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Hydromorphone User Reviews & Ratings (Page 3)

Brand names: Dilaudid

Hydromorphone has an average rating of 8.0 out of 10 from a total of 435 reviews on Drugs.com. 75% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 15% reported a negative experience.

Reviews for Hydromorphone

  • ebpot...
  • February 18, 2009

Dilaudid (hydromorphone) for Pain "I am a 62-year-old woman with a number of health-related issues that cause chronic and sometimes acute pain, including three herniated discs (C3-C6), lower back pain, and bad knees. Percocet, Darvocet, and Vicodin upset my stomach, so I've only been on Lodine twice a day for the past two years. My doctor suggested a trial on Dilaudid - 2mg to 4mg every 4-6 hours until I can have a knee replacement. 2mg did not make me pain-free, but definitely was an improvement. However, 4mg allowed me to walk without pain for the first time in months. It makes me sleepy, but aside from that, there have been no unpleasant side effects. Dilaudid is a wonder drug for anyone who experiences chronic pain."

10 / 10
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  • Zumer...
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • September 12, 2020

Dilaudid (hydromorphone) for Chronic Pain "Due to severe back injury was referred to a pain clinic (thankful!) Have been on many meds over the years. Now suffering with spinal stenosis, degenerative disk disease, ankylyzing spondolitis, basically crippled, yipee! Take 4 to 5 dilaudid, 4 mg, and get some relief. Starting today on a long acting dialysis and praying for relief. Good luck and sincere best wishes to all taking this med."

10 / 10
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28 Report
  • ROB
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • December 3, 2013

Exalgo (hydromorphone) for Chronic Pain "In chronic pain since injury in 1999. Surgery did not help. Like many, I was on different narcotics for years. Started Exalgo in 2012 and have found it does work. Some say it gives 24 hr relief, but I think it more of a 16-18 hr."

7 / 10
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Frequently asked questions

  • MariaG
  • January 23, 2018

Dilaudid (hydromorphone) for Pain "I have a low tolerance for pain and after a outpatient surgical procedure I was prescribed percoset for pain. They didn't help, so the doctor prescribed oxycontin. It work but it made me nauseated. He then prescribed dilaudid. It really helped to ease the pain, I experienced none of the side effects, except constipation. I took it every 4 hours, then as I healed I decreased the does to every 6 hours then I took one only at night. After the pain was gone, I stopped taking the medication and experienced no withdrawal issues."

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  • Anonymous
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • June 14, 2012

Dilaudid (hydromorphone) for Pain "I have degenerative disc disease. The medication works well. I have been on it for a year now with my oxycodone. It works miracles, I can go to work every day and support my family, and when I come home, I can actually enjoy the daily activities with my children that I once could not have thought of doing. I am so glad my life is back and am so grateful for a great doctor who, after years, found a way to put me back on my feet."

10 / 10
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Are you taking this medicine?

  • Anonymous
  • October 23, 2015

Dilaudid (hydromorphone) for Pain "I am used to Percocet due to years of back pain. In the hospital after a kidney procedure, I had some moderate pain that morphine IV did not impact. I got one IV of Dilaudid, and the pain level decreased to a very acceptable level, and I went home with virtually no pain."

9 / 10
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  • Anonymous
  • September 15, 2008

Dilaudid (hydromorphone) for Pain "I was given Dilaudid after being in the hospital for bowel obstruction. Worst pain of my LIFE! In IV form it's amazing, total pain relief in 60 seconds. It was hard to get prescribed in pill form but finally found a pain doctor that agreed it was a better drug for me. I now take 4mg pills every 6-8 hours and can lead a normal life. There are no side effects, but it is hard to get a script for. Take only as doctor says, DO NOT take more."

10 / 10
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  • New...
  • April 28, 2015

Exalgo (hydromorphone) for Chronic Pain "I am 5'. 105 lbs and was a carpenter for 6 years. I have a bad back, 2 discs replaced in neck with a plate and 6 screws, which gets cold, and the pain goes right down my back. Have had 15 operations. Fibromyalgia and arthritis. Tried morphine and butane patches, which made me sick. I take hydrocodone 10 mg 5 times a day, which only lasts 2 to 3 hours. Grit my teeth the rest of the time (broken a few). I started Exalgo 12 mg yesterday, and I started feeling better in about 2 hours. This is a miracle, I don't hurt! There were times I didn't think I could go on, and now I have a new lease on life. I hope it continues to keep working! Happy gal!"

