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Hydromorphone/Dilaudid Abuse and Addiction

Hydromorphone Addiction: Is it Really Dangerous to Abuse Dilaudid?

It might surprise you to know how many people suffer from Hydromorphone addiction. This prescription medication also goes by the name Dilaudid, and it is used to treat moderate to severe pain. Quite often, doctors turn to this drug to help with pain that other medications don’t touch.

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While it works very well to control pain, the problem is that this drug is highly addictive. It’s very easy to abuse it, and many people do for the euphoric high that results from that. If you’re abusing Hydromorphone, you need to know the dangers of it. You also need to come to terms with the fact that you may be addicted to it too.

Why do People Abuse Hydromorphone?

When most individuals suffer from acute pain or from chronic pain, they go to the doctor for help. Doctors typically prescribe opiate medications for pain relief. They may also send them to physical therapy, but the medicine is the primary treatment.

Sometimes people don’t respond well to some types of opioids, which are used to treat pain. When that happens, they’re often prescribed Hydromorphone. This is a drug that is a bit stronger than some other opiate medications. It works quickly, and it is very effective. Of course, the issue is that it is also very easy to abuse.

Most people will abuse Hydromorphone because they like the way the drug makes them feel. Others may abuse it accidentally by simply increasing how much they use without talking with a doctor. Either situation is dangerous.

If you were to research various drug forums like Reddit, Erowid and Bluelight, you’d find lots of information on Dilaudid. This drug is very powerful, and forum users aren’t shy about giving instructions on how to use it.

They claim that this medication doesn’t work as well to get high by simply swallowing the pills. Shooting up or using IV Dilaudid is one of the preferred methods. People will also snort the crushed pills or they’ll participate in plugging, which is anal insertion.

The high that results from any of these methods is quite euphoric. People usually experience an immediate rush of euphoria that settles into a calm relaxation. The high doesn’t always last very long when using the pills. For those who abuse IV Dilaudid, it can last a bit longer.

If you’re abusing this drug, you need to know the side effects of it. Keep in mind that these may be intensified, depending on how much you use and the method you use.

Some of the more common side effects of Hydromorphone abuse are:

  • Feeling flushed or tingly
  • Nausea and/or vomiting
  • Blurred or double vision
  • The onset of headaches
  • Excessive sweating
  • Itchy skin
  • Sleep disturbances and strange dreams

The longer you abuse this drug, the more serious the side effects can become. You may also develop dangerous side effects that require immediate medical attention.

Because Dilaudid is a much more potent opioid drug, an addiction to it can happen quickly. However, how fast you get addicted to it is a very personal thing. Some people may become addicts after using it for several days. Others may take weeks, or even longer.

The key is that knowing an addiction can happen at any time after abuse begins. If you’re a Dilaudid abuser, you could become addicted after your very next use.

Is Hydromorphone Addictive With Appropriate Use?

Some people use Hydromorphone exactly as the doctor prescribes. They follow all the instructions, and never waver from them at all. While they may not form addictions, they could become dependent on the drug. Hydromorphone dependence is a little bit different from addiction.

If you’re dependent on Hydromorphone, it means that you have developed a tolerance to it. This is almost like a precursor to having an actual addiction. You might find that it doesn’t work as well for you as it did when you started taking it. It might be tempting to increase how much you take, or to take it in a different way.

If you find it hard to stop Hydromorphone after using it appropriately, this is a concern. You should talk with your doctor about what you should do. While you might not need a Hydromorphone treatment center, you may need some other type of help.

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What Does it Mean When You have a Dilaudid Addiction?

The thought that you might have an addiction to Dilaudid might shock you. You may even find yourself wondering, am I really addicted?. If you’ve been taking this drug for any period of time, you very well could be. However, it’s important for you to know what this means.

If you have a Dilaudid addiction, it means that you are both physically and psychologically dependent on it. You feel as though you need this drug in order to manage your life. Without it, you don’t feel right. You may take it as soon as you wake up in the morning. It’s hard to imagine being without it.

For Dilaudid addicts, this drug takes over their lives. They can’t think about much of anything else, other than using. If that’s where you are, you could be an addict.

If you need more information about your relationship with Dilaudid, try taking a quiz. This will help you because you can answer several questions about your drug use.

If you have an addiction to Hydromorphone, it will take over your life. You may lose some very important relationships. You could suffer from problems at work, or even job loss as a result of your addiction.

Remember, this is a powerful opiate medication. Because of this, you’re likely to suffer from some serious physical and mental side effects. Some of these may be reversible when you stop taking the drug. However, not all of them are.

Maybe you’ve been taking Hydromorphone for quite some time. However, you don’t really think you’re actually addicted to it. You may know that it’s gotten out of hand, but you think you can stop anytime you want to. You’d be surprised how many people feel the same way.

You need to know if you’re an addict or not. If you are, you should consider going to a Hydromorphone rehab center for help. If you’re not, you may still need to consider finding a therapist to help you quit using.

There are ways you can tell if you are addicted to Hydromorphone. Some of the signs include:

  • Suffering from depression and anxiety
  • Frequently becoming agitated or having mood swings
  • Becoming socially isolated from others
  • Lying to people about your drug use
  • Having financial problems because of the money you spend on the drug
  • Feeling the need to hide your medication from other people

If you can relate to even one of the signs on this list, an addiction may be a possibility. It’s best for you to come to terms with this as soon as you can. You may even want to consider participating in a free addiction assessment over the phone. This will give you even more clarity about your substance abuse problem.

The Dangers of Misusing Dilaudid, Both Physically and Psychologically

Dilaudid is a drug that will lead to powerful side effects. These effects can cause both emotional and physiological changes to happen to you. Your experience with this drug will depend on how long you take it.

