Dilaudid is the brand name for hydromorphone. It is part of a group of drugs known as narcotic pain relievers, also known as opioids and is similar to morphine. Used to treat moderate to severe pain, Dilaudid has two to eight times the painkilling effects of morphine.
Known by the street names Dust, Juice, Smack, D and Footballs, Dilaudid is marketed as injectable ampoules, multiple dose vials, tablets and suppositories. Authorities report that the diversion and abuse of Dilaudid and its generic hydromorphone is increasing.
Abuses of Dilaudid
Dilaudid is considered to have a moderately high dependency level as addiction or dependence can occur when the drug is used for longer than a few weeks or at high doses. Tolerance can develop in patients who need to take more of the drug to feel the same effect. The addiction, if developed, can be both physical and psychological.
The abuse of Dilaudid stems from the fact it delivers a high euphoric intravenous rush that is very similar to the rush one experiences with heroin. As Dilaudid and hydromorphone are some of the most prescribed opioids to treat the relief of pain for the terminally ill due to its high potency, it also presents an attractive rush for those seeking a fix.
Effects of Dilaudid
Dilaudid can create effects that are very similar to morphine, although the euphoria has been reported as closer to codeine. Although it is rare, some patients can experience nausea and vomiting. Sedation with the use of Dilaudid is practically non-existent.
When Dilaudid is delivered intravenously, it’s analgesic action is apparent within 15 minutes and can remain in effect for more than five hours. When the drug is taken orally, the onset of action is somewhat slower as measurable analgesia occurs within 30 minutes.
No matter what a person’s reasons for taking Dilaudid, certain effects can emerge with negative consequences, including anorexia, anxiety, constipation, dizziness, drowsiness, fear, impairment of mental and physical performance, inability to urinate, mental clouding, mood changes, nausea, restlessness, sedation, somnolence, sluggishness, troubled and slowed breathing, and vomiting.
Withdrawal of Dilaudid
Dilaudid is known to cause patients with dependencies agonizing withdrawal symptoms, which leads many to continue taking the drug, even if they no longer desire the high or euphoria they once achieved. The withdrawal process can be both hard and painful and can even cause serious damage to internal organs, especially if cessation is unsupervised.
Withdrawal symptoms associated with cessation of Dilaudid can include, but are not limited to:
Treatment of Dilaudid
Due to the trauma a patient can experience when Dilaudid is withdrawn, it is recommended that users taper off the medication slowly under the care of a board-certified physician and board-certified addiction psychiatrist. Entering a detox center for 24/7 treatment will ensure the individual rids their body of the drug completely and can learn to function without the drug.
A quality treatment center will do a full physical on a patient to determine the right medications for a method called comfortable detox. This method is used to correct the chemical imbalances in the individual suffering with a Dilaudid addiction and should be combined with psychological evaluations and other medical care to address cravings for the drug. With this method, the center can treat the whole person and not just the addiction.