Dilaudid and Nausea: What Users Say

• hun...
• September 26, 2012

For Chronic Pain "I have severe chronic abdominal pain, and the only medication that controls my pain is Dilaudid. I was first given Dilaudid IV in the hospital after I had a reaction to morphine, and it was AMAZING. In less than a minute, my pain was essentially gone. The IV Dilaudid is, in my opinion, the greatest medicine ever invented. I now take 4 mg tablets six times a day for my pain, and it keeps my pain at about a 4, as opposed to being 9 or 10 without it. I have a really sensitive stomach, but I don't get nauseated from it like I do with other pain meds."

• End...
• February 22, 2020

For Pain "I've had morphine, Toradol, and Dilaudid through IV for pain relief, and I have a very high tolerance for pain. Toradol does absolutely nothing for my pain. If I thought that an 800 mg ibuprofen could stop or help the pain, I wouldn't be in the emergency department spending a $200.00 copay seeking pain relief. They then switched me to morphine and Zofran, which immediately makes my stomach gurgle and gives me a head rush, and then within ten minutes, I'm back in pain. However, when using Dilaudid, I've noticed that I am out of intolerable pain, and I'm okay, not nauseous, and I can function better. The analgesic effect lasts three times as long for me, so I don't keep bothering them telling them I'm still in pain. I wish doctors would actually listen to their patients instead of just being dismissive. I'm aware that I'm there a lot, it's a chronic condition that there's no cure for."

• Nor...
• February 24, 2014

For Pain "Been on it for several years for a spinal condition. Never had any uncomfortable side effects from it, and it managed my pain great. Now, I have been taken off Dilaudid and put on Methadone. Nausea, periodic profuse sweating along with agonizing pain is what I'm back to. I also got tired of finding doctors that were willing to prescribe it, finding a pharmacy that carried it, and even if the pharmacy has them, you still have the pharmacists who decide to 'play God' and are not willing to fill it for you. If you are lucky enough to establish these 3 things, you're still having to deal with ignorant attitudes from people who think they know more than the orthopedic professionals that you have to see on a monthly basis."

• chr...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 28, 2013

For Chronic Pain "Really helps ease the breakthrough pain. I was afraid when I first started it that it wouldn't help much at all, but in truth, it works better than anything else that I have been prescribed. I have had one surgery for three herniated discs in my cervical spine and now have two more that need surgery at the waist level. I have been suffering, only existing, not living for more than ten years. Dilaudid gave me back some of my life, and it doesn't make me nauseous like many of the other medications that I have been on. Even though it doesn't take away all of the pain, it does make it much more tolerable. Morphine made me sick, and I was severely hypersensitive to it. I am thankful for the relief Dilaudid has given me."

• tub...
• November 28, 2015

For Chronic Pain "This is an incredible drug - I'm 25 and living with MS. Subsequently, I have terrible spasms in my back that are non-stop. I've been on this drug for over three years and have absolutely no complaints. I've tried 12 other pain meds before this - all of them making me very high, nauseated, or sleepy. Then comes along Dilaudid - my doctor decided to try me on it because I was having such a hard time with all of the other drugs. From the moment I took the first dose, I have been pain-free - without any side effects whatsoever. Because I have been on it for so long, I have become tolerant to it, so I have to begin the search for a new drug. Anyone looking for a pain med - this is the route to go."

• Kel...
• November 23, 2012

For Chronic Pain "INTENSE CHRONIC PAIN. No Comparison or Substitute. HEAVILY Prescribed Tons of Methadone and OXYCODONE for 4 Years. When forced at E.R. Dilaudid is the only thing that works. I think it should be used more often. Morphine at ER would take 4 shots and cause nausea, which is bad for my ailments. 10/10 EVERY TIME! Thanks"

• Old...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 8, 2013

For Pain "I have had 15 surgeries for injuries sustained through sports and accidents. I also have severe migraines that started when I was 18. My extreme sporting life is over. I am in pain 24/7. The doctor is too concerned about the DEA, so I have no solution other than loading up on Advil. It worries me now because I'm getting older and the extreme pain really ups my blood pressure. If severe pain and nausea last 3 days, I spend the $1k for the ER trip. Although each ER doctor wants to try very weak pain meds that have not worked, if I can get a shot of Dilaudid with Phenergan, it seems to break the pain cycle. Morphine may work, but I can actually feel it in my body and that scares me. I just wish I didn't have to wait until I feel I'm dying and spend $1k to get relief from this drug."

