dilaudid-hydromorphone hcl

[Briza]

Finally (I think) convinced the pain dr that Lortab 7.5 (vicodin) does not relieve my pain at all and makes me irritable and depressed within an hour, like clockwork, I'm either crying or complaining.
He offered Darvocet, have tried, doesn't work.
He didn't bring up Ultram, thank goodness, because that one makes me feel like I just got off a roller coaster...dizzy, short of breath.
I asked if there were any other short acting meds to try, maybe Percocet (it was the only other one I knew to ask about, and I was ONLY asking for God's sake!), and oh did I get it then. Been a while since a dr gave me "the look" and a talkin' to for bringing up a particular med. He told me all pain meds work the same, Percocet may be stronger, but that they just Rx lower doses so it wouldnt be any better than vicodin, since all pain meds work the same for all people.
Got it even worse when I told him I can't take the muscle relaxers for PFD, can't wake up, can't work on them, can't drive, no matter how small I break my 10 mg tab into. So asked if he would continue to Rx my xanax, because it works for both by anxiety and my PFD. He got even more upset then, said xanax doesn't fall within his realm of pain meds [kingdom], even though he rxd it before and even though I told him about my my VV is for the most part caused by my PFD and is EXTREMELY painful and the xanax does help.
arrrrrrrrrrrghhhhhhhhhhh
Anyway, after trying to pacify me and calling me sweetie he did Rx me 2 weeks worth of xanax and Dilaudid 2 mg for a short acting med.
I've seen a few here that take this med but I don't know much about it, it's strength compared to vicodin and if 2 mg is a good dose to start with? If you've taken it for IC or anything else, please let me know how it worked for you and side effects if any. I know we're all different in how meds affect us, obviously this pain dr doesn't. Haven't had time to get the Rx filled, but will tomorrow.
He also wants me to stay on the ms contin (morphine sulfate) 30 mg twice a day. It's not giving me any relief, and the higher dose he started me on threw me for a looooooooop. Is this a med that you need to have in your system for a while before getting relief? I don't see the point in taking it if it's not helping at this dose, and the higher doses drug me so bad I'm a danger to myself in my own home!
But anyway, if you read all of this, thank you. What I mainly want to know about is the Dilaudid 2mg, anyone's experience with it. Thanks!

[miasowell]

Never had experience with it myself have see some info on it though. I Believe it is a diriviative of Opium and In the early part of the 1900s women became severly addicted to it. Have you googled it? It might be a good idea to look into getting a new pain doctor. Sounds to me like he isn't listening very well. Sometimes doctors just don't believe that we know our bodies. AND IF all pain mads act the same for everyone, then why can some people take vicodin with no problems at all and others (ex. my sister and my husband) get very sick from it. In fact my sister gets percocet for her pain meds cause the vicodin makes her so sick. Good luck and let me know how the new med works for you

[**Angie**]

About a year ago I asked for some other type of pain med. ( I was taking oxycodone 3/525, it works well but I was up and down for pain--vicodin makes me puke--darvocet (can't remember generic name) makes me mean and does nothing for the pain ) I was given 2 mg dilaudid--it was like I was not taking anything. April 3, '07 I had hysterectomy/ 2 hernias and the surgeon wanted me to take 4 mg dilaudid ( before surgery I was on methadone 2.5mg morning,5mg afternoon,2.5 night--made me way to sleepy, he switched me to ms contin 15mg 2x's a day ) Now I'm a month and a half out from surgery and the only thing working is 4mg dilaudid. ( the other good thing about it is there is no tylenol in it ) My ambein is kicking in -- gotta go. Or I'll miss the goodnight ship. I'll pm you later as to where I'm at with the dilaudid. I like I can still function while taking it--that took a couople of weeks before I got aclimated to it. angie

[humpieumpumkin]

I LOVE DILAUDID!

This is what my merciful uro has prescribed me for the interstim trial pain. It is fantastic and doesn't give me nausea/vomiting/dizziness like every other med I have taken for pain. I am also on 2mgs, but only really needed it for 4 days. I will take it again next friday when I get the permanent implant. This is the perfect short-acting pain med for me, but everyone is different. For example, codiene works great for my fiance, but makes me wicked sick. Yuck. Good luck to you!

Erika

[humpieumpumkin]

Briza,
The dilaudid has a very subtle effect compared to say vicoden. It takes the pain away gradually rather than all of a sudden so you don't feel, lets say "foggy". It took me a couple of doses, 2mg every 3 hours for it to FULLY take away the pain. Once I stayed on top of it like I was susposed to it worked great, and I hardly felt drugged-thats what I loved the most. I think the dosage is based on weight. I weigh about 127 pounds and I was prescribed 2mg every 3 hours. I suspose the effects could be different if you weighed less or more, and based on your history of taking narcotics. I also had no nausea with this medication, which is unusully from my history with narcotics. If you have any other questions about my experience feel free to pm me or post a reply! Hope you are getting releif today!

