Hydromorphone for Chronic Pain User Reviews (Page 4)

• Gra...
• December 5, 2015

"After having been diagnosed with a rare type of multiple sclerosis called 'Malignant Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis' (also known as Marburg Variant MS), there was not much for the doctors to do for me but to put me on a cocktail of pain medications that would 'hopefully' help to keep me comfortable while in the throes of relentless chronic pain. Eventually, I was given Dilaudid 8 mg oral tablet to help with the pain. It eventually stopped working as well, so the dosage was increased to 16 mg per 4 hours. And that is what I am currently taking. Because my rare form of MS has no treatments, no medications... it's just a progressive downward spiral. I'm now fully bedridden and a spectator of life. But I'm so grateful for Dilaudid! Recommend."

• CRP...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 17, 2019

"I have chronic regional pain syndrome (CRPS) in my left arm. I take low-dose dilaudid at 1 mg (1/2 a 2 mg tab) on days when the pain flares just don't stop, it helps me get through a work day. Occasionally, I will take a full tab, but that's rare. I can only take it for 3-4 days in a row max before I start feeling the craving for more, so I stop for a week. I was severely addicted to Percocet, fentanyl patches, and Xanax 10 years ago... never again. This drug doesn't work when my pain is 8 or higher... nothing does. It's more like a temporary bandage that helps for a few days and then has to be removed... this disease really sucks... 5+ years and counting..."

• Sma...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 18, 2020

"This hydromorphone is hands down the most effective pain medicine I have ever received! It’s truly a miracle and wonder drug! I suffer from many chronic pain diagnoses and end up in the hospital too much. IV Dilaudid is something really special! It takes away 100% of all my pain. 2 mg hydromorphone tablets work quite well-an 8/10. But hear me... *This medicine is very addicting! If not careful, it can run your whole life! Used for pain is alright, but be so careful and take severe caution! The way it makes you feel is like heaven! No pain, all warm inside, relaxed, energized-I’ve gotten my life back... It is truly the most amazing pain medicine I have ever tried! Just be careful!"

• LOR...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 1, 2016

Hydromorphone "I started taking Exalgo about 3 weeks ago after 20+ years of trying every other opiate and non-opiate pain med with little to no relief, especially once I became immune to them. I've been on disability since 2010 and been seeing a PM doc since about 2009, and in March he talked to me about trying an IR. I researched my insurance, and when I saw him in April, we decided on Exalgo 24 mg per day with 15 mg roxi backer. They seem to be working okay, but the doc told me to take both 12 mg caps in the am together, which I did for about a week until I read here that others were taking them at 12 HR intervals, so I tried that, and it seems as though they are causing me to not sleep. I have been waking up about 4/4:30 am every day since. Anyone else having issues?"

• tou...
• July 25, 2016

"I have an intrathecal morphine pump implant now since 2002. Hydromorphone was recommended as the 'breakthrough pain' treatment. I take, typically, a 2 mg pill roughly every two to six hours, and that appears adequate. Unfortunately, in times of higher pain, when the pump appears inadequate, I have had to take more of the pills. The more I use, the more I felt I needed to use them. When I 'sucked it up' and endured a little higher than usual pain for a day or two, taking less hydromorphone, I was then able to restart the pills, and they had a better effect. I guess to sum it up, taking a break from the pills once in a while ensured that they were still effective."

• Bek...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 29, 2018

"Very effective time release for chronic pain. It is NOT as effective as Opana was, but it works much better than Oxycontin ER did. I have not had any problems with it being addictive. I take it once a day. One pill lasts 24 hours. I have not had any side effects from it. It does not make me feel 'doped up' or high."

• BG2...
• March 17, 2016

"I was first given hydromorphone while in the hospital with pancreatitis and an acute gall bladder. This is a wonder drug! I was in more pain than any person should ever have. The first IV medication I was given was Demerol, I didn't know it, but I was hallucinating on the Demerol. Well, once they found out I was hallucinating, they then put me on hydromorphone. OMG, what a wonderful pain medication! I ended up with a PICC line since I was there so long and have terrible veins. So at this point, the hydromorphone was given IV push. Literally, once they started giving it to me, I could count.. 1, 2, relief!! Today, 8 years later, I take 12 mg of hydromorphone every 3-4 hours for chronic pancreatitis, and it is still the BEST pain medication."

• You...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 2, 2014

"I was given hydromorphone through an IV for chronic pancreatitis after being hospitalized numerous times a month, nothing worked for pain. Then, one day while hospitalized, they decided to give me Dilaudid in IV with Phenergan. It stopped the pain completely, but it slammed my heart rate down to 30 bpm and my blood pressure down to deadly levels. They then had to pump fluids and raise all my limbs above my heart for about an hour. After I got normal again, I didn't feel any pain whatsoever for hours. Works great for pain."