• Mar...
• January 23, 2018

For Pain "I have a low tolerance for pain, and after an outpatient surgical procedure, I was prescribed Percocet for pain. They didn't help, so the doctor prescribed OxyContin. It worked, but it made me nauseated. He then prescribed Dilaudid. It really helped to ease the pain, I experienced none of the side effects, except constipation. I took it every 4 hours, then, as I healed, I decreased the dose to every 6 hours. Then I took one only at night. After the pain was gone, I stopped taking the medication and experienced no withdrawal issues."

• MMR...
• October 6, 2015

For Pain "I arrived at work and started to feel pain in my back and side of the abdomen. Since I have experienced this pain before, I recognized it as a kidney stone starting the trek down the urinary tract. After about 3 hours, the pain maxed out and was accompanied by nausea. A coworker took me to the ER, and after about 30-45 minutes of interrogation, they finally hooked me to an IV and provided a cocktail of drugs, including Dilaudid, Flomax (for urine flow), and Zofran (for nausea). Almost immediately, I felt a warm feeling all over and relaxed. I was able to doze for an hour or so, relatively pain-free. For me, the Dilaudid worked perfectly, but I didn't note the exact dosage, and it was a one-time thing."

• Bac...
• September 14, 2016

For Chronic Pain "In September 2006, I was in a bus accident. I had been in such pain, nothing was working. My blood pressure would skyrocket due to the pain, nothing was helping until I got the Dilaudid IV in the hospital. I also have to take Zofran for nausea. I had undergone 5 back surgeries in 10 years. I never needed pain medication until the bus accident. They tried Toradol, morphine, Percocet, but nothing helped. I was on a high dosage of Dilaudid for 3 years until my screws were removed in November 2013. I have been going off Dilaudid for 3 years now. I take 3.4 mg tabs a day, it takes almost 1 hour to work, but it only helps the pain for about 3-4 hours. This should only be used when nothing else will. I am so thankful."

• CDG...
• July 9, 2017

For Pain "Dilaudid is an amazing pain reliever, but I do not recommend it if you have no self-control. It is very easy to get addicted to. I have had Dilaudid several times after operations. I also suffer horrible migraines, and sometimes Dilaudid is the only thing that will knock them out. There are also times that Dilaudid makes it worse, such as rebound migraines. It doesn't always help. The bad thing about Dilaudid is that it does cause me to have bad acid reflux and also makes me extremely nauseous. I wouldn't recommend it unless you are in a tremendous amount of pain. It is very strong. Whenever they give it to you in an IV, your whole body tingles and heats up. It's a very strange feeling. Like I said, stay away from it unless you're in terrible pain."

• chi...
• July 16, 2015

For Pain "I went into the ER in EXTREME pain. I mean, I was in labor for 30 hours with no help from an epidural, and this pain I was having took the cake! Turns out I had pyelonephritis (kidney infection, caused by a UTI). I was in pure agony for hours... and finally, once they got me back into a real room and got the doctor in to see me, they got my IV hooked up and gave me nausea meds, 1 mg of Dilaudid, antibiotics, and Toradol. It worked almost instantly! I was so relieved!! All I wanted to do was close my eyes and sleep, and I got a couple of hours in before I was okay to leave the hospital. If you have ever had Stadol, the relief and feeling were VERY similar with Dilaudid, which was fine with me. Both have been the best pain relievers I've ever had."

• V55...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 22, 2017

For Pain "Had my gallbladder removed, and they gave me morphine, which didn't really help much. But then I ended up with a bile leak due to complications, and they put me on Dilaudid, and every ounce of pain vanished seconds after it was put into my IV. It made me really sleepy but not nauseous at all. Very addictive, but works amazingly to relieve extreme pain."

• Dil...
• November 29, 2016

For Pain "I had a splenectomy and was given Dilaudid in my IV afterwards for pain. It made me feel nauseous and felt like I was gonna pass out. I told my nurse, and she told me it was normal. Well, I stopped breathing, thankfully, I was revived. When I woke up, my room was full of people and even a chaplain. Scariest day of my life. After that, I managed my pain with only Tylenol."

• Rhi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 15, 2019

For Pain "I was administered Dilaudid following spiral fractures of my tibia and fibula. It literally took my breath away with how strong and sudden the effects were, and looking back I can see why this has the potential for abuse and why pain seekers go to the ER and try to score this. Additionally, I definitely recommend Zofran paired with it, because one of the times I was administered it, they left off the Zofran and I became extremely nauseous."

• jai...
• April 12, 2008

For Pain "It worked great after a procedure, with very little side effects. I was given 2 mg as an I.V. dose. I would recommend after and/or before surgery, for any pain ranging from moderately severe to very severe. If morphine gives you nausea, ask for Dilaudid!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 23, 2017

For Pain "I had Dilaudid every two hours on IV after my bowel resection. I needed this every two hours or else my body would start going into shock from trauma and pain. The IV was wonderful but doesn't last long at all. They tried giving me the pills two days before leaving, but they never worked like the IV. They sent me home with 1 mg oral Dilaudid, and taking one or two did not do a thing. I had to take 3 to even slightly feel relief. It seems their pill form isn't quite effective as the IV but does last longer but just isn't as great. I agree, as well as it being severely addictive. I weaned myself off 4 or 5 days ago after every day use for almost 2 weeks (mostly hospital IV), and I'm still having headaches and slight nausea."