Erika

[humpieumpumkin]

Yeah, it may take a few doese. I hope it works, it was great for me. Being smaller in stature can make taking meds tedious! I had moderate pain after my trial (4-5) and it helped this. If your pain is more severe you may need you dosage adjusted

Erika

[Babs RN]

Bri--
I am so glad you found something to give you relief. That is awesome!!!! I hope things get better and better.

Hugs,
Barb

[**Angie**]

Glad it's working. Nothing better than being some what pain free and not have a foggy head. My pain Dr doesn't want me on it--she wants me to go back to the methadone.(I need a smilie face that can't keep it's eye's open) She thinks the dilaudid is a strong medication and too addicting. Bummer.

[**Angie**]

Thanks Briza
After my last visit with her (pain Dr) her commet was "I don't know what to do with you" That's real encouraging. I don't know what I'm going to do with her!!! Yesterday I only needed to take the dilaudid twice (4mg each time). I was taking it every 4-5 hrs. I'm able to take it only when in pain. No addiction here!! Maybe I can talk her into it. But I hate going to the Dr paying a $20 co-pay and be told "I don't know what to do with you". What a waste of money and time. Especially when I've see the Uro and Gyn that same week.

[**Angie**]

Wouldn't that be wonderful to have just one DR take care of you? I have 5 Drs. They all know about each other and tell me to tell someone else what they think I should be doing. I need to narrow this down.
I really like the dilaudid at 4mg. I feel completely normal with very little pain. I hope the your Dr will let you cont. using it. I wonder how different it is to any other pain med--addiction wise. For that matter what else are you supposed to do--live in pain because of addiction. I don't get it. I take ambien every night. (3mg-I cut them up) (I've taken it for 2 yrs) I've skipped quite a few nights just because I know I don't need it. I take it because of pain/frequency/urgency. Even a little twinge of p/f/u and I can't sleep. Am I addicted to, I don't know. Do I want to live w/o it? NO. Now that I've rambled and gotten myself all worked up!! Have a good day and let me know if your Dr okays your dilaudid. angie

[**Angie**]

OOOOHHHH MMMMMYYYY Goodness!!!! I can not believe he said that. I've been treated that way but they've never--I mean never told me they have another patient or that I need mental help!!!! Now your in a dilemma--do you find a new pain Dr and end up with no help at all or stay with this one that is an #$%^@^&*&%&**&^!!!!!!! I really never say bad words--this just screams for some. To bad you didn't have someone with you that would speak up. I would have sat there and taken it--then ranted and raved to anyone else who'd listen. At least he is given you pain relief and the dilaudid does work. 75 pills should last you more than a month by what you've said. Unless you get the flare from out of this world. Then you won't have to see him as often. What to do? What to do?

[SandyRN]

Briza,

I don't even have words to express my thoughts on this doctor. I'm so surprised to see any pain mgmt doctor give Dilaudid for pain, and while I think it's great, you're in the minority. I hope if the MSContin stops working for me my doc will consider dilaudid as an option. I just can't get over what he said to you about the psychiatrist and him walking out of the room like he did. It really IS a dilema...do you put up with being treated like that or count your blessings that you've got pain meds that work? Nobody deserves to be talked to like that!

[**Angie**]

Briza~I'm so glad you've resolved this situation. You are very fortunate that your gyn is willing to help you. Why is it so difficult to find a good Dr??? I've had quite a few compassionate Drs but of these Drs very few want to help me. They all just want to pass me on to someone else to take care of. Your Gyn needs a special treat.

[SandyRN]

Dilaudid is just one of those pain meds of last resort, or used for cancer/severe post op pain in the hospital. I said it was rare for a doctor to order it because it's just up there on the potency scale. I don't think there's anything wrong with it, I've just not seen many people ordered it for chronic pain, in my personal or professional life, as well as on the boards.

One thing I've learned in my life is that psychiatrists are MD's and they don't bother with counseling and many of them don't want to be bothered by anything other than writing scripts. Psychologists, on the other hand, are the ones that will sit and listen to you, much like a therapist. If you need to talk to someone other than your GYN in the future I'd seek out a psychologist or therapist of some sort. It's a shame, but it's the truth, unfortunately.

[humpieumpumkin]

My uro prescribed this after my 2 interstim surgeries. It worked beautifully for me and i'm so glad it worked for you too briza! I had a feeling it would! I am so glad you are getting such great releif!
:woohoo:

Erika