Dilaudid is the trade name for a chemical hydromorphone hydrochloride and is a really strong synthetic opioid narcotic painkiller regarded as 6 to 9 times more powerful than morphine. In actuality, Dilaudid is frequently used as a substitute for morphine. Dilaudid takes effect within 15 minutes on introduction to the human body and lasts for more than six hours.

Dilaudid, a Schedule II narcotic, is usually utilized to manage moderate to severe pain for people suffering from burns, cancer, bone or soft tissue injuries, and other extremely debilitating problems. Dilaudid attaches to receptors in the brain, central nervous system, and GI tract as a way to dull the pain because it reacts to the pleasure center of the mind providing the consumer with euphoric feelings. It’s this sense of euphoria that causes many people originally prescribed Dilaudid for a valid condition to develop both a physical and psychological addiction to the narcotic.   Individuals with no prior history of opiate dependence have been known to develop both tolerance and dependence upon Dilaudid in as little as three weeks.

People who develop a tolerance to Dilaudid will discover that they need higher and higher doses of the narcotic to get the same effects. Once tolerance has set in, a lot of people will find it almost impossible to stop using the medication without experiencing effects of withdrawal, which can be incredibly unpleasant. Once an individual has been cut off from their prescription for Dilaudid, they could try to buy Dilaudid on the roads. On the roads, hydromorphone is known as, “Big D,” “M-80’s,” and “Peaches.”

Most people use Dilaudid in injectable IV form instead of pill form, as tablets are much less effective in generating the euphoric effects. IV injection of any drug — narcotic or not — carries significant risks for side effects like vein collapse, bloodborne infections, and infections at the injection site.  Many who misuse Dilaudid will fortify the high they achieve in the narcotic by mixing it with other downers, like benzodiazepines or alcohol. This may result in serious respiratory depression and possible death. Prolonged Dilaudid addiction may also result in circulatory depression and cardiac arrest.   In case you or a loved one is struggling with an addiction to Dilaudid, it’s critical to look for  Dilaudid abuse treatment  when possible.

Statistics

As of 2005, over 33 million people in the United States had used a narcotic pain reliever such as Dilaudid in the past year for nonmedical purposes. | Unintentional deaths because of opioid narcotics like Dilaudid increased 114 percent from 2001-2005. It’s apparent that opiate narcotic dependence is a dire problem confronting the United States.

Co-Occurring Diseases

Many folks who struggle with addiction to Dilaudid also battle from undiagnosed or undertreated mental disorders. Some of the disorders that occur with Dilaudid addiction include:-

• Depressive disorders
• Anxiety disorders
• Bipolar disorder
• Alcoholism
• Other substance abuse disorders
• Schizophrenia

Reasons

While addiction is a hot issue for many researchers, there’s yet to be a single cause discovered that balances for almost any known addictive substance.       Some things which interplay to cause addiction may include:-

Genetic: People who have a first-degree relative who struggles with addiction to opiates or other substances are at higher risk for developing an addiction later in life.

Brain Chemistry: As opiate narcotics act on the pleasure centers of the mind, it has been hypothesized that certain people may be born lacking from the chemical elements that make up that middle of the brain. To be able to correct this inherent imbalance, some people may turn to opiates to stimulate the pleasure centers of the mind.

Environmental: People that are born into a family where dependence runs amok are at a greater risk for developing addictive disorders later in life. Moreover, people who start their drug use at an early age are at higher risks for developing an addiction.

Emotional: People that are struggling with mental disorders  may abuse substances like Dilaudid and other opiates to self-medicate to control the symptoms.

Symptoms

The symptoms that an individual who struggles with a Dilaudid addiction will be inclined to display a particular subset of symptoms. | It’s important to remember that symptoms often occur on a spectrum, meaning that they may be more acute in some individuals than others. The severity of symptomatology depends upon the amount of the dependency, the degree of tolerance to the Dilaudid, and the frequency of usage.

Most frequent signs of Dilaudid addiction include:-

Disposition:

• Depression
• Stress
• Mood swings
• Agitation
• Irritability

Behavioral:-

• Forging prescriptions
• “Doctor shopping”
• Frequent trips to the ER with vague somatic complaints
• Lying or stealing to obtain more Dilaudid
• Stealing or borrowing Dilaudid from loved ones
• Financial problems
• Hiding Dilaudid in a variety of places around the home, car, and work
• Stray needles
• Risky, reckless behaviors
• Social isolation
• Improved legal issues
• Lying to loved ones regarding amount of Dilaudid utilized
• Withdrawing from previously-enjoyed actions
• Wearing long pants and long-sleeved tops in warm weather to pay up needle marks

Physical:-

• Nausea and vomiting
• Respiratory depression
• Stomach pain
• Difficulties urinating
• Dizziness and lightheadedness
• Track marks on arms and legs
• Circulatory collapse
• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Coma
• Seizures

Emotional:-

• Worsening of psychological wellbeing
• Exacerbation of mental illness symptoms
• Delusions
• Hallucinations
• Paranoia

Outcomes

The consequences of misuse of a hardcore narcotic such as Dilaudid can affect virtually all areas of a person’s life leaving nothing unscathed. | Addiction is a horrible disease that knows no bounds. The effects of Dilaudid addiction include:-

• Addiction
• Depression
• Impaired social relationships
• Divorce
• Domestic and child abuse
• Guilt
• Shame
• Stress
• Incarceration
• Repercussions of risky behaviors
• Frequent respiratory infections
• Respiratory respiration
• Bloodborne infections like HIV/AIDS
• Circulatory collapse
• Myocardial infarction
• Stroke
• Coma
• Seizures
• Death

Withdrawal Effects

it’s extremely easy for somebody to become physically addicted to Dilaudid. | When an individual that has been using Dilaudid for an elongated time period suddenly discontinues use or severely cuts use, withdrawal symptoms may place in. Withdrawal symptoms from Dilaudid include:-

• Muscle and bone pain
• Drug craving
• Body rhythms
• Sleep disturbances
• Cold sweats — goosebumps
• Diarrhea
• Nausea and vomiting
• Restlessness
• Shaking
• Tremors
• Dysphoria — feeling uncomfortable, depressed, and anxious all at once
• Suicidal thoughts and behaviours