10 / 10
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  • Nan
  • September 24, 2020

Dilaudid (hydromorphone) for Chronic Pain "I was diagnosed with Transverse Myelitis 11 months ago so suffered with bad pain. During my 3 months in the hospital I received Dilaudid in IV the first month 4mg at first then gradually down to 2mg. Next Dilaudid by pill form 4mg every 4 hours down to 2 every 4 hours through the 2nd month. The 3rd month 2 mg every 6 hours which barely cut the intensity of the nerve pain caused by this gawd-awful disease. Once released from the hospital in I was Rx'd hydrocodone 5-325. Now this is in addition to gabapentin, lyrica, Cymbalta, xanax, etc. By May I began to have what's referred to as "saddle burn." The burn was more like blazing! I went to ER and was admitted and given Dilaudid again as before through my IV. I cried I was so relieved. But you can't stay in the hospital on an IV permanently and Dilaudid is not prescribed as outpatient. So suffering is my daily routine whether I exercise, push my walker a good 3/4 mile a day, go to pool PT, cry, get in my truck and scream "FATHER why hast thou forsaken me!?" Dilaudid works."

10 / 10
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  • Knigh...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • May 5, 2014

Exalgo (hydromorphone) for Chronic Pain "I just started on Exalgo ER 12 mg. After fooling around with Lortab and Morphine CR for years, which would only dull my pain (shot out of the sky in Nam) as well as a major car accident, I have found, or rather my fantastic neurologist decided to go with this. I have been able to sleep a full evening (8 hrs) and not wake up with a hangover effect. I am, after 26 years, narcotic tolerant, so I was quite skeptical about this expensive medicine. Well, I am a believer. I just pray that it will last a year or two before it becomes useless to me. An operation to repair my back only has an 80/20 chance of even helping me, 80% being the negative. If you are tired of the pill counting or a few days' withdrawal, which I have been through, ask your Doc."

8 / 10
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  • Average...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • August 5, 2015

Dilaudid (hydromorphone) for Pain "Have had Dilaudid squirted in my IV at the hospital. Works immediately within seconds and can rid you of all kinds of awful pain. It will allow a peaceful sleep, and you will be staying in a laying down position anyway because it makes you feel so loopy. After about two hours, it wears off a lot, but you still feel better than you did. Also, it can slow down your bowel movements. As with any pain med, best to get along without it, but if you desperately need it sometimes, then this is a huge relief."

9 / 10
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  • JakRak
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • January 10, 2013

Dilaudid (hydromorphone) for Pain "I agree with most when you say Dilaudid works best in an IV at the hospital. The pill form works very well but just takes a bit longer for relief. I've been on many pain medicines over the years, but I find that this medication helps me to be more productive every day...pain free!"

8 / 10
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  • Vikcha
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • February 8, 2014

Dilaudid (hydromorphone) for Pain "I recently had a heart attack on top of my cancer, and at the hospital, they gave me this medicine to help control my pain. Before I had used it, I was using oxycodone, but that had never truly worked to control my pain. Dilaudid, while also not fully relieving the pain, did a much greater job. Unfortunately, they would not allow me to take it at home, so now I am suffering because I know what it feels like to have my pain managed, and the oxycodone just isn't enough."

8 / 10
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  • officer...
  • November 13, 2009

Dilaudid (hydromorphone) for Pain "I have had a chronic headache for ten years, as in, I have not gone one single day without a headache in ten years. I get terrible, terrible migraines, but I also have advanced arthritis from C4-C7 with three bulging discs. (I'm 23 years old.) I've been on everything under the sun that is non-addictive for migraine treatment, in addition to Demerol, Codeine, Lortab, Percocet, Stadol, Nubain, and Pentazocine. I was on 40 mg of hydrocodone each day, which was effective, but I also took Excedrin, Midrin, and Cephadyn on occasions, so the acetaminophen effects worried me. My doctor switched me to Dilaudid 4 mg four times daily, and it works wonderfully without being so harsh on my liver. It's VERY effective at pain relief. Doesn't seem as habit-forming as the Lortabs - for me."

9 / 10
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  • Kidney...
  • January 10, 2016

Dilaudid (hydromorphone) for Pain "I was given 1mg IV prior to surgery. The first 30 seconds were scary, I felt warmth spreading through my body and my vision was blurry. I was instructed to close my eyes. After the initial strangeness passed, I felt no pain at all. This is powerful, but when in pain, it did the trick quickly."

10 / 10
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42 Report
  • BGT
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • August 12, 2013

Dilaudid (hydromorphone) for Pain "Went to the ER, was having a really bad gallbladder attack and was in agonizing pain! They gave me two doses of Morphine through the IV, and it did nothing for the pain. Then they gave me Dilaudid through the IV, and it was instant pain relief! I could have kissed the nurse who gave it to me! I did have a side effect a few hours later of itching skin, especially of my face, chest, and arms, but I didn't care. I was so glad the pain was gone completely and fast."

10 / 10
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  • DrDPC
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • September 28, 2014

Exalgo (hydromorphone) for Chronic Pain "Works great, does last 24hrs at the right dose. Give the medication time if you are switching from another pain medicine to Exalgo, for myself I was on morphine sulfate 90 mg and Oxycontin 40mg. It took almost 2 months to work @100%. I was just about to give the Exalgo up and go back to my morphine and Oxycontin but now I'm glad I waited it was worth the painful wait since I have such great pain relief. I take 48 mg of Exalgo now and 60mg of Oxycontin."

