Dilaudid Addiction: Signs and Side Effects of Dilaudid Abuse

Dilaudid is a prescription medication that contains hydromorphone, a powerful opioid. This controlled substance is used to treat severe pain, but it’s also often misused, as it can cause intense euphoria. Eventually, misuse can progress to dependence and addiction.

Common street names include:

• Dillies
• D
• Blues
• Pain pills

Pills sold as “Dilaudid” may be counterfeit, increasing the risk of complications. Counterfeit pills are often made with fentanyl or other substances, so it’s difficult to estimate how much hydromorphone you’re actually taking. Dilaudid misuse involves taking higher-than-prescribed doses and using it more often than necessary, as well as crushing and snorting, injecting or mixing it with alcohol or sedatives.

Hydromorphone is found in products other than Dilaudid, but this page solely covers Dilaudid misuse, addiction risks and withdrawal symptoms. Since it focuses on health risks and side effects of Dilaudid misuse, this guide doesn’t discuss treatment options or rehab centers.

Dilaudid is an opioid agonist, which means it binds to mu-opioid receptors in the brain and spinal cord. This reduces the perception of pain and makes you feel relaxed.

Some people also experience euphoria, an intense feeling of pleasure caused by the release of dopamine in the nervous system. Dopamine is a chemical that plays an important role in the brain’s reward system.

Dilaudid is potent, so it takes effect quickly. Fast relief from pain and stress can reinforce repeated use, especially when someone needs help managing stress or is afraid that severe pain will return.

As your body gets used to Dilaudid, you may need more of it to get the same effects. This is known as Dilaudid tolerance. Withdrawal-related discomfort can also contribute to continued use, creating a cycle where you use it to avoid withdrawal symptoms.

Several factors increase the risk of overdose and loss of control:

• Non-oral use
• Taking escalating doses
• Mixing Dilaudid with alcohol or benzodiazepines

When discussing Dilaudid abuse vs. Dilaudid addiction, it’s important to understand what each term means. Dilaudid misuse is when you use it outside of medical advice.

Note that clinicians have replaced “substance abuse” and “drug addiction” with terms that reflect the complex blend of environmental, genetic and developmental factors involved in substance use. Other phrases position substance misuse as a personal choice instead of a disease.

Substance misuse refers to the harmful, unhealthy or risky consumption of substances. In contrast, substance use disorder is a treatable disorder characterized by the compulsive use of drugs even when it causes harmful physical, mental or social consequences.

Examples of hydromorphone misuse include:

• Taking higher doses than your healthcare provider prescribed.
• Using Dilaudid for longer than your doctor recommended.
• Taking it to get high instead of using it according to the prescription guidelines.
• Using someone else’s prescription.

Dilaudid addiction refers to compulsive use combined with impaired control, cravings and continued use of hydromorphone despite its negative effects on your physical or mental health.

In some cases, misuse begins when someone is prescribed Dilaudid to control severe pain. Over time, prescribed use may turn into misuse related to stress, poor sleep or an avoidance of withdrawal symptoms.

For example, you may:

• Run out of it earlier than you should.
• Hide your Dilaudid use from loved ones.
• Take extra doses of hydromorphone in case you can’t take a scheduled dose.
• Buy pills from people in your social circle or get them at parties.

Dilaudid dependence occurs when your body adapts to regular hydromorphone use. This can cause you to experience withdrawal symptoms if you try to stop using it or reduce your dosage.

You can also develop a psychological dependence on Dilaudid, which is when you use hydromorphone to relax, calm down or steady your emotions. Some people also rely on it to function in their day-to-day lives.

The risk of dependence increases when you take higher-than-recommended doses, use Dilaudid for longer than intended or use opioids to cope emotionally. While dependence isn’t the same as addiction, it can indicate that your use patterns are escalating, which is a risk factor for opioid use disorder.

The signs of Dilaudid addiction are varied. Hydromorphone affects your body, behavior, psychological functioning and mood. Some people also engage in unsafe use patterns, increasing the risk of overdose.

Physical Signs

Due to its status as a central nervous system (CNS) depressant, Dilaudid slows down your brain and nerves. It also stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, which relaxes your body after you’re exposed to stress or danger. As a result, Dilaudid misuse can cause your pupils to shrink.

Other physical signs of Dilaudid misuse include:

• Drowsiness
• Itching
• Slowed breathing
• Nausea
• Constipation

Mental Health and Cognitive Signs

Because opioid drug use leads to increased dopamine levels, Dilaudid can alter your brain function. For example, it’s common to feel confused once the drug takes effect. Hydromorphone misuse may also cause mood swings, strong cravings and anxiety between doses.

