What Does A Dilaudid High Feel Like?

A Dilaudid high can cause feelings of euphoria, drowsiness, numbness, and discomfort.

Getting high on Dilaudid is not a medically approved use, and hydromorphone products like Dilaudid and Exalgo are schedule II controlled substances in the U.S. due to their abuse potential.

Dilaudid is a brand name prescription opioid that offers analgesia, or pain relief. Its generic formulation is hydromorphone hydrochloride, a form of hydromorphone. Like other opioids, hydromorphone may be abused for its sedation, numbing, and general depressant side effects.

A 2019 report from the U.S Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) surveyed nearly 230,000 Americans aged 12 or older who misused hydromorphone. While the illicit use of hydromorphone has steadily decreased over the past decade, it is still a significant issue.

Effects Of A Dilaudid High

A Dilaudid high is the result of central nervous system (CNS) depression. Hydromorphone is an opioid agonist that binds to specific receptors in the brain and spinal cord, blocks pain signals, and slows down general activity.

Dilaudid is commonly prescribed as an immediate-release opioid analgesic, meaning the effects of hydromorphone may be felt quickly. Extended-release tablets for Dilaudid and Exalgo may also be used.

A high caused by Dilaudid may include:

• sedation
• drowsiness
• lightheadedness
• dry mouth
• constipation
• euphoria

Dilaudid is available in both solid and liquid forms. It may also be sold illicitly, mixed into a solution, and injected through intravenous use. Side effects of Dilaudid may vary depending on the method of use and amount taken.

How Much Dilaudid Is Needed To Get High?

The amount of Dilaudid needed to experience a high can vary from person to person. Doctors prescribing Dilaudid may recommend the use of pills or an oral liquid. Recommended doses may range from 2-32 mg for pills, or 5mg/ml for oral liquid.

Taking Dilaudid over the recommended dosage can increase the chances of getting high. Dilaudid may also be sold as an illicit drug A person with opioid tolerance may require high doses of the drug to feel its effects.

Illicit hydromorphone may be taken with other pain medications, such as oxycodone, codeine, and fentanyl, or non-opioids such as alcohol. These interactions can greatly increase the risk of serious side effects, especially withdrawal syndrome or an overdose.

Dilaudid Overdose

A hydromorphone high may happen before an overdose. Overdosing on Dilaudid can be life-threatening.

Symptoms of an opioid overdose may include:

• respiratory depression (slowed or stopped breathing)
• difficulty staying awake
• unconsciousness
• hypotension (low blood pressure)
• decreased heart rate

Fatal overdoses from opioids may occur if an overdose victim does not receive immediate medical treatment, or if the amount ingested was extremely high. From April 2020 to April 2021, there were over 75,000 opioid overdose deaths in the United States.

Naloxone can reverse respiratory depression caused by an opioid overdose, and can be given by people without medical training. Giving an overdose victim naloxone can be crucial before medical help arrives.

Treatment Options For Dilaudid Abuse

Opioid use to get high is against professional guidelines, and can be dangerous to your health. Physical dependence, withdrawal symptoms, and opioid use disorder can occur in the long-term when abusing Dilaudid.

Quitting opiates can be difficult due to ongoing severe pain or chronic pain, or a perceived lack of pain management alternatives. Substance abuse treatment programs can ease patients out of opioid addiction through behavioral therapy, methadone and buprenorphine, dietary supplements, and other options.

To learn if our opioid use treatment program can help you or your loved one, please contact Northeast Addictions Treatment Center today.