10 / 10
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  • German...
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • July 18, 2015

Exalgo (hydromorphone) for Chronic Pain "I am a 30 y/o German automotive technician. When I was 18, I was hit by a drunk driver. I broke my lower back in 2 places, my hip, and knee. I was taking 40 mg OC and breakthrough meds every 3 hrs. I was doing decent until, in 2008, I was involved in a head-on collision which broke my neck in 6 places. The pain from that was worse than anything I had experienced before. My doctor increased my pain med doses. We tried everything from MS Contin to Opana ER, nothing was able to keep my pain under control for long. Being an automotive tech just added to the misery. Finally, Exalgo came out and now 16 mg/day with 2 mg instant release Dilaudid for breakthrough, my pain is finally controlled and I have my life back and don't have to take pills every few hours."

10 / 10
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  • Chris...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • February 15, 2013

Dilaudid (hydromorphone) for Pain "I was in a motorcycle crash with a severely fractured wrist and was first given morphine, which sadly had zero effect on the pain. The ER then gave me Dilaudid, and it worked marvelously. I was in severe pain, and it knocked it out well with no unpleasant side effects, as many report having with morphine. I was put on a pain pump timed for every 8 minutes, and I was comfortable for the next 2 days before going home. I should mention, however, that my system processes pain medications VERY fast, so the same dose I take would likely be too strong for someone else."

10 / 10
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  • MMRed...
  • October 6, 2015

Dilaudid (hydromorphone) for Pain "I arrived at work and started to feel pain in my back and side of the abdomen. Since I have experienced this pain before, I recognized it as a kidney stone starting the trek down the urinary tract. After about 3 hours the pain maxed out and was accompanied by nausea. A coworker took me to the ER and after about 30-45 minutes of interrogation, they finally hooked me to an IV and provided a cocktail of drugs including Dilaudid, Flomax (for urine flow) and Zofran (for nausea). Almost immediately I felt a warm feeling all over and relaxed. I was able to doze for an hour or so relatively pain free. For me the Dilaudid worked perfectly, but I didn't note the exact dosage and it was a one-time thing."

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  • Kanna
  • April 27, 2012

Exalgo (hydromorphone) for Pain "Was using Fentanyl patches, but they caused me excessive sweating, so got switched to this. Despite having had a gastric bypass, which should have rendered this ineffective for me, my doctor has me take it twice a day instead of once, and it's the best pain medicine I've ever had. It started working within an hour, and I love it. I've even been on Percocet, which I hated and didn't do anything at all for me, and Butrans, which made me suicidal, and a bunch of others. This one's the tops!"

10 / 10
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  • codes
  • November 11, 2016

Dilaudid (hydromorphone) for Pain "I've suffered from reoccurring kidney stones for about five years and i'm only 18. After trying numerous medications to control my pain, i was given Dilauded in my IV and it SAVED ME. Nothing works better for me, and if you find yourself in a situation where you have kidney stones, please talk to your doctor about dilauded. It'll save you a lot of time!!"

10 / 10
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  • MSPRA...
  • July 18, 2008

Dilaudid (hydromorphone) for Pain "I have suffered with chronic uncontrolled migraines for 19 years now. Recently, during an episode, I had to be taken to the ER and was given Dilaudid as I.V. It has been the only thing that has given me relief, the best medicine I've ever used, and believe me, I've used most all of them."

10 / 10
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  • sexcp...
  • September 15, 2013

Dilaudid (hydromorphone) for Pain "I went to the ER because I had severe pain in my right flank area and was told I had a kidney stone. I get them quite frequently now, and I was given Dilaudid IV. I got the warm, wonderful rush and felt very floaty and quite pleasant, and I felt no pain."

10 / 10
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  • Pufft...
  • June 30, 2010

Dilaudid (hydromorphone) for Pain "I'm a 19-year-old male. For the majority of my life, I've always suffered pain in my spine, usually my upper neck and lower back, later to find out that I have 1-2 herniated discs and 3-4 bulged discs in my C-spine neck alone. This caused constant pain, but I was never given anything but low-dose oxycodone at best, and because of my age, nobody would prescribe it. If they did, it was a blessing, but never more than once! I recently have just broken my back - my lower back that has always been in pain, as mentioned above - and broke a vertebrate disc, fractured 3 others, and chipped another, all in my L-spine (lower back). The chipped disc actually, I believe, was in my neck where my spine pain is. Dilaudid works for pain, especially if you have opiate tolerance."

10 / 10
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56 Report

Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or to remove inappropriate language and content. Reviews that appear to be created by parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any particular medication. While these reviews may be helpful, they are not a substitute for the expertise, knowledge, and judgement of healthcare professionals.