• LHa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 17, 2015

For Pain "I received Dilaudid through IV while in the ER for kidney pain. The pain relief was very fast and effective. However, I had noticeable side effects - that disorienting whoosh effect mentioned by another commenter, severe dizziness, nausea, and blurred vision. When admissions asked me to sign paperwork, I had significant trouble raising my arms and holding the pen, but I was able to sign my name with a great deal of concentration. Getting out of bed was very difficult when they asked for a urine sample. I needed quite a bit of assistance from the nurse to walk across the hall. All I wanted to do was lie very still and minimize the dizziness. It took about 8 hours for this effect to go away."

• Ste...
• July 16, 2015

For Pain "I was given a dose of Dilaudid through IV for a severe headache associated with an infection. As soon as the nurse began pushing the syringe, I had a horrible taste in the back of my throat, my breathing and chest felt very heavy, my ears felt clogged, and I became very sleepy. These all lasted for around 4 hours, along with extreme nausea! The nurse said, 'Yeah, a lot of people don't like Dilaudid, it makes them feel pretty funny.' Good thing I was also taking Zofran, or I would have been vomiting my brains out."

• Jer...
• October 24, 2009

For Pain "I had an abscessed streptococcus infection, which is a really painful occurrence. They treated me with 2-10cc Dilaudid IV injections, and it was really great. I got really drowsy, but felt nothing, even when they stuck a huge needle into my insanely infected tonsil (it was only one tonsil). I went from a 9 on the pain scale to a 1 in ten minutes (or what I perceived as 10 minutes at least). I also hear about people getting very sick from hydromorphone. The staff at the medical center were great though. The technician who administered the drug in the ER knew just how to administer it to minimize nausea. I am definitely glad that they knew how much pain I was in and pulled no punches to treat it."

• Ann...
• November 7, 2010

For Pain "In the hospital in excruciating pain with ulcerative colitis, plus I'd just had shoulder surgery. Morphine and codeine make me sick, but Dilaudid was a miracle. My pain went from a 10 to 0 in minutes! I slept well, and never got nauseated. Doctors are reluctant to prescribe it, probably because it's so powerful. It really works."

• Jul...
• November 2, 2011

For Pain "I had surgery for a colon resection. I can't take Hydrocodone because it upsets my stomach, gives me headaches, nausea, and constipation. The morphine (patient-administered pump) didn't work for me at all, but Dilaudid worked wonderfully, 2 mg every 6 hours. I had no unpleasant side effects, which is very unusual for me with any medicine. I had no withdrawal problems when I left the hospital. If I ever have surgery again, I'm going to request Dilaudid. It gave me great relief and let me rest and heal!"

• CHi...
• July 21, 2010

For Pain "I received this medication in the ER for kidney stones. Twice before, the ER had given me Demerol for this pain, and while it helped, it did not completely give me relief. THIS did! I do not know if it caused nausea or not because they gave me Zofran along with it. I know that if I am ever in severe pain again, I hope the doctor will give me this medicine. Also, I had no memory loss like I do with morphine, which is a plus. I only received it through IV."

• ver...
• March 21, 2011

For Pain "I was in the E.R. for pain associated with a condition causing kidney stones {1 in each kidney}. I am severely allergic to all anti-emetic drugs (anti-nausea/vomiting drugs), but I required a potent painkiller. I was given Dilaudid by IV, having never been on anything stronger than Percocet pills. The doctors were afraid that I'd become very nauseous, vomit profusely, and be unable to be treated for nausea. To my relief, it did the trick! I only vomited once and was prescribed hydromorphone 2mg. NO SIDE EFFECTS! I was too sick to see the beauty in everyday life, until now!"

• ter...
• May 23, 2017

For Pain "I have had this twice, both times it made me mildly nauseous and did nothing for the pain. The first time was when I made a trip to the emergency room for a migraine. It was a terrible migraine. After about 15 minutes of me screaming and wailing in the emergency room, it started to wane. It was very mild by the time the doctor came in to talk to me. But he still gave me an injection of Dilaudid. And even for the mild headache, it didn't help at all. The second time was after a hysterectomy. I had excruciating pain from trapped gas under my ribs near my liver. Nurses kept telling me to press my pain med dispensing button, and I was already. But it wasn't even taking the edge off."