Behavioral Signs

Drug abuse also causes noticeable changes in behavior. Some people take more Dilaudid than intended or seek early refills. “Doctor shopping” is the practice of asking multiple healthcare professionals for prescriptions. This is usually done without their knowledge, allowing someone who’s misusing Dilaudid to obtain extra doses. People who doctor shop may also exaggerate their pain to justify the request for a hydromorphone prescription.

You may even hide your Dilaudid use from friends and family members. This may involve spending more time alone or hiding it in your room rather than keeping it in a medicine cabinet. Some people also buy Dilaudid pills, increasing the risk of exposure to fentanyl and other contaminants.

Social and Functional Signs

Dilaudid misuse can contribute to relationship conflict, especially if you’ve been hiding your opioid use from loved ones. It’s also common for hydromorphone addiction to affect your performance at work or school. You may miss more time than usual, arrive late or leave early.

Some people even have legal or financial issues related to their Dilaudid use. For example, if someone drives after taking it, they may be charged with driving under the influence (DUI). You may also take out loans or borrow money from friends so you can afford to buy more Dilaudid.

Safety Concerns

One of the biggest safety concerns associated with Dilaudid misuse is escalating doses once you’ve built a tolerance. Mixing hydromorphone with alcohol or benzodiazepines is also risky.

Discontinuation of Dilaudid and other opioids may cause you to experience severe flu-like symptoms, intense cravings and restlessness. Withdrawal symptoms typically begin approximately 6 to 12 hours after your last dose, according to the Lake County Indiana Department of Health.

Common Dilaudid withdrawal symptoms include:

• Sweating
• Yawning
• Anxiety
• Runny nose
• Muscle aches
• Watery eyes
• Insomnia

Later in the withdrawal process, you may also experience:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Chills
• Abdominal cramps
• Goosebumps

In severe cases, it’s possible to develop opioid withdrawal syndrome, a life-threatening condition. Opioid withdrawal syndrome may cause fast heart rate, high blood pressure and fast breathing rate.

The severity of withdrawal symptoms depends on how often you use Dilaudid and how long you’ve been misusing it. You may experience severe symptoms if you have a history of polysubstance use, which is the consumption of two or more substances (legal or illegal) at the same time or within a short period.

Due to its effects on the respiratory system, one of the most common Dilaudid side effects is respiratory depression. Additional short-term effects include dizziness, sedation and impaired judgment.

Potential long-term effects include Dilaudid dependence or tolerance. You may also experience worsening constipation, hormonal changes and an increased risk of overdose.

Hydromorphone overdose may cause unconsciousness, dangerous respiratory depression or death. The risks are even greater if you mix Dilaudid with alcohol or benzodiazepines.

Because Dilaudid affects brain function, it also has some side effects related to mental health and daily functioning. For example, you may have difficulty sleeping or making decisions. Dilaudid misuse has also been linked to sudden mood changes.

Certain routes of administration increase the risk of complications. Snorting Dilaudid may irritate or damage your nasal cavities, while injecting may lead to serious infections.

A risk factor is anything that increases the likelihood that you’ll develop a certain disease. Risk factors can be genetic, environmental, social or developmental.

One of the main lifestyle factors is access to Dilaudid and other opioids. For example, long-term prescriptions and a lack of monitoring make it easier to misuse it without detection.

Chronic pain, repeated injuries and sleep disruptions can all lead to Dilaudid misuse, especially if the pain is severe. There are also mental health factors at play. Some people misuse hydromorphone because they have anxiety, depression or a history of trauma they’re trying to suppress.

Other risk factors for hydromorphone addiction include:

• Shared pills
• Leftover medication at home
• Prior misuse of alcohol, benzodiazepines or opioids
• Emotional regulation challenges
• Easy access to Dilaudid via social networks

When diagnosing Dilaudid addiction, clinicians examine your use patterns over time. They compare these patterns to established diagnostic criteria.

A clinician typically evaluates:

• Loss of control
• Tolerance level
• Cravings
• Withdrawal symptoms
• Risky use
• Continued use of Dilaudid despite harm

Your assessment may also include a mental health evaluation and a discussion about how you’ve been using Dilaudid. This helps clinicians determine if you have a high risk of overdose or need integrated mental health treatment.

Although drug tests can confirm Dilaudid use, they don’t provide any information about your use patterns. For example, a drug test can be positive for hydromorphone whether you’ve been misusing it or taking it exactly as your doctor prescribed. Therefore, clinicians don’t rely on urine, blood or saliva tests when diagnosing Dilaudid addiction.

Opioid addiction isn’t a personal failure. It can happen to anyone, especially if you start using Dilaudid to relieve post-surgical pain or cope with stress. Reach out for help if you’ve been taking higher doses, experiencing withdrawal symptoms or mixing hydromorphone with other depressants or suspected counterfeit pills.

Help.org is a free, confidential treatment finder. Use it to find help for Dilaudid addiction based on your use patterns, location and preferences.