What is Dilaudid Addiction?

The National Institute of Health estimates that Americans pay over $400 billion annually related to the abuse of the drug, Dilaudid. This includes the time abusers must take off work, traffic accidents they are involved in, crimes they have committed, and health care costs. Most abusers go on to become addicted to the drug. It is estimated that 33 million people in the U.S. have inappropriately and illegally used Dilaudid and other painkillers. The black market sale of such drugs is a billion dollar industry. People rapidly become addicted to Dilaudid, and withdrawal is painful and difficult.

What Is Dilaudid And How Is It Used?

Dilaudid is the brand name for a prescription painkiller, hydromorphone, that is a derivative of morphine. It is much stronger than morphine and is prescribed to provide relief of severe pain of bone injuries or surgery, soft tissue injuries, severe burns, or any condition that is known to cause extreme pain. The drug relieves pain within 15 minutes of administration and lasts for six or more hours. In addition to relieving pain, it has an effect on the pleasure center of the brain, causing a feeling of euphoria.

How People Get Addicted To Dilaudid.

Patients quickly develop a tolerance for the drug and need increased dosages to maintain the pain relieving, euphoric feeling. People have developed an addiction to Dilaudid in as little as two weeks. Once a Dilaudid user has started increasing their own dosage in order to obtain the pain relieving, euphoric experience, it is almost impossible for them to give up the drug without help. When they do give it up, they experience severe pain as well as other withdrawal symptoms. In order to prevent this unpleasantness, users continue to increase their dosage and finds ways to obtain the drug. A large number of users are known to go from doctor to doctor seeking new prescriptions for the drug. In fact, this doctor shopping has become so prevalent that 21 states have established programs to monitor prescriptions and pharmacies in order to curtail the incidence of Dilaudid prescription fraud. Of course, Dilaudid is sold on the black market. Some people who were legitimately prescribed Dilaudid end up selling their own pills to those who have become addicted. There are Dilaudid dealers, just like there are marijuana or cocaine dealers. People addicted to Dilaudid will do anything and everything to get the drug in order to prevent uncomfortable and painful withdrawal symptoms. They may resort to theft in order to get enough money to buy the drug. They are always searching for that next high, which actually gets more and more difficult to achieve as their bodies develop a tolerance for the dosage, and they continue to need more and more of the drug. The dilaudid addiction is both, physical and mental. Users literally crave the drug and need it to relieve their physical pain, as well as to recreate the mental euphoric feeling.

Dilaudid Addiction Withdrawal Symptoms.

People addicted to Dilaudid cannot just simply quit taking the drug. There are withdrawal symptoms that cause real pain and discomfort. Withdrawal symptoms usually begin about nine hours after the last dosage and peak from 14 to 21 hours after the last use. The symptoms usually subside within 36 to 72 hours of the last dosage Withdrawal symptoms from Dilaudid are similar to the symptoms of heroin withdrawal. The symptoms vary in severity depending on the length of the addiction and the amount of Dilaudid the person has been taking. The most serious withdrawal symptoms include:

• Tremors
• Seizures
• Depression
• Restlessness, insomnia, and anxiety
• Digestive problems such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite
• Cold and flu symptoms, including watery eyes, runny nose, chills, headache,and joint pain
• High blood pressure and increased heart rate

The situation is not hopeless. Many have recovered from their Dilaudid addiction through therapy and rehabilitation.

Source

United States National Library of Medicine: Hydromorphone (Dilaudid) Meta: What is dilaudid addiction? People addicted to Dilaudid cannot just simply quit taking it. There are withdrawal symptoms that cause real pain and discomfort.