Many of the short-term side effects of Dilaudid are why people take it in the first place. For those who suffer from chronic or acute pain, they’re looking for pain relief. For those who abuse the drug recreationally, they’re seeking euphoria, calmness and drowsiness. However, it can lead to other short-term effects as well, including:

  • Slower breathing rates
  • A dry mouth
  • Pain in the stomach
  • Muscle or joint pain
  • Anxiety or depression
  • Reproduction problems in women
  • Sexual performance issues in men

As you might expect, taking this medication long-term is likely to have more serious consequences. The long-term effects of Dilaudid are dangerous, which is why it’s not intended for long-term use. If you’ve been taking this drug for a while, you could suffer from:

  • An increased sensitivity to pain
  • Hypoxia, which is a condition in which oxygen isn’t delivered to the brain efficiently
  • The possibility of permanent brain damage
  • The risk of physical addiction
  • The risk of HIV, hepatitis and other diseases if the drug is injected
  • The possibility of seizures
  • The onset of hallucinations
  • The possibility of chest pains

Detoxing and How to Wean Off Dilaudid

When you want to stop using Dilaudid, it’s best to go through an opiate detox. You should not try to wean yourself off it on your own. Detoxing from Dilaudid is very difficult, and you should be under the care of qualified professionals.

Weaning off this drug is highly recommended because of its potency. It’s a hard medication to just quit cold turkey, even with the best withdrawal treatments. During a medical taper, you’ll be given smaller amounts of it over time. This will help your body adjust to not having as much.

During the detoxification period, you’ll also be exposed to other treatments. You may be given additional medications to help with withdrawing from Dilaudid. You could also be a part of a more holistic detox that involves dietary changes and exercise.

When it comes to tapering off Hydromorphone, slower is actually better. However, the right taper schedule for you will be discussed with you. The slower the taper, the less stress will be placed on your body. You may even be able to avoid many of the more common symptoms of withdrawal with this method.

What to Expect With Hydromorphone Withdrawals

Hydromorphone is one of the most difficult types of opioids to withdraw from. However, it can be done successfully with the right treatment.

Hydromorphone Addiction Information

When you go through withdrawal, you should expect to experience:

  • Profuse sweating (hot or cold)
  • Feelings of malaise
  • Anxiety and depression
  • Pains in the muscles
  • Aches in the bones
  • The onset of diarrhea
  • Severe bouts of insomnia
  • A low-grade fever

Sometimes people complain of having “itchy blood.” This is a condition that causes them to scratch their skin. Open sores and bruises can result from this.

Fortunately, there are many Hydromorphone treatment options available to help. Several of these withdrawal symptoms can be avoided with the right care.

Finding the Right Dilaudid Rehab Facility for Your Recovery

There are a lot of Dilaudid rehab options available to you. However, you do need to know that they’re not all the same. It’s also not enough just to wean off your medication during detox. This helps with the physical part of your addiction. In order to truly recover, you need do more than this.

Going through opiate detox is only part of the solution for your addiction to Hydromorphone. You also have to think about the psychological part of your addiction. Rehab is very effective at treating this component.

Think about why you started using this drug. Perhaps for you, it was simply to help with your pain. Before you knew it, you were having cravings for it, and your prescriptions ran out early. Or, it’s possible that a friend offered you some and you started taking it without a prescription.

Either way, there is a root cause for your problem. Identifying what that root cause is is the key to your recovery. Unless you do this, you’re not likely to be able to stop using. This is why choosing the best Hydromorphone rehab program is highly recommended.

When you go to a pain reliever recovery program, you participate in many types of therapy. You meet regularly with a counselor during individual therapy sessions. You’ll also become involved in group therapy meetings.

Various methods of therapy help to address all aspects of your addiction. You’d be surprised how complicated it really is. The goal is to treat the problem as a whole, and not just one part of it. This gives you the best opportunity to recover successfully.

Yes, you can choose not to go to rehab for your Dilaudid addiction. However, this puts you in great danger. You could possibly relapse back into using, which many addicts do. If you suffer from a relapse, you are at risk of overdosing.

Overdosing on Dilaudid usually occurs when people go back to using it after a period of abstinence. They have often decided to stop taking it on their own. Without the proper support, they revert back to their substance abuse patterns.

An overdose usually occurs because of lowered tolerance levels in the body. You simply can’t handle taking that much of the drug any longer. Your usual dose overwhelms your body and you end up overdosing, which can be fatal.

Hydromorphone Statistics and Trends in the United States

According to the latest in drug use statistics, Hydromorphone use is at an all time high. In 2014, there were close to 2 million prescriptions written for this drug that year. This is up from only 500,000 in 2005.

With so many more people using this medication, instances of abuse and addiction are going to be higher. If research is correct, this trend is very likely to continue as time goes on.

Is it Time for You to go to a Dilaudid Treatment Facility and Get Help?

It’s not easy to make the decision to stop using an opioid drug. However, if you believe you’re addicted to Dilaudid, you may agree that now is the time. It’s so important for you to understand how dangerous this medication can be. Continuing to use it is only going to make your addiction stronger.

At Northpoint Recovery, we know the severity of this type of addiction. We also understand how to treat it effectively. We only use proven methods when we treat our patients. You’ll benefit from working with professionals who have dealt with it in the past. Please know that you don’t have to continue in your addiction. Once you get the right kind of help, it is possible to quit using.

Do you have additional questions about Hydromorphone addiction? Are you interested in talking with someone about your treatment options for recovery? Contact us today and we’ll be more than happy to assist you. It’s a major step, but it’s one that you’ll be thankful you took.

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