• Gho...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 29, 2019

"I was put on hydromorphone 2 mg four times a day and one extra for breakthrough pain. My problem is L5 is bulging and compressing the nerve root, not much worse than nerve pain. However, this drug did not touch the pain, just gave me brain fog :(("

• jj4...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 22, 2013

"Totally took away all my pain after surgery and all my other pain, such as back pain. Also have fibromyalgia. On a scale of 1 to 10, I was almost at a 10. After taking medication, my pain level went down to a 2!"

• Suz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 21, 2023

"I’ve been on hydromorphone for multiple conditions for a few months now, just switched to extended release because the pills were wearing off in just a couple of hours. This is the best med so far as it doesn’t make me feel high. I can’t even tell when it wears off except for the pain returning. I get no side effects, really, except it makes me feel more awake, which I appreciate because I have CFS and the last thing I need is to be more sleepy. It can keep me awake. To all the people saying that the medication works better through an IV, it’s because it’s 2 1/2 times stronger given directly into the bloodstream. It’s not a different medication. You just might need a higher dose. I can’t say whether the extended release is going to do the trick, but I got tired of worrying about my pills wearing off right in the middle of something. I am now looking for work! I have gone from mostly bedridden to able to take short walks and do some house cleaning. Great!"

• Gmo...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• November 12, 2019

Hydromorphone "Dilaudid is short-acting for pain, and after a while, it didn’t work. I was screaming in pain due to having surgery on my back and stomach at the same time. My morphine pump needs to be changed. I’ve been on morphine for 11 years."

• dpi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 30, 2024

Hydromorphone "Dilaudid helps more than Oxycodone for severe and constant lower back pain, in my opinion. I have spinal stenosis, disc problems, arthritis in my back. It was getting to the point of not being able to even walk my dog. But the highest dosage of Oxycodone I had was 15 mg. Maybe a higher dosage would help, but I think my system is so used to the drug that it stopped working for me, no matter if I had a higher dose. I have been prescribed Oxycodone for about 12 years! Dilaudid helps much more. I was prescribed 4 mg of immediate release. So far, no bad side effects. It seems to last longer than Oxycodone."

• Coo...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 30, 2022

"I am a 43-year-old, college-educated woman who is on permanent disability since 2018. I have been rear-ended twice. As a result, I have had 5 back surgeries in L5-S1, including 3 fusions and a multi-level fusion in C4-C6, which may require more surgery. I have a herniated disc in C3-C4, a bone spur at the bottom of C6, inflammation and arthritis in C7-T1, stenosis, sciatica, failed back syndrome, fibromyalgia, permanent nerve damage, and the list goes on and on. I have been in pain management for 7 years. One day, I was so flared up that the ER gave me IV hydromorphone. The metal rods, screws, and cages in my back, neck, and the metal forced 2mm below my belly button were screaming at me. The pain was controlled almost immediately. My 10 mg Percocet and OxyContin were not working. I told my doctor, and we switched. Now I am on 40 mg OxyContin every 8 hours (does not work for 12 for me) and 4 mg hydromorphone every 6 hours. It really is a miracle drug! Finally, my pain is controlled!!"

• Tru...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 20, 2018

Hydromorphone "I had surgery that was outpatient but was put under general anesthesia, which to me means it is serious. Vicodin does not work for me. I am allergic to Percocet. I specifically asked for Demerol. My doctor gave me Dilaudid. The worst! Nausea, lightheaded, no pain relief or positive effects, but he claimed it was stronger, therefore should be better. I'm not a doctor, but I know what works on my body. He could have just given me a smaller dosage of Demerol. Instead of 30 that don't work, I would have taken 12 that do."

• uni...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 11, 2020

"A question... I know how good Dilaudid helps me with pain... or used to. If given in an IV, it works/worked immediately, but for me, it only lasts about 20 minutes. But I've noticed (for me anyway) that it seems like it's been changed. A 1 mg of Dilaudid doesn't work as good as it used to. I don't get it very often at all, so it is not that my body is getting used to it. It has been a few years since I had it... and it worked way better then. I'm a very hard person to get pain relief for. Morphine does nothing. Oxycodone pills work better than anything... I don't get it. Dilaudid doesn't seem to do anything anymore???"

• mul...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 10, 2022

Hydromorphone "I currently am on Dilaudid 4 mg twice a day and morphine ER 30 mg twice a day. I was on extended-release oxycodone for some time and, due to insurance and supply issues, I was forced to switch to something else. I have good insurance with my state job but still couldn't pay almost $800 a month for 60 pills. Oxycodone gets a bad rap, but it worked the best for the bone pain that I have had for a number of years now. I am only 38 years old but have had 3 spinal fusions and a cardiac ablation. I also have irreversible and progressive lung damage that has resulted in the use of supplemental oxygen. The 3 spinal fusions have left me with 16 levels fused and two sets of rods, one of which had to be removed due to pulling out of bone. I am in constant pain, but since adding the Dilaudid, I am much more comfortable than before. I cry in my sleep and have nightmares because of the immense pain, and this medicine has worked wonders for my daytime ability to function overall. The only problem is quick tolerance."

