Dilaudid is a powerful pain medication that can be prescribed to patients with long-term or chronic pain. It is stronger than oxycodone and can be used to treat severe pain.

People who become addicted to this medication may have trouble quitting and struggle with cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Professional treatment can help prevent relapse.

What is Dilaudid?

Dilaudid is a prescription medication that’s used to relieve pain. It’s an opioid, which means it works by attaching to the mu-opioid receptors in your brain and changing how you feel about pain.

Because of its high potential for abuse, this drug should only be prescribed to people who can tolerate it safely. If you take Dilaudid without a doctor’s approval, it can cause serious problems, including addiction and overdose.

It can also cause slowed or irregular breathing, even at low doses. If you have slow or shallow breathing, or bluish lips, fingers, or toes, call your doctor right away.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Ask your doctor about drug disposal programs for unused or expired medications.

How Does Dilaudid Work?

Dilaudid is an opioid pain medication that works by binding to certain parts of the brain and changing how you respond to pain. It lowers the amount of pain you feel and prevents the body from producing too much of a chemical called dopamine that causes euphoria or the feeling of being high.

It comes in tablet form and can be given by mouth or by injection into the vein. It is used to treat pain, especially pain caused by cancer or surgery.

Immediate-release hydromorphone is given on an as-needed basis for fast relief of sudden pain (breakthrough pain). Extended-release (ER) hydromorphone is taken once daily to provide long-lasting pain relief.

Like other opioids, hydromorphone can cause serious breathing problems. This can happen when you start the medicine or raise your dose, and can be deadly.

Other medicines can slow your breathing even more, such as alcohol, benzodiazepines, or sedatives. Ask your doctor about taking hydromorphone with these medicines.

How is Dilaudid Addiction Treated?

As with any other substance abuse disorder, dilaudid addiction is treated in a comprehensive manner that incorporates a variety of treatment approaches and therapy modalities. These therapies may include medical detox, counseling sessions, and medications to help ease cravings and withdrawal symptoms.

Addiction to opioids like Dilaudid is a serious issue in the United States. In fact, about 130 Americans die every day from an overdose of prescription opioids.

A person can become addicted to Dilaudid when they misuse it or don’t follow instructions for taking it. This happens when the body’s natural release of endorphins slows down and a person needs more Dilaudid to get the same effects.

People can also become addicted to Dilaudid if they start to develop a tolerance to it. This happens when a person continues to take it for a long period of time and the drug starts to affect their brain’s natural release of dopamine.

When a person begins to experience physical and emotional withdrawal symptoms, it’s time for them to seek professional help from an addiction treatment center. This is especially true if they are dealing with a co-occurring mental health disorder.

What are the Side Effects of Dilaudid?

Dilaudid is a strong painkiller, but it can also have dangerous side effects. It's a member of the opioid family, which includes other prescription and illicit painkillers such as morphine and heroin.

Because of these risks, the drug is a controlled substance and must be used under strict guidelines. If you use it improperly, you can develop a serious addiction to the medication.

Your doctor will start you on a low dose and gradually increase it over time. Taking too much can lead to overdose and death.

You should not use Dilaudid if you are allergic to it or to other opioid pain medicines. It may also cause a bowel obstruction called paralytic ileus.

In addition, this medication may make you sleepy or drowsy. Avoid driving or doing anything that requires mental alertness until you know how this medication affects you.

If you think you have a problem with this medicine, call your doctor right away. It could be a sign of an underlying addiction or other health issue.