Signs of Dilaudid Addiction: Get Help Before it's Too Late

Dilaudid is a very strong drug derived from morphine, which is also exactly the same thing as the street drug heroine is made from. While not as popular as it was 30 or 40 years ago because of its' addictive properties, doctors still prescribe the medication for moderate to severe pain. Dilaudid works by altering the way your brain perceives pain. If you take the drug for moderate pain or even recreationally, there is a fairly high chance of developing a dependency, which could easily turn into a very difficult to deal with addiction.

Every person is different, but normally people who are addicted to dilaudid suffer fairly extreme physical and emotional symptoms when they try to stay off the drug. Below are some of the emotional and physical signs you can look for if you think that you or someone you love is having a problem with dilaudid.

Emotional Signs and Symptoms

Drugs derived from morphine, or opiods as they're officially called, mostly affect people physically, but emotional signs are common as well. Those who become addicted to dilaudid are often terrified that their pain will return if they stop taking the drug. This fear is almost 100 percent psychological and is fueled by the addiction; a large majority of people continue to take the drug after their pain has left them. The real problem is that dilaudid addiction is so bad that if the abuser stops taking it they will most likely go through severe withdrawal, which includes such symptoms as mood swings, severe depression, and more. Chances are high that a person trying to get off of dilaudid will take other drugs or alcohol to try to stop the emotional withdrawal symptoms.

Physical Signs and Symptoms

Dilaudid can cause physical problems right off the bat, but most come from long term abuse. The first signs of dilaudid abuse are lethargy and slower than normal breathing. The real problems occur when trying to get off of dilaudid. Withdrawal from addiction to this powerful drug can cause painful and extreme symptoms, such as tremors, dizziness, and shortness of breath, nausea, and even heart palpitations.

The reason that withdrawal symptoms are so important when it comes to dilaudid is that when you start experiencing them and take the drug in order to get rid of them then you can be pretty sure you have a problem. The sign biggest sign of addiction or abuse when it comes to dilaudid is when you use it to get rid of withdrawal symptoms like nausea, sweating, vomiting, and dizziness, instead of using it for the prescribed purpose. In other words, if you feel like you need to take it even though the original purpose of the drug is no longer an issue, you are definitely on your way to addiction.

For the reasons stated above, if you or a loved one is showing signs of dilaudid addiction, you should do something about it as quickly as possible. The worse the addiction gets, the harder it is to treat. Dilaudid withdrawal has a lot in common with heroine withdrawal, which is a closely related drug. Treatment can be very difficult and painful, especially during the initial detox phase. If the addiction is bad enough, the patient can get incredibly sick, suffer failure of their organs, and in certain cases even die. The treatment for dilaudid addiction is so bad that sometimes doctors prescribe other drugs to help alleviate the more unpleasant and extreme symptoms. These other drugs, such as pentazocine or naltrexone can help the patient get off the drug slowly to avoid the painful withdrawal symptoms associated with withdrawal.

Dilaudid is a powerful drug meant to be used only in cases of extreme pain. It is one of the most addictive of the pain killers that a doctor can prescribe. Because of this, it is only recommended by doctors in certain cases. Becoming addicted to this drug is nothing to be ashamed of because of how addictive it is, so do not be afraid to get help if you feel like you need it. If you, a close friend, or a family member shows signs of addiction to this powerful drug, be sure to seek help as quickly as possible to avoid a long and often painful recovery.