How Long Does Dilaudid Stay In Your System?

How Long Does Dilaudid Stay In Your System?

How Long Does Dilaudid Stay In Your System? The duration of Dilaudid depends on the form of the drug used. Dilaudid, or its parent drug hydromorphone, is available in various dosage forms. Some are fast-acting and have an almost immediate onset, which means their effects last longer. Although they all refer to the same drug, it is essential to note that not all of them are sold under the Dilaudid label.

Dilaudid is available in a variety of forms, including:

• Quick-Acting Oral Liquid: The highest drug levels in the blood occur between 30-60 minutes after administration.
• Quick-Acting Oral Tablet: The maximum drug concentration in the blood takes 30-60 minutes.
• Quick-Acting Injection:  Injection that starts working in 15 minutes and lasts for more than 5 hours
• Quick-Acting Suppository: Acts slightly longer than other forms and can last up to 8 hours.
• Long-Acting Oral Tablet: The onset can take up to 8 hours, and the maximum amount of drug in the blood is reached after 16 hours. Dilaudid’s peak

According to the US Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), Dilaudid has been reported as being abused by crushing, chewing, snorting, or injecting the dissolved product. These practices pose a significant risk to the abuser that could result in overdose or death. In addition, it may be expected to have additive effects when used with alcohol, other opioids, or illicit drugs that cause central nervous system depression.

Why is Dilaudid so Addictive?

Dilaudid is an opioid pain medication that is eight times stronger than morphine. It produces a strong pain-relieving analgesic effect and a pleasurable euphoric high similar to that of heroin within 15 minutes of administration, and the effects can last as long as six hours. Users quickly become tolerant to the drug, requiring larger, more frequent doses to achieve the same effect.

In just two weeks, users can become so physically dependent on Dilaudid that they experience withdrawal symptoms if they go for more than 12 to 24 hours between doses. Fear of withdrawal symptoms and desire for hydromorphone’s euphoric effects quickly creates a psychological addiction, leading to severe Dilaudid addiction and abuse in a very short amount of time. Professional Dilaudid addiction detox may be required for people experiencing withdrawal discomforts.

Why is Dilaudid Prescribed?

Like other opioid medications, Dilaudid is primarily used for pain relief. Opioids work by physically blocking the pain signals that reach the brain by decreasing the intensity of pain and improving the patient’s emotional response to it. Because the source of the pain can vary depending on each patient’s circumstances, Dilaudid may be prescribed to some people and not to others.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that physicians use a three-step ladder for managing pain with opioids like Dilaudid. First, non-opioid, over-the-counter medications like aspirin, ibuprofen, and acetaminophen are used to control the patient’s discomfort. If these drugs prove ineffective, mild opioids like codeine are prescribed. If this still does not do enough to relieve the patient’s pain, potent opioids like oxycodone and Dilaudid are prescribed.

Dilaudid may be prescribed to patients recovering from cancer, major surgeries, or conditions that involve chronic pain. Before taking Dilaudid, it’s important that you talk to your doctor about your medical history to accurately evaluate if Dilaudid is safe for you.

Dilaudid Side Effects

Using Dilaudid, even on a short-term basis, can result in many side effects. The most common side effects of hydromorphone include:

• Impaired coordination
• Urinary retention
• Difficulty falling or staying asleep
• Appetite loss
• Incrementally heightened sensitivity to pain
• Excessive sweating
• Itching
• Changes in blood pressure
• Slowed breathing rate
• Heart rate changes

• Headache
• Confusion
• Anxiety
• Dry mouth
• Constipation
• Constricted pupils
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Stomach pain
• Dizziness
• Lightheadedness

Long-Term Effects

Using Dilaudid on a long-term basis can result in many serious physical and psychological health problems, as well as social and legal problems in one’s life. Some of the many recognized long-term effects of abusing Dilaudid include:

• Infections and diseases from needle sharing (HIV, hepatitis, etc.)
• Track marks on arms and/or legs
• Frequent mood swings
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Social isolation
• Impaired relationships

• Increased legal problems
• Reckless behavior
• Possibility of injury while intoxicated (e.g., driving under the influence)
• Poverty or financial problems due to drug use
• Eventual transition to other drugs like heroin

Dilaudid Statistics

The 2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) reported that among the 2.5 million and 2.1 million individuals aged 12 and older who used hydromorphone products in 2015 and 2016, 261,000 and 239,000 misused the hydromorphone products within the same year

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Dilaudid Abuse Treatment

After completing the Dilaudid detox program, clients may choose to continue their addiction treatment with inpatient treatment for Dilaudid addiction. Research shows that this amount of time provides more positive treatment results than programs that only last 30 or 60 days.

While Dilaudid detox manages physical addiction, Inpatient treatment is developed to address the addiction of the mind. While in rehab for Dilaudid addiction, clients will work with licensed counselors, therapists, and peers in recovery to unearth the root causes of their addiction. They will also spend time addressing the harmful behaviors that contributed to their Dilaudid addiction and developing healthier behaviors and attitudes about substance abuse and life in general.

Inpatient drug rehab plays an important role in the recovery process, as it provides clients with time to:

• Adopt valuable life skills
• Learn about the disease of addiction
• Spend time away from environmental triggers, drugs, and alcohol
• Work through each step of the 12-step program
• Learn about relapse prevention

All of these things will help clients overcome Dilaudid addiction for good and learn how to live life sober with ongoing peer support.

Find the Right Dilaudid Detox Treatment Plan at We Level Up NJ