Dilaudid Symptoms And Warning Signs

Signs of Dilaudid Abuse

As a painkiller stronger than morphine, Dilaudid has a serious potential for abuse and addiction. Some people following their prescription may develop a physical dependence. An individual with a Dilaudid dependence will experience withdrawal symptoms if they cease taking the medication or reduce their dose. In some cases, a full-blown addiction may develop, which is characterized by cravings, hazardous behaviors, relationship issues, or problems at home, school or work.

Some signs of Dilaudid abuse include:

• Constricted pupils
• Loss of alertness
• Slowed breathing
• Drowsiness
• Mood swings

Dangers Of Dilaudid

Dilaudid is dangerous because tolerance ramps up quickly, leading many users to escalate their doses. Taking larger doses of Dilaudid may lead to shallow, decreased breathing, circulatory collapse or possibly respiratory failure. This is especially true when combined with alcohol or other drugs that are also Central Nervous System Depressants.

Possible serious complications of Dilaudid abuse include:

• Stroke
• Coma
• Nausea and vomiting
• Collapsed veins
• Stomach pain
• Convulsions
• Heart attack
• Trouble breathing
• Death

Dilaudid users who inject the drug are at a heightened risk of receiving and transmitting HIV/AIDS and hepatitis.

Dilaudid addiction can also impact other parts of a user’s life, leading to problems such as:

• Financial devastation due to the high price of Dilaudid
• Divorce caused by prioritizing drug use over marriage
• Incarceration due to theft or forging prescriptions
• Moving on to stronger, cheaper drugs like heroin

Recognizing A Dilaudid Addiction

Dilaudid abuse can quickly lead to an addiction. But just because someone is using the drug recreationally, it doesn’t mean they are addicted. There are certain signs and behaviors that indicate when an addiction has taken hold.

In order to relive the desired “rush” from Dilaudid, many users become focused on getting the drug at all costs. Some people spend a great deal of time doctor shopping, stealing the drug or searching online for distributors.

Relationships with family and friends may become strained due to the time and energy the user is devoting to their habit.

Something that started out of curiosity or even through a legitimate prescription may escalate to the point where users cannot control their drug-taking behaviors. People addicted to Dilaudid often obsess over the drug and tend to put their drug use before everything else.

Intervention And Next Steps

Some people addicted to Dilaudid don’t realize they have a problem. They often think they are in control, especially if they have a prescription.

Friends and family may feel frustrated by their loved one’s Dilaudid addiction. Staging an intervention is one way family members can take control of the situation.

An interventionist can help guide an effective conversation with the addicted person. Skilled interventionists do pre-intervention research and interviews with the family. This helps identify any enabling behaviors that can get in the way of the intervention.

A successful intervention culminates with the user agreeing to seek treatment. Immediate admission to a drug treatment facility typically follows a successful intervention.

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Withdrawal From Dilaudid And Treatment

Because an addiction to Dilaudid is so serious, users shouldn’t detox on their own. Cravings and withdrawal are intense during detox. Without professional supervision, withdrawal often leads to relapse. Physicians can monitor the detox process and help the addicted person manage their withdrawal symptoms.

The detox process for Dilaudid may involve a gradual reduction in the user’s dose. Incrementally cutting down doses helps ease users through the withdrawal phase, limiting painful symptoms. In a medically-supervised detox setting, Dilaudid users are typically switched to Buprenorphine (Subutex or Suboxone) or a similar drug as it is more effective at tapering down from Opioids and curbing withdrawal symptoms.

A thorough assessment is conducted during detox to evaluate for other areas of concern, such as other addictions or mental health issues. These assessments are designed to identify possible co-occurring disorders and physical health issues.

Treatment centers treat the mind, body, and spirit holistically. Therapy is and important part of treatment for an addiction to Dilaudid. Counseling can help users pinpoint the underlying causes of their addiction, helping them change their habits and behaviors. Contact a treatment provider today.