Opiate Addiction and Dilaudid

Hydromorphone is a Powerful Painkiller Attributed to Addiction

May 4, 2009 Jennifer Marsh

Dilaudid is quickly becoming a pill that leads to drug abuse and opiate addiction.

Dilaudid is a strong hydromorphone painkiller used to treat people with moderate to severe pain. The potency of Dilaudid is so incredibly strong that it can cause mortality in someone who has a low tolerance for hydromorphone including those who have never or rarely used the drug. The use of Dilaudid is becoming a concern among the medical community for its popularity among drug addicts. Dilaudid addiction is slowly becoming one of the more popular opiate addictions, and its combination with other depressants is increasing the death rate of drug use.

What are the Side Effects of Dilaudid Addiction?

It is reported that Dilaudid is eight times more potent than morphine. Its potential for addiction is high, and many Dilaudid addicts will say they were addicted after their first dose. Although Dilaudid addiction is dangerous, the drug is often given to patients who have already accumulated an increased tolerance to hydromorphone or other opiates.

Dilaudid is a Schedule II narcotic, and it can cause severe side effects with increased mortality rates. The side effects of Dilaudid addiction is respiratory depression, circulatory depression, shock, and cardiac arrest. Additional side effects that are most often reported in emergency room situations are difficulty in breathing, irregular heartbeat, dizziness, and vomiting. Additionally, Dilaudid addiction suppresses the cough reflex, so patients who overdose can suffocate while unconscious.

What are the Withdrawal Symptoms of Dilaudid Addiction?

Dilaudid addiction has similar withdrawal symptoms as other opiates. Dilaudid falls within the same type of withdrawal symptoms as Oxycodone or Vicodin. The symptoms range from moderate to severe depending on the length of time and amount of drug the drug addict has continually taken. Severe withdrawal symptoms include insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting, irritability and pain in muscles. Some Dilaudid addiction patients have a much less severe set of withdrawal symptoms if usage remained minimal and there was no intravenous application.

Dilaudid Addiction and Alcohol

Dilaudid is a respiratory depressant which means it increases the effects of other respiratory depressants including alcohol. Dilaudid addiction by itself can create labored breathing, but mixed with alcohol it can cause respiratory arrest leading to heart failure and death. Dilaudid should never be taken with other opiates or alcohol.

If you suspect a loved one has a Dilaudid addiction, they may benefit from rehab or tapering off of the opiate. Dilaudid addiction is especially dangerous when the drug user ingests other depressants with Dilaudid. Take care of Dilaudid addiction by tapering off of the drug or limiting the amount of other depressants when under the effects.

References

WebMD

The copyright of the article Opiate Addiction and Dilaudid in Abuse is owned by Jennifer Marsh. Permission to republish Opiate Addiction and Dilaudid in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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May 6, 2009 2:50 PM

Guest :

Insane. Ive seen intervention before when some gurl waz addicted to dilaudid. She crushed up the pillz and injected herself after she cooked it up. I remember saying to myself "what the hell is dilaudid?".

Brandon, 23,Chicago

May 11, 2009 10:09 AM

Guest :

I agree with the above comment, I only wish they would have 1/4 the shows & advertising on theses drugs being fun & high !!! & addictive & bad etc. Never once about the people who "really" need it. How it can help those in everyday pain!!! How those people R treated like addicts. It has become very difficult 4 the real suffering patient 2 get their meds because the Drs. are all being harassed by the DEA !!! It's driving people in real need of what the drug was initiallly designed for, 2 either live in pain & misery, go Dr. Shopping, & even the streets 2 seek relief!! Why isn't this side of the story ever looked at & dwelled on as much as how bad & wrong this drug is! Doctors are tired of the DEA harassement, & have stopped caring about the patient !!! Things have becom very sad in this soviety ! Let's start seeing shows like this !!!!

May 11, 2009 10:29 AM

Guest :

I agree with the above comment, I only wish they would have 1/4 the shows & advertising on theses drugs being fun & high !!! & addictive & bad etc. Never once about the people who "really" need it. How it can help those in everyday pain!!! How those people R treated like addicts. It has become very difficult 4 the real suffering patient 2 get their meds because the Drs. are all being harassed by the DEA !!! It's driving people in real need of what the drug was initiallly designed for, 2 either live in pain & misery, go Dr. Shopping, & even the streets 2 seek relief!! Why isn't this side of the story ever looked at & dwelled on as much as how bad & wrong this drug is! Doctors are tired of the DEA harassement, & have stopped caring about the patient !!! Things have becom very sad in this soviety ! Let's start seeing shows like this !!!!

May 25, 2009 3:52 PM

Guest :

I was put on dilaudid for a month after surgery were I subsequently recieved nerve damage, so to "relieve" the pain I was on dilaud 2mg every 3 hours for weeks, 4 or 5. The doctor never said anything about having to wean off the dilaudid and I am now experiencing the most uneasy, painful, uncontrolable muscle spasms, insomnia, loud thoughts and irratibility. It has been going on for days. I dont know how long it's going to last and I feel betrayed by my doctor for letting me have to go through this. A night can be so long when you cant sleep and your body is doing things it wants to and you cant control it. The worst part is, the dilaudid never really did take all the nerve pain away, it just dulled it a little. This drug is scary.

Jun 11, 2009 10:46 AM

Guest :

I agree with the person that said this drug is scary. My son was given this drug in the hospital. Almost three months later the Dr. is still prescribing this drug to him,(same dose) and he is addicted and the Dr. still hasn't weaned him off the drug. He now abuses the drug and when he runs out he goes through horrific withdrawls until the Dr. writes him up another prescription. This drug is the worst! There are too many people addicted to drugs that were prescribed by there Dr.s!

Jul 16, 2009 8:40 PM

Guest :

I was just weaned off of Dilaudid by the best doctor/surgeon a human being could know. I was addicted for years. I had a liver transplant and when I woke up in ICU the pain medication couldn't relieve my pain because of the addiction. It was the most horrific experience of my life. I stayed addicted for another year until my transplant surgeon warned me that I was going to lose my liver due to this addiction. He made sacrifices and got me the heck off of Dilaudid. It IS a dangerous drug. God bless him. The last guest was right...with all that, it NEVER took all my pain away. I still suffered. Get rid of it! Now!

Oct 16, 2009 6:36 PM

Guest :

Yes - any drug is dangerous when abused. But for those who have benefited from Dilaudid when in pain, it is a godsend. Not everyone becomes addicted. I do feel empathy for those who are addicted, but the drugs helps so many people who genuinely need it. Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater!

Dec 1, 2009 1:07 AM

Guest :

I currently am taking dilaudid with 800 mg of morphine sulfate a day for chronic pain. I was aware through my own experience how addicting dilaudid is , I have somhowe only managed to take it once a day rather than 4 times as it was prescribed. I am one of the lucky ones who has a doctor who understands you must be weened off the meds and not just pulled off them. I went to him and suggested being weened before he reached the point of having to pull mee off them. I did have a surgeon who was giving me oxys and just pulled me off them , and it was hell. Thank god for a few understanding doctors left. By the way he dose count my pills twice a month to be sure I am not abusing them.
Dana

Feb 8, 2010 7:33 PM

Guest :

I was taken to the hospital almost crying in pain (turns out I was passing a 9mm kidney stone). The doctor in the ER gave me Dilaudid and it was God sent. They gave it to me through the IV and within a few seconds I went from the worst pain I ever felt to no pain whatsoever. I just got out of surgery and I'm getting it again right now, and it's working as well as ever, hopefully I wont have much withdrawal, but I would not trade it for anything when in pain.

9 Comments