Substance abuse and opioid addiction problems are reaching epidemic levels, and there seems to be no end in sight. One of the more powerful synthetic narcotics in the opioid drugs class is Dilaudid. Dilaudid is a schedule II controlled substance and the brand name for the drug hydromorphone, a drug prescribed for pain relief that is also highly addictive. It finds typical use among young adults who can access the substance through their parents or older siblings.
Keep reading to take a closer look at the drug Dilaudid, Dilaudid abuse symptoms, signs of Dilaudid addiction, withdrawal, and options available for treatment.
What is Dilaudid?
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Dilaudid is the brand name of the drug hydromorphone, which is a prescription opioid used for the relief of moderate to severe pain. It belongs to a class of drugscalled opiate analgesics. It works by changing the way the brain and nervous system respond to pain. It can be prescribed for pain related to cancer and serious injuries. It typically takes about 15 minutes to begin working, and its effects can last up to six hours. Dilaudid use as prescribed usually carries little risk of addiction. Unfortunately, it can be abused.
Dilaudid is available as immediate release and extended-release tablets. It can also be prescribed as a rectal suppository, an injection, or an oral liquid. The dose will vary according to your pain level, condition, and other factors. While not as commonly prescribed as in the past, the dangers of misusing Dilaudid remain real and something to be aware of when taking the medication.
Dilaudid acts directly on the central nervous system to produce soothing effects. It is commonly used to treat moderate to severe pain associated with surgery or injury even though it does not have any anti-inflammatory properties that other opioids like morphine or hydrocodone do.
Is Dilaudid Addictive?
Dilaudid is a highly addictive drug. This is largely due to the fact that users begin developing a tolerance and shortly thereafter a physical dependence on it in as little as two or three weeks. Once this happens, it is not uncommon for users to fall down the dark hole of substance addiction and start going through their prescriptions ahead of schedule.
When taken as directed, Dilaudid can be very effective at relieving pain. But when abused recreationally, like most controlled opiate drugs, it produces intense euphoric effects — similar to other opioids and illegal drugs like heroin — that are extremely addictive. In fact, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), about 1% of people who try heroin will become dependent on it within just three days!
These effects are so powerful that many people struggling with addiction begin abusing Dilaudid after trying other drugs like heroin or fentanyl because they believe it will deliver more intense highs than other substances in this class.
After users begin developing a tolerance, other signs and symptoms of addiction begin manifesting. One of these symptoms includes Dilaudid withdrawal which occurs once the drug is no longer active in the user’s system. Because the body is so used to having the drug in its system, it becomes difficult for it to adjust to functioning without it, andDilaudid withdrawal symptomsstart to occur.
Signs and Symptoms of Dilaudid Addiction
Dilaudid abuse is characterized by the compulsive use of this drug despite negative consequences such as family problems, legal problems, or physical and mental health problems. The signs and symptoms of Dilaudid abuse depend on the amount used, the frequency of use, the route of administration, and the length of time a person has been abusing the drug.
Because Dilaudid abuse is so prevalent, it is important to become familiar with certain Dilaudid abuse symptoms that may help you determine if someone who is close to you has a problem. An opiate abuser may experience drowsiness and may also be lightheaded or dizzy and faint. They may have trouble urinating or may be experiencing constipation. Stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting are also common.
While there are many signs of Dilaudid abuse, some of them may be difficult to detect in an individual who is using the drug regularly. For example, people who are addicted to Dilaudid may show no physical signs of their addiction, such as respiratory depression or constipation (both can indicate Dilaudid overdose). In fact, some people who use Dilaudid do so every day and don’t appear to have any physical problems from their addiction.
Dilaudid and other opiates also suppress breathing, so difficulty breathing may be another Dilaudid abuse symptom. This may be especially obvious when the user is asleep. During this time, breathing may be slow and light. Sleep apnea may also occur. Another Dilaudid abuse symptom that may tip you off as to whether someone you know has a problem can betrack markson the arms or legs. This is because Dilaudid is often injected by drug users.
Here are some of the behavioral signs of Dilaudid addiction:
- Becoming obsessed with the next dose
- Unusual food and drink cravings
- Spending excessive amounts of money on the drug
- Failing to keep up with everyday responsibilities like work or school
- Needing larger doses to be satisfied
- Neglecting friends and family in favor of getting high
- Stealing the drug from medicine cabinets
- Forging prescriptions for Dilaudid
- Purchasing Dilaudid online or off the street (which has become more dangerous with the rise of fentanyl)
Those addicted may also engage in ‘doctor shopping’ in an effort to get multiple prescriptions. They may visit several doctors complaining of chronic pain in the hopes that they will be prescribed the drug.
What Does a Dilaudid Overdose Look Like?
Unmonitored drug use is extremely dangerous. One of the major issues with substance abuse is that the person suffering from it may be at risk of an opioid overdose. A person who has begun to abuse Dilaudid can be in an extremely dangerous situation. The drug is highly addictive, and people who are using it recreationally may experience the effects of Dilaudid overdose if taken in excess.
Dilaudid is a prescription painkiller, and, for this reason, there are many who think it isn’t as dangerous as other opioid drugs. The truth is far more stark. People abuse Dilaudid with a false sense of security.
An overdose causes an extreme slowing down of every bodily function in your body, leading to a coma or even the loss of a person’s life if not treated immediately. It should be of note that Dilaudid and otheropiates kill by slowing breathing downto the point where the user suffocates. This can become even more likely when the opiates are mixed with other drugs like benzodiazepines or alcohol.
