What is Dilaudid?
Dilaudid is a brand name for hydromorphone, which belongs to a group of medication known as narcotic pain relievers. The group of drug is also known as opioids, which is very much similar to morphine. This drug is recommended for those people who are experiencing moderate to extreme pain. Dilaudid works on reducing the pain by binding specific receptors from the nervous system and the brain.

It is very important for a patient to know that Dilaudid is a habit-forming drug. This drug is not recommended to be taken by a person without a doctor’s prescription. The drug should be taken only by a person, which is intended or prescribed to take it. Most especially, Dilaudid is not recommended for an individual who have past experience of drug abuse and addiction.

Consuming narcotic drugs such as Dilaudid with alcohol is prohibited. This can cause death and several dangerous side effects. Alcohol and narcotic pain medicines do not go together. If you are taking narcotic pain drugs, be sure to check the food and drinks you are taking. Check labels and see to it that what you are taking contains no alcohol.

On the other hand, if your doctor prescribed you to take Dilaudid, be sure to follow your doctor’s direction regarding its intake. Follow proper dose and schedule and never go beyond what is prescribed. If you feel that the drug is not taking effect, immediately inform your doctor.

Narcotic drugs such as Dilaudid are known to affect or impair your thinking and response to events. For this reason, a person who might be under the influence of Dilaudid is not recommended to drive. Moreover, it is advised that a person taking it must not involve him/herself on activities that require attention. This is especially applicable when a person works with hazardous tools and equipments.

However, sudden refrain from the use of Dilaudid is also not recommended. Doing so will result in withdrawal symptoms. Refraining suddenly from taking narcotic drugs may do more harm than good. Withdrawal symptoms have something to do with an individual’s dependence on the drug while he or she was taking it. Withdrawal symptoms can be fatal and must be explained well by the doctors to patients.

Doctors need to know several conditions before giving a patient a Dilaudid prescription. Below are some of these conditions:

On pregnant women, there had been no proof if Dilaudid may harm the unborn baby. However, it is possible that the newborn will experience withdrawal symptoms when the mother takes the medication during pregnancy. To be safe, it is highly advised that the doctor be informed if a woman is currently pregnant or plans to get pregnant. It is the same case if the mother is breast-feeding. The drug will be consumed by the nursing newborn through breast-feeding.