Hydromorphone, also known by its brand name – Dilaudid – is a very powerful opioid that has provided immense relief to many in need of pain relief since it was first patented in 1923. It’s on the World Health Organization’s List of Essential Medicines and is within the first 300 of the most commonly prescribed medications in the United States. In 2016, over 1 million prescriptions were written for it.
However, this drug is also very addictive. It’s listed in Schedule II of the United States Controlled Substances Act of 1970 and it has been a major player in the opioid epidemic. This drug is often abused and doctors are advised to prescribe it only as needed and with great care and supervision.
Hydromorphone is a very helpful drug, and it has helped many people suffering from pain, but it’s also a dangerous one. It should not be used recreationally. Read on to learn more about it.
What is Hydromorphone?
Hydromorphone, also known as dihydromorphinone, is a drug that is used to treat moderate to severe pain. It’s most often used in hospital settings and is only recommended for long-term use for cancer-related pain.
This drug works by activating opioid receptors in the brain and spinal cord. It’s administered by mouth or injection. It begins working within a half hour of administration in either case, and it lasts for up to five hours.
Uses of Hydromorphone
Hydromorphone is used to treat moderate to severe pain. Frequently, it is given to hospitalized patients to treat pain after surgery, and it is also used to relieve pain for cancer patients.
This drug is also sometimes used in lethal injections. In 2009, the state of Ohio began using it for this purpose along with a high dose of midazolam as a backup.
Side Effects of Hydromorphone
The side effects of Dilaudid are similar to the side effects that one would experience with any other strong opioid like morphine or heroin. It’s crucial that this drug is only used under the supervision or direction of a doctor because its use can quickly lead to severe respiratory depression, bronchospasm, and even circulatory depression. All of these issues are quite dangerous and can lead to death.
People under the influence of Dilaudid report common side effects such as lightheadedness, dizziness, blurred vision, urinary retention, sedation, nausea, vomiting, and even hallucinations. Hydromorphone can also cause perspiration, headaches, itching, and constipation, as well.
Hydromorphone Warnings and Precautions
Again, hydromorphone should only be taken under a doctor’s direction and supervision. As mentioned above, the side effects of these drugs can be intense and some can even be life-threatening. Further, suppose this drug is combined with other drugs like tranquilizers, sedatives, benzodiazepines, muscle relaxants, and other opioids. In that case, the likelihood and severity of the most dangerous hydromorphone side effects described above can be much higher.
When an individual overdoses on hydromorphone, significant respiratory depression from the drug alone or from a combination of hydromorphone and other drugs can quickly progress to coma or death.
Symptoms of Dilaudid overdose include shallow breathing, drowsiness, drooping of skeletal muscles, low heart rate, and decreased blood pressure. Overdoses can be treated with oxygen ventilation or by administering opioid antagonists like naloxone.
Hydromorphone Addiction and Abuse
Unfortunately, the factors and actions that make hydromorphone so helpful for people suffering from severe pain are the same things that cause people to use this drug recreationally, to abuse it, and to become addicted to it. Feelings of euphoria, relaxation, sedation, and reduced anxiety are attractive to most. As with other, similar opioids, it’s easy to become physically and mentally dependent on a drug like hydromorphone in just a few short days. Soon, anyone using this drug will experience intense withdrawal symptoms when trying to quit using it.
Hydromorphone addiction can be a tough battle to beat. The fact that Dilaudid withdrawal comes with symptoms like abdominal pain, anxiety, nausea, sweating, vomiting, muscle and joint pain, and depression makes it very hard for users to stop using it independently.
Hydromorphone warnings are not overstated. If you have been prescribed this drug to treat pain, it’s extremely important that you only use it as directed, and that you stop using it when your doctor says to do so.
Treatment for Hydromorphone (Dilaudid) Addiction
Fortunately, there is treatment for addiction to hydromorphone and there is hope for recovery. As with all substances, people can and do break free from dependency and addiction to them every day. Most people will need professional help when trying to stop using Dilaudid if they have developed a dependency on it, and most drug treatment centers have a great deal of experience in treating people with a substance use disorder of this kind due to the vastness of the opioid epidemic.
If you are using Dilaudid outside of a medically supervised setting and without a doctor’s prescription, we can help you break free from your addiction at Transcend Clinic. We are dedicated to helping people break free from any type of addiction. Our innovative ibogaine therapy treatment helps our clients take the first steps toward a clean and sober and healthy lifestyle moving forward. Ibogaine gives people the opportunity to go deep within themselves to discover the root cause of their addictions and can help them avoid painful withdrawals while doing so. When clients visit our facility in Cancun, Mexico, they will work with our experienced staff to move forward in their lives in a positive way that is free from opioids and other drugs. Give us a call today. We can’t wait to hear from you!