. EXALGO is used in people who are opioid tolerant. EXALGO is used to manage moderate to severe pain that is continuous and is expected to last for a long time.

IMPORTANT RISK INFORMATION

IMPORTANT WARNINGS

Potential for Abuse

EXALGO is a federally controlled substance (CII). It contains hydromorphone, a strong opioid drug. Prevent theft, misuse, or abuse. Keep EXALGO in a safe place to protect it from theft. EXALGO can be a target for people who misuse or abuse prescription medicines or street drugs. Never give EXALGO to others, even if they have the same symptoms you have. It may harm them or cause death. Selling or giving away this medicine is against the law.

Proper Patient Selection

EXALGO is used in people who are opioid tolerant to help them manage moderate to severe pain that is continuous and is expected to last for a long time. Opioid tolerant means you are already regularly taking opioid pain medicine around-the-clock. Opioid tolerant also means that your body is used to taking these medicines.

Do not use EXALGO if you are NOT opioid tolerant. Use of EXALGO by people who are not opioid tolerant can cause life-threatening breathing problems that can cause death.

IMPORTANT: Keep EXALGO in a safe place away from children. Accidental use by a child is a medical emergency and can cause death. If a child accidentally takes EXALGO, get emergency help right away, even if the child is not having any side effects.

Limitations of Use

EXALGO is not for use to treat pain that you only have once in a while ("as needed").

EXALGO is not for use for short-term pain relief from injuries or surgery.

Swallow the EXALGO tablet whole. Do not break, chew, crush, or dissolve EXALGO before swallowing. Do not inject the contents. You could receive the full daily dose of medicine too fast. This is very dangerous. It may cause you to have trouble breathing and lead to death. Tell your doctor if you cannot swallow EXALGO whole. You will need a different pain medicine.

You should also not take EXALGO if you:
- - need management of mild pain or pain that is not expected to continue for a long time
- - are having an asthma attack or have severe asthma, trouble breathing, or certain other lung problems
- - have or are suspected to have a bowel blockage called paralytic ileus
- - have narrowing of the stomach or intestines
- - have had surgery to your stomach or intestines
- - are allergic to any of the ingredients in EXALGO or to medicines that contain sulfite. See the Medication Guide for EXALGO for a complete list of its ingredients.
Do not drive or operate heavy machinery or other dangerous activities until you know how EXALGO affects you. EXALGO can make you sleepy and cause you to feel dizzy or lightheaded. This may affect your ability to think and react.
Do not drink alcohol or use prescription or non-prescription medicines that contain alcohol while taking EXALGO. Using alcohol while taking EXALGO may cause overdose and death.
Do not take EXALGO if you already take a monoamine oxidase inhibitor medicine (MAOI). Do not take EXALGO within 14 days after you stop taking an MAOI medicine.
Tell your healthcare provider about all your medicines. This includes prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Some medicines may cause serious or life-threatening medical problems when taken with EXALGO.
Breathing problems, which occur more often in older people or weakened patients, is the chief hazard with EXALGO. Call your doctor or get emergency medical help if you have any symptoms listed below. It can mean that you have taken too much (overdose) EXALGO. You have trouble breathing. You have extreme drowsiness with slowed breathing. You have shallow breathing (little chest movement with breathing). You feel faint, dizzy, or confused. You have other unusual symptoms.
Common side effects of EXALGO include constipation, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness or sleepiness, headache and dizziness. Serious events can include drop in blood pressure, symptoms of stomach or intestinal blockage, allergic reactions, and physical dependence symptoms from stopping EXALGO all at once.

Please see Medication Guide for Important Risk Information and Full Prescribing Information.

IMPORTANT RISK INFORMATION

IMPORTANT WARNINGS

Potential for Abuse

EXALGO^® is a federally controlled substance (CII). It contains hydromorphone, a strong opioid drug. Prevent theft, misuse, or abuse.
Keep EXALGO in a safe place to protect it from theft. Click here for more Important Risk Information, including boxed warning