Hydromorphone for Pain User Reviews (Page 4)

• Mel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 9, 2015

Hydromorphone "I was administered Dilaudid in the ER after having suffered a copperhead bite to the ankle. They administered the antivenin and morphine with Phenergan (sp?) and returned after about 10 minutes to check my pain level-- no effect. The Dilaudid didn't completely stop the pain, but it definitely took the edge off. This was my first experience taking any narcotic-- so both the morphine and Dilaudid caused the 'whoooosh' sensation, stomach dropped, body felt very heavy... But that sensation was much greater with Dilaudid. Shortly after getting the Dilaudid, I started vomiting pretty heavily-- but no way to know if that was the venom, antivenom, morphine, or Dilaudid. Lesson learned, don't step on a snake!"

• Wen...
• March 30, 2015

Hydromorphone "After years of having brain tumors, I must take pain medication daily, but for when I can't control the pain with Tylenol #3s and my other meds. I've found a medication that works for me, Dilaudid. We have found it to be a very good and tolerable medication. I don't like going in for the medication, but the relief I get from it helps me sleep and gets me back to maintaining my constant headaches (with the brain tumors, I'm in constant pain, but I can manage it most of the time). It's a wonderful medication for those of us who need it on occasion and much less foggy than Demerol to recover from! The amount varies with me because of my chronic condition, but I never need more than two injections, but it's a medication not to be played with, however!"

• Bli...
• February 21, 2012

Hydromorphone "Following a knee replacement surgery, I had breakthrough pain (I had a nerve block in place) the first night that was about a 9 out of 10. I was not due for my oral meds at the time, but for some reason, I was eligible to receive an IV dose of Dilaudid. I would say within one minute, the pain was minimal, and I was able to get some sleep. It did make me drowsy. I've never had it before or since, but I absolutely credit it with some major pain relief the one time it was administered. It's a shame that we have to almost beg for pain meds and often are made to feel like drug seekers when we do. I'm still on the recovery path for the surgery and have been using an oral med. Next will be ibuprofen, then nothing, I hope."

• Ann...
• March 16, 2010

Hydromorphone "I have had severe migraines and chronic pain daily ever since I was attacked and stabbed with a 9-inch butcher knife 8 and a half years ago. It resulted in a myriad of chronic issues and severe pain. I have been put on a variety of different pain medicines since I started seeing a pain specialist. OxyContin and Oxycocet (Percocet) did little to nothing to ease the pain. Demerol helped with the pain, but my tolerance grew too quickly. I've been prescribed 8 mg of Dilaudid to take as needed, and it's the first medicine to help me feel not completely useless because of my pain and to remain helpful. I'm also on other medicines for other issues, and it interacts fine and actually also helps when combined with my other medicines for those same issues, which other medicines had not helped with in the past."

• Pet...
• February 27, 2012

Hydromorphone "This was my first experience with any pain medication beyond the over-the-counter variety. I had surgery for Crohn's disease: bowel resection. Due to the complex nature, this required fully opening up my abdomen. I was given Dilaudid through my IV every 4 hours. It totally relieved my pain. Everywhere that warm glow touched, the pain disappeared. After about 20 minutes, I would fall asleep and would wake up an hour later. The pain-free feeling would last for about 3 hours."

• Joh...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 30, 2016

Hydromorphone "I'm on around-the-clock opiate therapy, so when I have something major come up, like a kidney stone, I have a hard time finding a medicine, then being able to take and mix it with my current medications. I had a kidney stone about 6 months ago, and the urologist gave me 60, 4mg hydromorphone tablets; they were useless. I took them back; he didn't want them, so I flushed them down the toilet. He prescribed Demerol 50mg, 1 or 2 tabs every 4 hours, and it worked like a charm. I will say, when I went to the ER for the kidney stone, the IV Dilaudid worked wonders, but taking it by mouth was absolutely a waste, not to mention the money I spent getting the prescription filled, to literally flush it down the toilet. No good orally for my pain."

