Hydromorphone Addiction and Abuse

Hydromorphone Info

• Hydromorphone Addiction and Abuse
• Hydromorphone Symptoms and Warning Signs
• Hydromorphone Treatment and Rehab
• Hydromorphone Withdrawal and Detox

What is Hydromorphone?

Hydromorphone is an analgesic opioid, most notable for its sedation properties and short lifespan. Its lifespan refers to the short action that takes place within the body and is the reason why a Hydromorphone addict will need to take doses of the drug repeatedly (between short intervals) in order to maintain its effect, as well as avoid the onset of withdrawal symptoms. Studies have shown that hydromorphone’s analgesic capability is far more potent than that of morphine, which makes the drug a potent painkiller.

Hydromorphone can be obtained legally via prescription, or illegally purchased on the streets. However, because of its highly addictive nature, the drug’s sale and purchase is closely controlled by government regulations.

What is hydromorphone used for?

Hydromorphone is frequently marketed under the brand name Dilaudid. It’s typically used in clinical medicine as a prescription for alleviating pain caused by surgery, cancer, broken bones or other medical conditions. It works by influencing neurotransmitters and chemical reactions in your brain.

Your use of hydromorphone or Dilaudid might have started safely under prescription, but because the drug is a highly addictive opioid, you may after a period of time develop a tolerance to it, which might progress to physical addiction. Hydromorphone dependence is a tricky condition that should be reported to your doctor as soon as it is noticed, so that treatment can be provided to save you from any complications.

Other names for hydromorphone

On the street, hydromorphone or Dilaudid is commonly referred to by a variety of names. Some of the more common street names include juice, dust, smack, D, footballs, dillies, dilly, dill, Big D, Hydro, M-2. Super 8, M-80s, Moose, Hospital Heroin and White Triangles.

Causes of hydromorphone addiction

Due to its opioid nature, when hydromorphone is ingested, it affects the body by altering how your brain responds to pain. The drug is capable of easing discomfort and mitigating pain. It can also trigger euphoric sensations or a state of being ‘high’.

While the drug might be effective for medical use, it’s also dangerous because of how easy it is to develop an addiction to it. Substance dependence can be caused by using hydromorphone irresponsibly for a long period of time, especially if you are using it in doses that exceed your prescription.

To use hydromorphone safely, it’s best to only use it when prescribed and according to the prescription of a licensed and responsible medical professional.

If your body has developed a physical dependence on hydromorphone, it might find it difficult to readjust to functioning without the influence of the drug and this will lead to the manifestation of withdrawal symptoms. Commonly seen hydromorphone withdrawal symptoms include restlessness, shaking, sweating, insomnia, involuntary muscle movements, cold flashes and irritability.

Methods of use of hydromorphone

Hydromorphone is typically found in tablet form, for oral ingestion. Addicts often also crush the pill to snort or inject it to heighten its effects. Some other individuals use the drug by taking it as a suppository. Hydromorphone or Dilaudid suppositories are usually available in an oblong shape.

If you frequently consume alcohol, taking hydromorphone can lead to adverse substance interactions and dangerous health complications. This is because alcohol is a depressant that, when combined with opioids like hydromorphone,can lead to an increased risk of accidental overdose and even death. There can also be a variety of unpleasant short-term side effects.

A mix of alcohol and hydromorphone will impact your nervous system and lead to drowsiness, light-headedness, dizziness and impaired judgement. Other complications can include fainting, low blood pressure, difficulty breathing and possible coma. Due to the fact that both substances can impair cognition, taking more than intended is wholly possible and can lead to a fatal overdose.

Therefore, it’s best to not combine hydromorphone with alcohol or other similar substances. Combining opioids with other substances can also worsen addiction and lead to more severe withdrawal symptoms, in the event you choose to quit.

The risks of hydromorphone abuse

You can develop a physical dependence on opiates like hydromorphone without actually becoming addicted. This can also happen to people who are using the drug as prescribed, showing just how potent it is.

If you develop a physical dependence on the drug, your body will be tricked into thinking that it cannot function properly without it and will begin to exhibit withdrawal symptoms. This is a clear sign of addiction, which can negatively alter the course of your life.

