Dilaudid Withdrawal

One of the strongest opiate prescription drugs available, Dilaudid is a supremely addictive painkiller prescribed only for the most extreme pain. Closely related to morphine, Dilaudid is actually 8 times stronger than a morphine pill, making it one of the most dangerous drugs that can be obtained by prescription. It is so acutely powerful that is often compared to street heroin and, in some cases, it produces a much more heightened high.

What is a Dilaudid Withdrawal?

Even when taken exactly as prescribed, Dilaudid-like all opioid-based painkillers-is addictive. Once you adjust to taking the drug, your body begins to build up a tolerance. This means that your initial dose won't provide the same pain relieving effects a few weeks after you start taking it. Instead, you will need a higher dose just to maintain the original relief from pain. This tolerance translates into physical addiction to the drug, which is defined by the withdrawal symptoms you experience if you abruptly stop taking Dilaudid or even just miss a dose. The euphoric effects of Dilaudid are also mentally addictive, which can intensify the physical symptoms even more.

What are the Symptoms of a Dilaudid Withdrawal?

The effects of Dilaudid last for up to six hours, so between five and six hours after your last dose, Dilaudid withdrawal symptoms will begin. These symptoms will slowly worsen over the next few days, peak and level out, lingering for weeks, even a month. The symptoms may include:

Paranoid anxiety and irritability
Restlessness and insomnia despite yawning and a general feeling of weakness
Involuntary twitching and muscles spasms, especially in the legs
Stomach and muscle cramps
Bone pain
Alternating hot and cold flashes
Excessive sweating despite chills and shivering
Nausea and vomiting
Diarrhea

As bad as these symptoms are, they are far better than overdosing on Dilaudid, which is a distinct possibility with continued addiction. A Dilaudid overdose can result in coma or death.

What are the Treatment Options for Dilaudid Withdrawal?

When it comes to Dilaudid withdrawal, you have two options: avoid it by maintaining your addiction or face it and treat your addiction. Too often, people attempt to detox off of Dilaudid alone and end up experiencing the symptoms described above. It can be so overwhelming, so debilitating that they quickly get frustrated and take a dose of Dilaudid just to ease the symptoms. With a medical detox like the Suboxone treatment offered by Meditox, you can safely and efficiently break your addiction to Dilaudid with a modicum of withdrawal symptoms and a focus on health.

How Does Meditox Treat Dilaudid Withdrawal?

With a personalized plan that provides for individual circumstances like dosage and level of Dilaudid addiction, your Meditox clinical team will help you determine how much Suboxone to take and how long you will need to take it in order to detox safely. Meditox is an outpatient treatment center, which means that we ask you to attend only one meeting to undergo an evaluation and set up your Suboxone treatment plan. When you return home, you will be on your way to a drug-free life with a finite detox period ahead of you. You're not trading one addiction for another. Rather, you are choosing an immediate peace of mind and a healthy, measured detox guided by the substance abuse specialists at Meditox.

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
Drug Abuse Help: Dilaudid Withdrawal
WrongDiagnosis.com: Dilaudid Withdrawal

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