The brand name form of hydromorphone, Dilaudid is a prescription painkiller as highly addictive as other opioids. Over four million people abuse this drug and other opioids each year in the United States. Sadly, many of these people end up developing a Dilaudid addiction.
How Dilaudid Abuse Turns into Addiction
Dilaudid abuse starts because it causes sedating, euphoric, and relaxing feelings. In essence, Dilaudid produces a high similar to heroin and morphine, which is why abusing Dilaudid is dangerous. High doses of the drug provide the greatest danger, especially when combined with other substances.
Your path to recovery is waiting
and we’re here to help.
Our admissions specialist are available 24/7 to listen to your story
and get you started with next steps.
Why call us?
Using Dilaudid long-term will likely lead to a heightened tolerance. Tolerance means your body has become used to your regular dose and you also need more of the drug to feel its pleasurable effects. Tolerance also leads to physical dependence, when your body and brain need the drug to function normally. Once dependence begins, you’ll experience withdrawal symptoms when trying to quit using the drug.
If you’re stuck in the cycle of drug seeking and drug using, you need addiction treatment to gain lasting recovery. Addiction treatment provides the therapies needed to understand and overcome your addiction. It also provides relapse prevention skills so you can stay sober for the long term.
Signs and Symptoms of Dilaudid Addiction
Unfortunately, individuals with a Dilaudid addiction are often the last to know they have it. These addictions frequently start with a doctor’s prescription. If you believe your loved one has slipped into Dilaudid addiction, look for these signs and symptoms:
- Wide-ranging mood swings
- Breathing problems
- Itching and scratching
- Using laxatives for constipation
- Excessive sweating
- Poor coordination
- Nodding off with lapses in consciousness
Taking more of the drug than before or more than prescribed is a sign of tolerance. You can also tell Dilaudid addiction exists when individuals experience withdrawal symptoms when they try to quit taking it. These symptoms include nausea, vomiting, stomach cramping, sweating, muscle aches, cold chills, diarrhea, appetite loss, and insomnia.
Other signs of addiction to Dilaudid include doctor shopping for prescriptions, forged prescriptions, stealing from others’ prescriptions, spending large amounts of money on the drug, lying to others about use, isolation from family and friends, and damaged personal and professional relationships.
How Dilaudid Addiction Affects Your Body and Your Life
Dilaudid causes many side effects that grow worse as the dose increases. Such effects include headaches, anxiety, tiny pupils, muscle aches, and dry mouth. You’ll also feel dizzy and lightheaded. There are many digestive tract effects of the drug, including stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, lost appetite, and constipation.
Dilaudid side effects don’t stop with discomfort. Some of the drug’s side effects are deadly. Some people using Dilaudid lose consciousness, their blood pressure changes, breathing slows, and they suffer seizures.
Of course, Dilaudid addiction does more than just affect your body: it also wreaks havoc on your life. It causes problems with your relationships. It leads you into isolation, missed commitments, absence from work, or school and financial problems. You can suffer legal problems and even spend time in jail for crimes related to your drug use.
Help for Your Addiction to Dilaudid
Serenity Lodge in Southern California provides addiction treatment programs for Dilaudid. Our men’s only, amenity-rich treatment facility is a place where men can focus on addiction recovery and building a brighter future. There are several programs available at Serenity Lodge, including:
If you or a man you love suffer addiction to Dilaudid or other substances, Serenity Lodge provides recovery treatment you need. Call Serenity Lodge at (855) 932-4045 now for more information about available programs. You can enjoy a more fulfilling life of sobriety. You just have to make this call.