• Fas...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 4, 2013

Hydromorphone "Twice within a calendar year, I was admitted to the ER with gastric distress, accompanied by nausea. Dilaudid was used the first time, the pain went quickly away, and my nausea stopped. The second time, I was given morphine, but it did not work. I asked for Dilaudid specifically. It was given. The pain and nausea went away. I was able to rest/sleep, and after a couple of hours, I felt fine and played golf the next day. For information, alcohol was involved with the first episode but not the last."

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

Hydromorphone "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."

• djs...
• August 20, 2015

Hydromorphone "I was diagnosed with urethral stricture a couple of years ago that was so bad I couldn't urinate hardly at all. I developed a bad infection that spread to my intestines and blood. I was in so much pain I was screaming. The doc at the hospital put me on 3 mg of Dilaudid every 4 hrs. The next day I told him that was not quite lasting 4 hrs. He put me on a pain control pump that gave 0.5 mg every 10 min. Plus, I was still getting the 3 mg every 4 hrs. This finally worked amazingly well, but in looking at the amount I was actually getting, it's no wonder. I didn't always hit the button every 10 min., but the nurse said I was still averaging 9-10 mg every 4 hrs."

• gle...
• March 31, 2012

Hydromorphone "I have taken many different opiate pain medications over the past five years in the ER for chronic pancreatitis. Morphine has been completely useless, Demerol seemed pretty effective, but hospitals are getting away from it due to concern of potential seizures. 2 mg of Dilaudid IV push has always been completely effective in the relief of pain. However, I've been prescribed it in tablet form at 4 mg, and I found it not nearly as effective for pain relief. OxyContin tablets were much more effective at home."

• kum...
• June 7, 2009

Hydromorphone "I have a C-5/6/7 fusion with a titanium cage. Confirmed nerve damage at C-7 via nerve conduction study. Like most of you, I've been on many types of pain medications. It is different for each and so is the tolerance. I am finally stable taking hydromorphone 8 mg and OxyContin 30 mg. I take them 'backwards,' meaning the hydromorphone is for 'base' pain and the OxyContin is taken at night so I can make it through the entire sleep cycle without waking up due to pain. I do not have breakthrough pain on this regimen, and it is less expensive. Also, please have your testosterone levels checked since these medications can lower it. I take Testim, a gel that brings my levels back to normal. Testosterone affects your heart, mood, and other functions."

• Mik...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 23, 2015

Hydromorphone "It was administered in the lowest dosage for post-op pain. No side effects and very effective. Motrin, Tylenol, and other OTC pain relief are lacking compared to this. Morphine, IMO, is not even close to effective. I have a low tolerance for pain (distracting at the least). I have a hard time understanding why proven pain meds are so restricted when very low doses are twice as effective long-term over generic, higher dose, low-effect pain meds. Given a choice, this has been the best chronic pain relief I have experienced. Demerol was discontinued for inpatient use by Morphine. Go figure."

• TyA...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 22, 2017

Hydromorphone "I was at work one night and my gallbladder ruptured on me. That was the worst pain I have ever experienced! The pain was so bad that I was drifting in and out of consciousness. I was airlifted to a trauma center and had emergency surgery. They couldn't do it the laparoscopic way because they had to do the surgery in a rush to hurry and get it out. I was given Dilaudid through IV every 4 hours after surgery. It was very helpful! I didn't feel any pain at all because it pretty much knocked me out."

• Sio...
• February 12, 2012

Hydromorphone "By far the best pain relief medication available. I have had two back operations and five brain operations. I have tried almost everything on the market and nothing worked until I was given Dilaudid. I take 8 mg every 6 hours and can do a lot more now than with anything else that is out there."

• you...
• February 14, 2012

Hydromorphone "This is the only medicine that will help me when my pain hits. I have multiple conditions that cause pain, but the most painful issue I have to deal with is kidney stones. I get them at least every 4 months, and when they hit, they are incredibly painful. Dilaudid is the only thing that gets me through it. There are times I've had pain attacks where I have seriously considered suicide because I couldn't take it anymore. Dilaudid has saved me. Nothing else comes close. The only bad things are 1) tolerance is a huge issue. I have had to steadily increase my dosage over the years. 2) withdrawal is so painful. Be sure to taper off when you are stopping it. Otherwise, be prepared to stay in bed in pain for at least a week."

