Dilaudid Addiction
Dilaudid, also known as hydromorphone, is an opioid drug that is primarily used as a painkiller. Hydromorphone is used to inhibit pain pathways in the central nervous system. Dilaudid is a very strong painkiller with two to eight times the painkilling effect of morphine, and it is also potentially addictive like morphine and other opioids. The drug may be prescribed for medical conditions that have severe pain such as with burns, acute injuries, surgical pain, and other severe pain conditions.
Dilaudid can cause death in people with a low tolerance to hydromorphone because of the powerful side effects that hydromorphone has and the potential for respiratory failure at high doses. Dilaudid produces euphoria by binding to opioid receptors in the brain which blocks pain signals throughout the body. Dilaudid is addictive primarily because of this euphoric effect and because of its strong pain numbing capability. Dilaudid addiction is one of the most common types of opioid addiction. Addiction to Dilaudid can be difficult to treat because the drug has a severe withdrawal in long term addiction cases.
There are treatments for Dilaudid addiction, and treatments in most cases are best administered by drug rehab centers. Drug rehab centers are equipped with professional medical staff and therapists that can treat the psychological and physical symptoms of painkiller addiction and Dilaudid addiction. Many patients can fully recover with a Dilaudid addiction rehabilitation program that is administered and initiated by a drug rehab center.
Dilaudid Addiction Symptoms
The effects and symptoms of Dilaudid addiction are similar to morphine addiction. However, the euphoric effect of hydromorphone is more similar to codeine. The side effects of Dilaudid at regular doses include light headedness, constipation, nausea, vomiting, sweating, sedation, and dizziness. The drug has minimal side effects at lower doses. Higher doses of hydromorphone may result in respiratory failure and circulatory depression. Euphoria is another side effect of hydromorphone, and it is the euphoric effect of the drug that leads to Dilaudid addiction.
Some of the psychological side effects of Dilaudid addiction may be more pronounced. Psychological side effects may include anorexia, anxiety, mood disorders, impairment of cognitive processes, and other effects. Addicts of hydromorphone are likely to exhibit many of the physical symptoms of the addiction because of the powerful effect of the drug. Hydromorphone will exhibit its effects in as little as 15 minutes after ingestion of the drug. In many cases of Dilaudid addiction, the drug is snorted, and hydromorphone produces faster effects if it is snorted.
Those who are addicted to Dilaudid will show the psychological and physical symptoms of withdrawal when they are unable to take the drug for hours. Dilaudid addicts also often go to several physicians to obtain multiple prescriptions. They typically have difficulties with cognitive performance based tasks because of the mental sluggishness side effect and other mental effects of Dilaudid addiction. Hydromorphone is most typically found in pill form. Addicts may carry several bottles of hydromorphone with them.
Dilaudid Withdrawal
Hydromorphone is both psychologically and physically addictive, and withdrawal from the drug can be quite severe as a result. Physical dependency on the drug can occur within 1 to 2 weeks of continual usage. Physical dependency on Dilaudid is characterized by withdrawal symptoms when a user does not take the drug. Withdrawal symptoms of Dilaudid addiction may start occur within 6-10 hours after the last dose was taken and may continue for several weeks. Physical symptoms of Dilaudid withdrawal include sweating, bone and muscle pains, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, cramps, fever, muscle spasms, tremors, sneezing, shivering, chills, leg pains, abdominal pains, and many other symptoms.
Psychological withdrawal symptoms of Dilaudid addiction may include anxiety, insomnia, restlessness, irritability, depression, dysphoria, and other negative effects. Another common symptom is the painful “itchy blood” condition in which patients continually scratch at their skin due to irritation. This may result in injuries and bleeding. A “cold turkey” withdrawal from Dilaudid is not likely to work because of the potential severity of some of the physical withdrawal symptoms. The psychological dependence on hydromorphone can also make withdrawal even more difficult as addicts will intensely crave the drug and have many psychological withdrawal effects.
Treatment of Dilaudid addiction withdrawal is possible at drug rehab centers. It is recommended that withdrawal should take place at a Dilaudid rehab center because it is better for patients to be supervised during the difficult withdrawal process. Patients in many cases require emergency or immediate treatment of psychological and physical withdrawal symptoms. Furthermore, if a patient is monitored during withdrawal, he or she will not be able to relapse into addiction which is what happens in many cases of unmonitored withdrawal from Dilaudid and other opioids.
Dilaudid Detox
Dilaudid detox is one of the initial steps of Dilaudid addiction treatment, and it can be done safely at a drug rehab center. Dilaudid detoxification requires medical supervision so that patients can gradually and safely come off of the medication over a period of time rather than through a dangerous “cold turkey” method that may result in immediate relapse. The withdrawal process can take several weeks, and in many cases a patient will benefit the most from staying at a Dilaudid addiction treatment facility during that period of time. These facilities provide patients with continual monitoring, psychological care, therapy, and all types of support that the patient requires.
Without the assistance of a drug rehab center, a patient may not be able to detoxify from hydromorphone safely. The painful process of withdrawal without medications and supporting counseling is too much to bear for many addicts of hydromorphone. Serious medical effects may occur from Dilaudid addiction withdrawal such as muscle spasms and severe psychological effects, and thus it is best for a patient to go through the process with the support of addiction specialists and medical doctors at drug rehab centers.
A drug rehab center will provide the patient with any type of maintenance and support that the patient would typically have to do on his or her own such as help with laundry, preparing meals, and other tasks. The patient is treated in a secure, professional, and compassionate environment and has immediate access to any type of counseling or treatment that is required.
Dilaudid Addiction Treatment
Treatment for Dilaudid addiction is multi-faceted and must be initiated quickly so that the patient can begin on the lengthy road to recovery. Painkiller addiction treatment involves supportive counseling and psychotherapy, group therapies, individual support, familial and friend support, and detoxification support. The patient will may be treated with medications for the physical symptoms of Dilaudid withdrawal which may continue for several weeks. The psychological effects of Dilaudid addiction may also continue for months, and the patient is almost always put on some type of outpatient program for continued monitoring and treatment.
Dilaudid addiction treatment for each patient differs. Some patients will require more attention and longer stays, and other patients may be able to do more on their own and recover faster. Drug rehab centers provide treatment for any individual patient’s needs. Whether the patient must be admitted to an inpatient facility or given regular treatment on an outpatient level, a Dilaudid addiction center can successfully treat any case of addiction.
The goal of treatment is to provide patients with short term relief of the physical and psychological symptoms of Dilaudid addiction and withdrawal while also offering a long term plan that will help patients stay off of hydromorphone for good. Supportive psychotherapy and counseling will offer the patient a way to stay focused on his or her mission of keeping clean, and group meetings are another important component of Dilaudid addiction rehabilitation that are almost always used.