For proof that hydromorphone can wreak havoc on your life and general health, take a look at the following statistics:

• In 2014, opioid abuse led to 19,000 deaths in the U.S alone
• In 2011, according to the DEA, hydromorphone was the cause for more than 18,000 emergency room visits

This clearly shows that hydromorphone isn’t a substance that should be taken lightly or abused for recreational purposes

What does it mean to be addicted to hydromorphone?

Addiction to hydromorphone can be brought about by prolonged use of the drug. Addiction will become apparent as you develop compulsive drug-seeking habits, without regard for the consequences of your actions or how they affect those around you.

Clear signs that you have developed a hydromorphone addiction include:

• Using false pretences to obtain more hydromorphone or more money to source the drug
• Inability to focus or cope with activities at work, school or other social settings
• Having trouble fulfilling financial obligations, as buying more drugs becomes sole priority
• Isolating yourself from loved ones or spending more time with other addicts
• Development of new, risky behaviours

Spotting hydromorphone abuse

If you or a loved one have been abusing hydromorphone or Dilaudid, you will likely have noticed the following symptoms of abuse:

These symptoms will be most apparent after a person has just finished using Dilaudid, and they will likely dissipate within a few hours. If you’re witnessing the symptoms frequently, then the person in question is more than likely abusing hydromorphone regularly.

Hydromorphone Abuse: Signs and symptoms

Despite the apparent health risks, several people still abuse hydromorphone, with the aim of enjoying its intoxicating effects. Some of the effects of the drug you can see being exhibited include:

Not all symptoms of hydromorphone abuse are pleasant however, as you can also exhibit the following side effects:

Many of these effects could occur even if using the drug according to prescription. However, abusing the drug will more than likely lead to an acceleration of these effects.

Health risks from hydromorphone addiction

Because of its short lifespan, one of the greatest health risks of abusing hydromorphone is an overdose. Hydromorphone overdose can be life threatening. The best response in such a scenario is to seek immediate emergency care.

Other health complications that abusing Hydromorphone can give rise to include:

Aside from physical complications, abusing Hydromorphone can also give rise to mental and behavioural disorders. For instance, you can experience:

Short-term effects of hydromorphone

Hydromorphone is known to cause a variety of unwanted and potentially life-threatening side effects. These effects are more pronounced or dangerous in instances where the drug is taken alongside other substances, such as depressants.

Because using hydromorphone triggers a large release of dopamine in the brain, you can easily become addicted to the sensation brought on by the drug and use it repeatedly to enjoy the pleasurable sensation. However, the pleasures of using Hydromorphone come at a high cost, as the drug also causes a variety of side effects.

Injecting or consuming hydromorphone orally will lead to the drug’s effects being felt within 30 minutes or less, depending on your physiology. The effects can last for up to five hours or more, depending on the dose. Some of the short-term effects include:

For the duration of the drug’s effects, you will likely appear subdued and exhibit slowed speech and movements.

Long-term effects of hydromorphone

As earlier stated, the enjoyable short-term effects of abusing hydromorphone come at a cost. Using the drug over time can result in a variety of intense side effects. For instance, symptoms of anxiety will likely only worsen with time if drug usage is continued, and self-medicating will only conceal underlying mental health concerns.

Abusing hydromorphone in high doses can lead to respiratory depression, with less oxygen getting to the brain. The periods of oxygen shortage to the brain can over time lead to lasting brain damage or even a coma.

Hydromorphone abuse can also potentially lead to long-term impairment of:

These symptoms might be reversed with time after quitting the drug.

The most dangerous long-term effect is the possibility of death, brought on by an overdose.

How to help a loved one with a hydromorphone addiction

If you suspect a loved one is abusing or addicted to hydromorphone, the best thing to do is to take immediate action by orchestrating an intervention. An intervention involves confronting the addict and showing them how their drug habit is affecting them and all those around them. It’s important to do this as soon as possible and to commit to it until the addict agrees to receive help.