• Rob...
• November 25, 2011

Hydromorphone "I've been on Dilaudid for 15 years for a back injury and an illness called Wegener's granulomatosis. Started out at 2 mg, and over the years I'm now at 4 mg, 4 times a day. It is a great pain reliever. I am able to function normally, as anyone else, without any side effects."

• Mat...
• December 17, 2010

Hydromorphone "This is the best pain reliever I have ever encountered. I have been prescribed opiate painkillers for three years, starting with hydrocodone, oxycodone, Demerol, and Dilaudid by far is the best on the market. I have osteochondritis dissecans along with acute chronic tendinitis and severely pronated talus bones in both of my ankles. I have finally found a pain management clinic that is willing to work with you and takes opiate tolerance into consideration when prescribing. I just stopped taking 4 x 80 mg OxyContin with the new formulation and switched to Dilaudid 8 mg 4 to 6 times daily. It is the best thing that has ever happened to me."

• jai...
• April 12, 2008

Hydromorphone "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!"

• Ann...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 26, 2014

"After a radical hysterectomy associated with ovarian cancer, I was in severe pain, and no other pain med was helping, so I ended up with hydromorphone. As a pain med, it works very well, but there are very many severe side effects. The worst one is that it is very addictive, and there is no real help. My journey became serious in that I tried to go cold turkey when my dose was down to 16 mg a day, and I became so ill I could barely walk. The doctor ordered me to take a dose, and it took another 2 months to wean off it for a total of 4 months. Now, I have been off it for 3 weeks, and I still have sweat attacks 4 to 6 times in 24 hours. My mind is slowly starting to feel more normal, and my body is a little less painful and 'heavy'."

• gat...
• April 20, 2012

Hydromorphone "I was recently in the hospital for a cyst that ended up being MRSA. It was one of the most painful things I've been through, and it took 3 days in the hospital with antibiotics and IV pain meds (Dilaudid) to get me stable enough to go home. I was on 4 mg of Dilaudid IV every 2 hours. For me, about 1 1/2 hours after getting the Dilaudid push, I was starting to get in pain again. When I got it, though, my pain instantly disappeared, and I could get some rest. I can't take morphine because it makes me vomit. This medicine was my lifesaver! The only thing is it made me itch, so the doctor gave me Benadryl with every dose. Had no problem after that."

• Drr...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 3, 2012

Hydromorphone "I was in a MVA in 2004, after which I had to have 6 spine surgeries and 3 total hip replacements, and I'm due for a fourth. I'm in severe pain most of the time, it's hard for me to walk around. When I take my pain medicine, I'm able to move a lot better. It doesn't stop all the pain, but it makes it bearable."

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

Hydromorphone "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."

• Anonymous
• December 27, 2011

Hydromorphone "I was hospitalized for a kidney stone. First time for me. Worst pain ever. Found out the stone was 5 mm big and wasn't going to pass on its own. I needed surgery. When I was admitted to the ER, they gave me morphine, which didn't do anything for the pain. Then they gave me Dilaudid, which worked in seconds and lasted hours. I didn't feel any pain while on Dilaudid. Only thing that really works in this situation."

• Mar...
• January 13, 2020

Hydromorphone "I went into the ER with really high blood pressure. My head was exploding. They gave this drug in my IV. I fell asleep for 6 hours. Woke up and could not talk or walk. I also developed uncontrollable bowels for several months. It has been horrendous. It has subsided, but I still suffer from this daily. I don't take trips too far from home. This is a dangerous drug."

• rb9...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 22, 2013

Hydromorphone "I was given this shot in the E.R. for intense pain from a gallstone I had been dealing with and was scheduled to have removed. Unfortunately, the gallbladder became infected. The shot did nothing, nor did a second dose. I had already been in pain, and I rarely get relief if I wait until it gets that bad instead of taking medicines consistently to keep it under control. My boyfriend, on the other hand, had a bowel resection and was also in extreme pain despite having a morphine pump. He was switched to Dilaudid, and it relieved his pain immensely. As the reviews show, everyone is different. I don't know if I didn't get relief because it was too late for me, so I rated it for that and for how well it worked for my friend."