Oxycodone vs Dilaudid?

7 Jun 2010

My dosage converter is saying you should be on a minimum dose of 64mgs/day of oxycodone. Dilaudid is much stronger then oxycodone but it doesn't last very long and when used chronically is should be prescribed in the sustained release form(Palladone) and not the quick release (dilaudid). Shit, I just remembered that you can't get palladone in the USA anymore. So you really should be on Oxycontin which is a sustained release oxycodone. The quick release oxycodone is garbage for chronic pain and you would need handfuls to get any relief.
After 8 years of dilaudid you will definitely have a tolerance to all fast acting opiates, so I would try and get on a decent long acting pain killer like methadone. Good luck... Dave

7 Jun 2010

Personally, I found 10mg oxycodone works better than 2mg dilaudid. So if you go by math alone, 20mg oxycodone would be the same as 4mg dilaudid. But that's not how you convert meds. Everyone reacts differently to different meds. And the 2 are not the same, only in that they have a short half life. By switching meds, you may find that the oxy works good for you. Honestly, your best bet is to be on a good extended release pain med. Short acting meds do more damage to the brain as the process adds stress to the system. Long acting opiates allow the brains systems time to regenerate. For people who have chronic pain and are opiate tolerant, methodone is a good choice. It is very difficult to build a tolerance to and you only need to administer once per day. Good luck to you and hope you find good relief with the oxy's.
Chris

1 Aug 2011

I am prescribed 30 mg oxy 3 times a day plus 8 mg diluadid 3 times a day 50 mg ultram 3 times a day & 350 mg soma 3 times a day plus nuerotin 2 times a day for my degeneritive disk disease. I found that the oxy don't last as long as the diluadid,i think the oxy s are just a quick fix for a hour or two. What really works is MS Contin 60 mg . you only need two a day you don't feel high you just feel normal with the pain gone. They are the best ones i've been given for my back,but i changed doctors & he put me on all that other stuff i mentioned. The 8 mg diluadid are very good too, they do their job.

30 May 2012

That's too much pain medicine !! Methadone and oxycodone!!the way you refer to oxycodone as "Oxy" probably are drug seeking

18 Dec 2012

There is an extended release dilaudid called Exalgo, very expensive but if your insurance will cover it then not too bad. I take 3 16 mg Exalgo in the morning and 3 8 mg dilaudid 4-5 x a day. Plus a 200 mcg fentanyl patch. Yes, high high dosing. But none of the "oxy" anything worked for me. A year ago, after third redo of my C 5-6 fusion I was taking 70 mg morphine every 2-3 hrs. The surgery created a fibro flare and we couldn't get the pain down. Spent 3 days in the ICU on a ketamine drip and Dilaudid PCA. Morphine is weak. So I'd say my current meds are a lot less than 70 mg morphine every 2-3 hrs and more effective. Anyway, if you're not on an extended release and want to stick with the dilaudid, ask your doc about the exalgo. Maybe adding that in and going up to the 8 mg dilaudid would help if oxycodone isn't doing it. Took a long time for me to be on this much and still not pain free, but I vote for dilaudid. And am not looking forward to getting a tolerance to that, but I know it will happen.
Best of luck
Jessica

20 Mar 2013

I actually just went in reverse. Was taking 15mg oxycodone 3-4x/day then switched to 4mg dilaudid 3x/day with msContin on top also with nurontin and muscle relaxers.

You should have no problem with whatever dose of oxy you get as compared to dilaudid because they are much better for breakthrough pain.

I got so sick... I feel I basically went into with drawls. I've felt sick for days now, sneaking in a couple stray mgs of oxy I had stashed away to keep sane. I've been sleeping non stop and have no appetite.

Basically... I think dilaudid is CRAP! I can't wait until Thursday when I can hopefully get my beloved oxys back.

This whole ordeal has made me dread the day I actually have to stop taking all this bull.

Good luck