Dilaudid Detox Centers

Dilaudid is the brand name for the opioid medication hydromorphone. This drug is commonly used to relieve pain and, in its extended-release form, severe pain. Dialudid is a beneficial substance when taken exactly as prescribed by those who require it, but unfortunately, it is also abused because of its ability to cause an intense high when taken in large doses.

Those who take the drug consistently for a long period of time, either as prescribed or illicitly, are likely to become dependent on its effects. As a treatment for this dependence, detox in a professional facility is often necessary. If you are looking for a detox center where you can withdraw safely from Dilaudid, call 800-315-1376 (Who Answers?) now.

How Dilaudid Detox Works

Dilaudid detox works by using medications and behavioral therapies to minimize the severity of one’s withdrawal symptoms as the individual’s dependence is slowly reduced. After this occurs, the individual will often require addiction treatment if they were abusing the drug. Like all opioids, it is important not to end one’s use of the drug suddenly, as withdrawal symptoms will be likely to occur. According to the National Library of Medicine, doctors treating individuals who have become dependent on the drug often try to decrease their patient’s dose gradually, but detox centers usually treat withdrawal from Dilaudid differently.

Detox keeps patients from experiencing the extremely painful withdrawal symptoms associated with Dilaudid and other opioids to their full extent. Often, clinicians use a scale called the Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale (or COWS) to determine the severity of a patient’s symptoms and then begin treatment from there (National Institute on Drug Abuse). As patients are treated, they are often reassessed and their treatments are adjusted accordingly.

Detox centers help individuals who are struggling with their dependence on a drug. It does not matter if you have been abusing the substance or not; dependence on Dilaudid is a possible outcome of taking the mediation for a long period of time. It is also necessary to remember, though, that individuals who have abused the drug need addiction treatment afterward, or they will not be able to properly and safely recover from their addiction.

Dilaudid Withdrawal

The symptoms caused by Dilaudid withdrawal are similar to those caused by other opioid drugs. These are well known through the community of substance abusers, and the goose bumps and chills caused by opioid withdrawal actually led to the phrase “going cold turkey.” Opioid withdrawal is uncomfortable and very painful, but as long as it is uncomplicated, it usually isn’t life threatening. However, there are times where it can threaten the well being of the individual based on the severity of the symptoms and other issues experienced by the individual.

The common symptoms associated with Dilaudid withdrawal include:

Sweating and nausea are common Dilaudid withdrawal symptoms.

Restlessness
Teary eyes
Runny nose
Yawning
Sweating
Chills
Goosebumps
Muscle, joint, and bone pain
Widening pupils
Irritability
Anxiety
Backache
Weakness
Stomach cramps
Insomnia and other sleep problems
Nausea
Loss of appetite
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Quickened breathing and heartbeat
Fever

The withdrawal symptoms associated with Dilaudid and other types of opioids, especially the early ones, are similar to the flu. While the drug is not likely to cause life-threatening effects like benzodiazepines or alcohol, the NLM states, “Withdrawal from these drugs… can be very hard and may be dangerous.”

One of the biggest complications associated with Dilaudid withdrawal is the possibility of depressive symptoms taking hold and causing a full-blown depression disorder. Some patients actually do suffer from these issues as a result of Dilaudid withdrawal without having ever experienced them before. The pain experienced during this syndrome is also extreme and often unbearable without the use of professional treatment. Therefore, it is important to be able to recognize the symptoms of Dilaudid withdrawal and to be able to seek help for them through a reliable detox program.

Symptoms of Dilaudid Withdrawal Treated in Dilaudid Detox

Most of Dilaudid’s withdrawal symptoms can be treated with medication, although other options are often utilized. There are three main medications used to treat this disorder, and all three cause slightly different results, making each of them more beneficial for certain situations and certain patients.

Clonidine is the most commonly used medication to treat opioid withdrawal. According to the NLM, the drug is a centrally acting alpha-agonist hypotensive agent, and it is beneficial for treating symptoms such as muscle pain and anxiety, as well as the flu-like symptoms caused by Dilaudid withdrawal. However, it cannot treat nausea and vomiting (and may actually increase the frequency of these issues), so other medications often need to be given with it to treat them. Clonidine is administered until the individual no longer experiences severe symptoms associated with opioid withdrawal. This is often one of the quicker options for detox as well.
Methadone can be used to maintain patients or to be tapered slowly as the individual withdraws from the drug. Methadone is an opioid, and it can be used in detox for those with severe withdrawal symptoms. Once the patient is stabilized on the drug, they can make the decision with their doctor to be slowly weaned off it. Because it is an opioid, methadone minimizes all withdrawal symptoms caused by other opioid drugs, including Dilaudid.
Buprenorphine works similarly to methadone, but it is only a partial opioid agonist. This makes it less vulnerable to abuse, and as such, many patients are able to receive it from doctor’s offices instead of from regulated clinics (the only way one can receive methadone).

Depending on the severity of your symptoms, one of these treatments will probably be considerably better for your needs. In addition, antidepressants are sometimes used during opioid withdrawal to treat severe depressive symptoms. It is important that patients are able to receive this medication when necessary, as it can protect them from experiencing suicidal thoughts and other dangerous side effects of depression.

Behavioral therapies are often beneficial during detox as well, as they can help treat depressive symptoms, anxiety, and pave the way for addiction treatment in those who require it.

Is It Safe to Detox at Home?

In general, it can be safer to detox from opioid drugs at home than from certain other drugs like benzodiazepines and substances like alcohol. This is because Dilaudid and other opioids do not cause life-threatening effects the way other substances might. Still, it is important to understand your particular situation and how treatment may affect you.

It is usually much safer to attend some sort of detox program while going through Diluadid withdrawal than to try and go through the experience completely on your own. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, “Even mild levels of opioid use commonly produce uncomfortable levels of withdrawal symptoms,” so it is usually much safer to be managed on one of the medications listed above. One can do so through an outpatient detox program that allows them to manage and live their daily life, but this is safest when:

There is no threat of complications caused by withdrawal
There is no threat of depressive symptoms
The individual does not suffer from a co-occurring mental or physical disorder
The individual’s symptoms are mild
The individual has a strong support system of family members and friends to care for them while they are going through withdrawal

Sometimes, though, Dilaudid detox does need to take place in a residential facility. This is usually true of those who have been abusing the drug in high doses and are likely to experience severe withdrawal symptoms as well as a high potential for relapse. It is important to consider your specific situation before beginning any detox program for Dilaudid withdrawal.

How Long Will Dilaudid Detox Take?

According to Harvard Medical School, “The intensity of the [withdrawal] reaction depends on the dose and speed of withdrawal.” As short-acting drugs tend to produce shorter lasting but more painful symptoms, long-acting opioids like Dilaudid will often produce symptoms that linger for extended periods of time. And as your symptoms will likely be managed with a medication, this could potentially draw out your withdrawal period for a longer time.

Most individuals finish Dilaudid detox in about a week or two, but it could take longer. There is truly no way to be certain how long your detox program will take until you consult a doctor, but generally, withdrawal from opioids is not as long as those syndromes associated with other drugs like stimulants and sedatives. It is important to note, though, that those who have been abusing Dilaudid will require further addiction treatment after detox ends.

Help Me Find a Dilaudid Detox Center

Do you want to make a change in your life and end your dependence on Dilaudid? We can help you find a detox center that will cater to your needs and allow you to put an end to your Dilaudid use and abuse. It is very important that the detox center you choose will allow you to recover as safely as possible, so call 800-315-1376 (Who Answers?) now to find help and to start the process of reclaiming your life from Dilaudid.