Hydromorphone or dihydromorphinone, whose brand name is Dilaudid, is a drug used to relieve moderate to severe pain, frequently medicated to cancer patients or those in extreme pain following an injury (dilaudid Addiction).
Generally, it is a synthetic narcotic from the class of opioid drugs legally prescribed for medicinal purposes, that is, under controlled use. However, it is potent enough to cause dependency when abused or under prolonged use.
According to the British Journal of Anesthesia, hydromorphone is 5-10 times more powerful than morphine. Some of its other brand names are Palladone, Dilaudid-hp, and Exalgo.
In the streets, it can be known as any of the following:
- Big-D
- M-80s
- Peaches
- Dillies
- D’s
What does a Dilaudid tablet look like?
Dilaudid medicine pills are small and come in different colors for different dosages; an orange pill goes for 2 milligrams, the yellow one for 4 milligrams, and the white one for 8 milligrams.
Most hydromorphone tablets are scored and have an imprint of the manufacturer’s name. Their shape may also vary depending on the manufacturer; however, most tablets are round.
How does Dilaudid work?
As a pain medication, Dilaudid alleviates pain by altering pain receptors in the central nervous system (CNS).
It also alters the natural production of dopamine from the brain to produce larger amounts of the hormone to cause pleasure. The reward center of the brain then interprets the changes as something important and should be repeated.
The more the drug is used, the more the brain ceases to produce dopamine naturally, thus creating a dependency.
Depending on the method of administration, Dilaudid effects hit varyingly. When taken orally, it might take about 30 minutes for its effects to be held.
When snorted/sniffed, it might take effect in 5 minutes or so but through injections, its effects are almost immediate as the drug is administered directly into the bloodstream.
Normally, these effects would linger for about 3-6 hours, give or take.
Now that we know what the drug looks like, its administration, and its functions, let’s look into some of the common Dilaudid addiction facts.
How does one develop Dilaudid addiction?
It is quite easy for prescribed users of Dilaudid to develop a tolerance to the drug. Once the body becomes accustomed to certain dosages, the pills may no longer be as effective as they used to be at the beginning of medication.
This way, one would need a higher dosage to achieve similar relief. As this continues, physical dependence on Dilaudid becomes inevitable and once its effects wear off, they are likely to experience certain withdrawal symptoms.
A prescribed user would often finish their medication before schedule and begin doctor shopping to refill their prescriptions.
Some of the common Dilaudid addiction signs and symptoms include:
Physical signs include:
- Continued tolerance to achieve a high
- Drowsiness
- Constricted pupils
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms once the effects wear off. Such include restlessness, agitation, shaking, anxiety, muscle and bone pain, and body cramping among others.
- Depressed mood
Other behavioral signs include:
- Slurred speech
- Ignoring one’s obligations at home and work
- Apathy and sudden mood swings
- Going through desperate measures to acquire the drug such as doctor shopping, stealing from medicine cabinets, or forging prescriptions.
- Feelings of euphoria
- Impaired judgment
- A continued obsession with the drug
- Squandering of finances to replenish the doses.
Dilaudid addiction also impacts negatively on the user’s family and friends in the following ways:
- Shortage of finances
- Divorce
- Homelessness
- Imprisonment due to theft
- Abuse of other illicit drugs that can easily bring the desired effects
Statistics reveal that frequent abusers of Dilaudid are usually patients suffering from depression and disorders such as post-traumatic stress and personality disorders.
Dilaudid side effects
Increased doses of Dilaudid may be harmful to the body and lead to the following side effects:
- Shortness of breath (SOB)
- Convulsions
- Nausea and vomiting
- Respiratory failure
- Stroke
- Coma
- Heart attack
A hydromorphone overdose could be fatal. It is, therefore, advisable to strictly follow doctor’s prescriptions on how hydromorphone should be used to prevent the aforementioned side effects.
What does a Dilaudid overdose look like?
A drug overdose occurs when a user ingests more than their body can metabolize.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 564,000 people died from an opioid overdose between 1999 and 2020.
Additionally, about 82.3% of all narcotics overdose deaths are majorly from synthetic opioids, such as hydromorphone.
The method of drug administration can influence a potential overdose. Intravenous injections may increase the risk of an overdose by interfering with the victim’s respiratory system.
While the signs and symptoms of Dilaudid addiction may not vary greatly from those of an overdose, a person suffering from an overdose may exhibit the following signs:
- Loss of consciousness or coma
- Low blood pressure
- Weak pulse
- Constricted pupils
- Flaccid skeletal musculature
- Slow breathing
How to treat Dilaudid addiction
Before a treatment plan is set forth, an intense evaluation of the user should be done to uncover the root cause of the addiction. This may involve mental health screening, screening for other co-occurring addictions, and physical health assessment.
Like most hard drugs, quitting cold turkey is a dangerous path as one can experience severe withdrawal symptoms.
If you or your loved one wishes to quit Dilaudid abuse, it is recommendable to seek professional help from a rehabilitation center or relevant physician to help with the detox process and manage withdrawal symptoms.
Normally, the dosage is gradually reduced incrementally to alleviate painful symptoms. Under medical rehabilitation programs, Dilaudid may be substituted with a similar drug that can effectively replace opioids and curb adverse withdrawals.
