Dilaudid and Itching: What Users Say

• jon...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 26, 2014

For Pain "I have been on this medicine now for almost 10 years, until recently, I've only had tolerable minor side effects: sweats and itching. Besides relieving the pain, it is great because there are only a few other meds that it had bad interactions with (and grapefruit, the grapefruit kept the pain meds from working). Unfortunately, after being on it for so long, my body has gotten too used to it and it no longer works for me, causing my feet, ankles, and calves to swell. I still highly recommend Dilaudid to anyone. Besides the pain relief, the withdrawals from Dilaudid are not that bad to go through."

• BGT...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 12, 2013

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."

• Anonymous
• September 4, 2009

For Pain "Dilaudid is the only pain medication that offers me any type of relief. I herniated 3 discs in my lower back, and I was on an IV of 2 mg every 4 hours. Only con was it made my face very itchy. The second time I had an IV of Dilaudid was post-spinal tap. I was given a 1 mg injection every 2 hours (lower dosage, more frequently made pain more manageable). I now have a prescription for 4 mg every 3-4 hours for chronic back pain. I believe it has dramatically improved my quality of life."

• Anonymous
• September 13, 2009

For Pain "I was in the ER the other day for a slipped disc and pinched sciatic nerve. I was given 1 mg of this through an IV. I have never taken a pain medicine so effective! But I was in so much pain that I needed 1 mg every hour for 3 hours. But the only side effect was that my face and body were itchy after the third mg."

• gat...
• April 20, 2012

For Pain "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."

• Anonymous
• July 16, 2009

For Pain "First experienced the benefits of this drug after my 10th spinal surgery. Relieved pain pretty quickly, but short-lasting. It was given as breakthrough in the hospital, via IV at first. Then the doctor scripted it to me as breakthrough along with Percocet when I went home. I eventually had too many side effects from the Percocet. I just stuck with the Dilaudid, taking it about every 5-6 hours. Now I'm dealing with being 'itchy' and think it may be the Dilaudid. I had bad side effects from Vicodin after one of last year's surgeries. Now it seems I'm starting to have side effects from things I never used to be bothered by before."

• All...
• July 8, 2011

For Pain "I had a negative reaction to Dilaudid after a surgical procedure. It made me itch horribly, and my mouth broke out on the inside. I had to stop taking it after two days when the palms of my hands and the bottoms of my feet were itching like crazy. I was then prescribed Ultram, which made me so nauseous I had to go to bed. I finally just quit the pain medicines after four days and coasted along with ibuprofen until I was over the surgery completely."