Dilaudid Overdose

Dilaudid belongs to the same classification of drugs as codeine, morphine and other potent prescription painkillers: opiates. Opiates, or opioid-based drugs, are extremely effective in the treatment of pain because their effects can be felt within as few as 15 minutes and last for as long as five hours or more. This drug is about 8 times stronger than morphine when compared milligram to milligram, a fact that has earned it the nickname of "drugstore heroin." The same characteristics that make Dilaudid such an effective pain reliever, also put its users at a high risk for overdose. Because the drug remains active in the system for so long, it is easy to take too much simply by taking your next dose too early. Miscalculate your dosing schedule or abuse the drug and a Dilaudid overdose is highly possible.

What are the Signs of a Dilaudid Overdose?

There are a number of signs that can let you know that you may be experiencing a Dilaudid overdose. For example, if you feel like you're in a stupor, have cold and clammy skin, a weak pulse and difficulty breathing, you may be experiencing an overdose. In most cases, if you have overdosed on an opiate as overwhelmingly powerful as Dilaudid, you won't be conscious.

If you are concerned that someone else has overdosed, you can check for a blue tint to their fingernails, skin and lips; limp muscles; an unconscious state that you cannot break; faint heartbeat and shallow breathing. A serious Dilaudid overdose can also result in coma, cardiac arrest and/or death. If all or most of these symptoms are present and you know that this person has taken Dilaudid recently or has a prescription for the drug, chances are they are experiencing an overdose and need immediate assistance.

What Do I Do in the Event of a Dilaudid Overdose?

If you think that someone is overdosing on Dilaudid, call 911. If you are concerned that you have overdosed on Dilaudid but are not sure whether or not it is an emergent situation, you can call the hotline for the National Poison Control Center toll free at 1-800-222-1222. This number is available 24 hours a day and it need not be an emergency for you to call. Call 911, however, only if you or someone you are with needs a paramedic and a trip to the emergency room. Be prepared to answer questions about the details of the overdose and the person who took the Dilaudid. Try to bring the Dilaudid prescription bottle to the emergency room or give it to the paramedics if you won't be accompanying the victim to the hospital.

How is a Dilaudid Overdose Treated?

A Dilaudid overdose will most likely be treated first by the paramedics with a shot of naloxone to stop the drug from continuing to overwhelm the body. This should take effect within two or three minutes and, if it doesn't, another dose will most likely be given. If the victim has stopped breathing or there is no heartbeat, paramedics will commence with CPR. At the hospital, the overdose victim may have their stomach pumped or receive a dose of charcoal or a laxative to flush the Dilaudid out of his or her system. Most likely they will be hooked up to machines that will monitor breathing and blood pressure. If they cannot breathe on their own, they will be intubated and hooked up to a ventilator, a machine that will breathe for them.

Avoid a Dilaudid Overdose Through Dilaudid Addiction Treatment at Meditox

At Meditox, we believe the best treatment for Dilaudid addiction is a Suboxone treatment. Suboxone allows you to safely detox off of Dilaudid completely so that an overdose will not be an issue. Erase your overdose concerns with a Suboxone detox at Meditox. Contact our calling center today.

If you feel that Meditox might be the right solution for you or your loved one, please call us for a toll-free and private consultation:

Additional Resources

American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry: Response to International Drug Scheduling
Medicinenet.com: Dilaudid Overdose
WebMD.com: Dilaudid Overdose

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