Hydromorphone (Dilaudid)

Drug Source

Synthetically produced from morphine.

Trade Name

Dilaudid

Street Name

Dillies

Medical Uses

* relief of moderate to severe pain

* relief of severe cough

Drug Combinations

most commonly used as a single product

Physical Appearance

usually bought as tablets, or injectable solution

Controlled Substance Status

Hydromorphone, like most single product opioids, is a schedule II opioid.

Dosage

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Medical

for pain relief 1mg - 2mg

Nonmedical

same as pain relief doses

Routes Of Administration

Can be administered orally, by three routes of injection, and by sniffing. Unknown if smoking is an effective route.

Short Term Use

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CNS, Behavioral, Subjective:

Hydrocodone has effects similar to morphine, except euphoria is similar to codeine, nausea and vomiting is quite rare, and sedation is practically non-existent

Respiratory:

Hydrocodone depresses respiration minimally.

Gastrointestinal:

Hydromorphone effects GI tract very little.

Other:

Although hydromorphone's euphoria pales with other opioids it's abuse potential comes from the fact the rush experienced from IV use is very similar to heroin's.

Hydromorphone is one of the most used opioids in the relief of pain for the terminally ill. The reasons being it's minimal side effects, and high potency.

Duration

3 - 4 hours

Dependency Potential

moderately high