If you’re unsure how to go about staging an intervention, you can contact an addiction helpline to arrange expert help.

Co-occurring disorders

Most individuals who suffer from a hydromorphone addiction also battle with some form of undiagnosed mental illness. Examples of mental or behavioural disorders that exist alongside hydromorphone addiction include:

Hydromorphone withdrawal

If you’ve been taking increased doses of hydromorphone during your period of abuse, you’re likely to have developed substance dependence. This means you experience a need to use the drug in order to feel like you can function normally. This can happen to anyone who has used hydromorphone over an extended period, including someone using the drug according to prescription, but it is a more common occurrence amongst substance abusers.

If you’ve become hydromorphone dependent, you will experience withdrawal symptoms whenever you stop using the drug or even if you try decreasing your dosage or frequency of use. Because of the severe discomfort that can be experienced during withdrawal, most addicts just keep on using the drug in order to stave off withdrawal symptoms.

Symptoms of withdrawal

Signs of hydromorphone withdrawal are similar to those experienced during withdrawal from other opioids. Some of these symptoms include:

The above symptoms can begin to manifest within a few hours (or days) after your last hydromorphone dose. They could occur sooner, depending on how you typically abuse the drug.

How to quit hydromorphone

To ensure withdrawal symptoms are not too intense during the detox process, it’s best to go through a medically assisted detox. Medication to help ease your withdrawal symptoms will be provided by medical professionals to ensure your detoxification process isn’t unbearable.

Also, instead of having to quit hydromorphone ‘cold turkey’, a schedule for gradually weaning you off the drug can be provided. That is, instead of you having to suddenly quit taking the drug, your doses will be gradually tapered off over a number of days, until you’renot taking the drug at all. With this approach to slowly weaning you off the drug, it is possible you may experience little to almost no withdrawal symptoms.

Hydromorphone withdrawal timeline

By the second day after symptoms begin to manifest, physical withdrawal symptoms tend to peak. Some might experience a decrease in symptoms by the third or fourth day, but symptoms may continue for up to a week or two. Severity of symptoms and duration of withdrawal is often dependent on a number of factors, especially severity of the addiction before quitting, physiology of the abuser and whether Hydromorphone was being combined with other drugs.

Hydromorphone addiction treatment

Withdrawal symptoms from quitting hydromorphone aren’t usually dangerous, but they can be very uncomfortable. If you’re going through withdrawal without medical assistance or supervision, you’re more likely to suffer a relapse in an attempt to escape opioid withdrawal symptoms.

A medically assisted detoxification can help reduce the discomfort of withdrawal, as well as minimise the risks and avoid any health or mental complications. Upon completion of detoxification, you can receive further treatment via the following:

• Inpatient treatment: This is intensive short-term care that focuses on stabilising a recovering addict medically and psychiatrically.
• Outpatient therapy: Different types of treatment are used to help you recover. You can leave the drug rehabilitation centre each day after receiving treatment.
• Residential recovery assistance: This is a longer-term form of treatment that’s delivered in a safe and comfortable environment.
• Recovery housing: An example is a sober living house, where rules are less rigid and you can easily make the transition back to independent living whilst recovering.

When to contact a medical professional

If you’ve been abusing hydromorphone and intend on quitting, it’s best to consult a medical professional before you begin. This way, you can go through a medically assisted detox, which isn’t only safer but also a more effective approach to overcoming substance dependence.

Medical detox for hydromorphone

A medically assisted detox programme can help effectively manage and ease withdrawal symptoms with the aid of a variety of medication, including:

• Clonidine: This can be used to reduce some withdrawal symptoms without producing any intoxicating effects.
• Methadone: This is an opioid agonist that’s capable of mitigating withdrawal symptoms without producing a ‘high’.
• Buprenorphine: This a partial opioid agonist with the capability of relieving withdrawal discomfort and reducing cravings.
• Probuphine: This is a buprenorphine implant that releases the drug gradually over the course of six months.
• Naltrexone: This is best administered after detox and is capable of blocking the effects of opioids. If administered too soon after the last dose of Hydromorphone, it may intensify withdrawal symptoms.

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