The following signs may indicate that you or someone else has overdosed on Dilaudid:
- Dilated pupils
- Slurred speech
- Heavy breathing and shortness of breath
- Confusion or disorientation
- Drowsiness or inability to wake up from sleep
- Seizures
- Difficulty walking or loss of coordination
- Vomiting
- Blue lips and fingernails
What is Dilaudid Withdrawal Like?
Dilaudid withdrawal is notoriously difficult, and it can be dangerous. The drug has a high potential for abuse, and when you stop using it, your body could go into shock. Dilaudid withdrawal symptoms can begin taking place in as little as 24 hours after your last dose of the medication — or even sooner if you’re taking large amounts of the drug.
A person struggling with a physical dependence on Dilaudid might be reluctant to admit that they are struggling with substance addiction. The truth is that the stigma around drug abuse keeps most people from abusing Dilaudid hiding it for fear of judgment. Opioid medications can be very malignant when it comes to their hold over the persons seeking to break the physical dependence the substance has on them.
When some begin to experience withdrawal symptoms of a substance use disorder, it can be a very tenuous period. At this point, the side effects of Dilaudid abuse can be so severe that many persons end up falling back into an opioid use disorder.
- Muscle and bone pain
- Drug craving
- Body cramping
- Sleep disturbances
- Cold sweats
- Diarrhea
- Nausea and vomiting
- Restlessness
- Shaking
- Tremors
- Dysphoria- feeling uneasy, depressed, and anxious all at once
- Suicidal thoughts and behaviors
The Risk Factors for Dilaudid Addiction
Drug addiction is a chronic, relapsing brain disease that causes compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences. It is considered a brain disorder because drugs change the brain’s structure and how it works. These brain changes can be long-lasting and can lead to harmful and potentially fatal behaviors seen in people who use drugs. Addiction treatment understands this dynamic and works to alleviate its direct impacts on a person’s behavior and psychology.
Whether talking about Dilaudid or other opioid medications, drug addiction is a thing that can affect many persons. In fact, those who abuse Dilaudid can sometimes have been said to be predisposed to falling into that habit. This is because of what is known as “Risk factors”.
Risk factors are essentially just what they sound like; factors that influence or render one more susceptible to falling into the habit of substance abuse. Some of the most common are:
- Genetics and family history. Like heart disease or diabetes, drug addiction often runs in families. If one parent has a substance use disorder, there’s a greater chance your child will develop one as well.
- Environment and stress. A stressful environment can make you more likely to use drugs or alcohol as a coping mechanism. For example, if you live in an unsafe neighborhood or have financial problems, you may feel less able to deal with stress without using drugs or alcohol.
- Co-occurring disorders. Persons dealing with mental health problems like depression, anxiety, or PTSD are often at risk of using drugs and substances as a form of self-medication so that they might cope with the circumstances of their lives.
Dilaudid Treatment Options
Althoughopioid addiction is such a prevalent problem, it is fortunate that there are many treatment options available for those looking to get help.
If you are looking to help yourself or a loved one in overcoming their dependence issues, you can consult our recovery representatives at Rehabs Of Armerica who will be able to refer you to treatment centers that work for you and is able to provide a large-scale treatment overview for you or your loved one’s particular situation.
The Process of Detox
Thefirst step in recovery is always detox, which is basically the process of waiting while the system is cleansed of the drug. Any good rehab program will make use of During this time, a user will go through withdrawal symptoms that may kick in just a few hours after the last dose of the drug was taken. Patients often relapse during the detox process, turning to the drug as a means to relieve the withdrawal symptoms. That’s why it’s important to go through detox in a residential treatment facility.
When it comes to an expert treatment provider for Dilaudid addiction treatment, a high-quality treatment center will have, on board, medical professionals who see to it that a patient is kept as comfortable as possible during this time and that they do not run the risk of relapsing. This part of the treatment process is all about purging the system of its need for prescription opioids.
Forms of Therapy Used in Addiction Treatment
Addiction treatment services aren’t only just about purging the body of the physical effects of Dilaudid addiction. Once a patient is through with the detox process, the treatment provider will ensure that they go through weeks of counseling and therapy which will help determine theunderlying cause of what lead to their addiction.
By treating the problem at its root, the hope is that the chances of relapse will be eliminated and the cycle of addiction will be broken. It is also recommended that a patient experiences this stage of rehab in an inpatient facility with outpatient follow-up once it is determined that the patient is ready.
This is where the scope of treatment options opens up. The recovery process is not one-size-fits-all and the truth is that the medical professional who crafts the patient’s pathway through recovery will have the largest insight into their treatment overview. The treatment provider may recommend medication-assisted treatment, cognitive behavioral therapy, and more.
These are used for treating the underlying behavioral symptoms and thought patterns that led to the addiction to prescription opioids in the first place.
Free Yourself from Substance Abuse Today!
Dilaudid is one of the many drugs that is contributing to the opioid epidemic that is all too prevalent today. It is important to be able to identify Dilaudid abuse symptoms so that you can recognize signs of addiction in friends and loved ones and try to lend a helping hand if possible. Addiction treatment centers can be a great option to help individuals suffering from the mental and physical hold of this drug. Although Dilaudid use and opioid dependence issues are overwhelming, it is fortunate that there are many options for treatment.
Reach out now for a free and confidential assessment and the compassionaterecovery staff at Rehabs Of Armericacan help you discover the joys of sober living.