• Sun...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 11, 2022

Hydromorphone "I have a rare neurodegenerative disease called adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD). Because it's neurodegenerative, there's a lot of pain, as the nerves die, the surrounding nerves get overloaded. I have an implanted drug infusion pump that puts a muscle relaxant directly into my spinal column. It helps greatly, but I still have to be on a painkiller just to be comfortable. I've been on several painkillers, the most effective by far has been Dilaudid. I have to be on oxygen when I sleep, but that's a small price to pay for my comfort."

• Dil...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 11, 2024

Hydromorphone "Tumor base Cancer post & pre radiation had severe facial nerve pain, including head, ear, jaw. I was told after biopsy cancer can invade the nerves. Severe pain & facial sensitivity on one side. Dilaudid 4 mg controls it for about 4 hrs. Only 4mg twice a day gives me some relief. Works great, only side effect constipation. No other side effect noted except drowsiness in the beginning that has disappeared."

• Bel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 4, 2021

Hydromorphone "I was on 6 Percocet a day for chronic pain, and the doctor at the chronic pain clinic said I would do better on something that provides longer-term pain relief. He started me out on two 4.5 mg Hydromorph Contin a day with 4 Percocet for breakthrough pain, but the Hydromorph Contin wasn't giving me near enough relief, so the doctor raised it to 3 Hydromorph Contin a day and cut back the Percocet to 2 a day. I’m in more pain than ever. I don’t think the Hydromorph Contin is helping me at all."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 1, 2017

"Hydromorphone has been the best out of 3-5 other medications tried over a twenty-year span. I do not tolerate extended-release meds well. They give me horrid insomnia, worse than it is generally. After about 3 days on extended release, I can sleep no longer than 3 hours. With 8 mg hydromorphone, I have some insomnia, but this is far lesser when compared to being on ER meds. Over five years' time, I have become dose tolerant. I started at 4 mg doses, then to 8 mg doses, and currently taking 16 mg doses... that is two 8 mg tabs every 3-4 hours, as long as 5 hours between doses on a good day. I have chronic pain caused by RSD/CRPS. ANY MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL OUGHT TO BE FAMILIAR WITH THIS MOST DREADED OF CONDITIONS."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 1, 2017

Hydromorphone "I was on 30 mg Opana ER daily, and it was discontinued. My doc moved me to 8 mg Exalgo/day. It's not working well, doesn't last 24 hours, and every 2-4 hours I start getting chills and a runny nose. I think I just might be on too low of a dose. Too bad I can't get in to my doc sooner."

• Dav...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 26, 2022

"Hydromorphone 4 mg, 4 to 5 times per day, works very well at pain relief. An added benefit is no acetaminophen, therefore, you can take APAP as needed. For me, the Dilaudid starts to wear off at 4 hours, and by 6 hours, it is gone. No side effects except constipation, which is true of any opioid. I take care of this with Senokot natural laxative every morning. I still have flare-ups, but I treat that with Celecoxib 200 mg until the flare is gone."

• Gab...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 21, 2021

"I've taken hydromorphone 4 mg for years in pain management. 5x a day. It works 95%, now it's dropped down to 90%, so my pain doctor decided to put me on BupreNorphine alone for one week, then he added Naloxone! Big mistake! Even the pharmacy questioned why, when I called him about bad side effects! I can't believe after 7 years of going to this pain management doctor, he did this to me! I have 2 and a half bulging discs in my lower back with degenerative disc disease, sciatica nerve damage on the left side. Since I told this doctor, the medication went from 95% to 90% effective. He took me off then, and instead of trying different pain medications (after I had this bad reaction). When I called his office and complained, he told me to come back in on Monday (this was on a Thursday), but stay on this stuff that caused me more increased back and leg pain, nausea, diarrhea, shallow breathing, and muscle spasms! The doctor was told to tell me 'it was in the best interest of all that I stay on this horrible medicine'! Are you kidding me? CANCELLED/request."

• Ala...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 25, 2021

Hydromorphone "I have 15+ years of chronic lower back L3-L5, S.I. joint, and groin pain. I've tried epidurals, nerve blocks interlaminar and caudal. Some were close but never the right spot. I found oxycodone worked well until my tolerance became too high. I found Dilaudid only numbed my brain but did little for pain. The opposite of what I need. Dilaudid affected my memory and left me feeling lethargic most of the time. I know everyone reacts differently to each medication. I found oxycodone worked better, faster, and with little side effects for back pain. I also could quit oxycodone quickly and easily. After 2 years on Dilaudid, I am weaning myself off it as it did little for sharp lumbar and groin pain. The side effects just compounded the existing problems of living with chronic pain with little to no pain relief."