Hydromorphone for Chronic Pain User Reviews (Page 2)

• Bubba...
• June 9, 2013

Exalgo (hydromorphone) "I have been in so much pain over the past 2 years. My neurologist has tried EVERYTHING! I have taken every medication there is. Every narcotic available. Nothing has helped except my oxycodone 15x5 a day, and it just took the edge off. My doctor put me on Exalgo along with my oxycodone for breakthrough pain, and I started to feel normal again. I was told I have small fiber neuropathy along with a list of other horrible things, and I can say without a doubt that this medicine has been a miracle for me. I have gone from not being able to walk from time to time and being in so much pain to feeling normal again. Don't get me wrong. I still hurt, but hey, I can handle this hurt! What a blessing!"

• RedDawn
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 25, 2013

Exalgo (hydromorphone) "I started taking Exalgo in June 2011 for chronic kidney/flank pain. I started with 8mg once a day. Increased to 12mg in March 2012. Then increased to 16mg in July 2013. I call Exalgo my miracle. I like taking the ER pill rather than popping pills all day long. I've tried so many different opiates, but I much prefer Dilaudid to all the others. I also take 4mg Dilaudid (hydromorphone) as needed for breakthrough pain. Best of luck to anyone suffering from chronic pain, it's a terrible way to live, but Exalgo definitely increased my quality of life. I hope it can do the same for you!"

• Kelrod
• November 23, 2012

Dilaudid (hydromorphone) "INTENSE CHRONIC PAIN. No Comparison or Substitute. HEAVILY Prescribed Tons of Methadone and OXYCODONE for 4 Years. When forced at E.R. Dilaudid is the only thing that works. I think it should be used more often. Morphine at ER would take 4 shots and cause nausea, which is bad for my ailments. 10/10 EVERY TIME! Thanks"

• Anonymous
• November 17, 2012

Exalgo (hydromorphone) "All I have to say is, give them a bit of time to work. Especially if you were on high doses of another opiate. Your body will not even feel them for the first 4 or 5 days. I was taking 3x40mgs of methadone along with 6x15mgs of oxycodone per day for 4 years until I had a heart attack. My doctor sent me for an EKG and my 'QT' interval was in the 500s along with leg and body swelling, tightness in the chest along with severe constipation (most likely from methadone). Once they got me weaned down from the methadone they prescribed 2x16mg Exalgo per day keeping the oxycodone as breakthrough. I started taking them as directed with no relief, and I felt nauseous with afternoon headaches. On the 4th day, I started feeling more relief. Give it time."

• Valen...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 28, 2014

Dilaudid (hydromorphone) "I am receiving Dilaudid through a pain pump. It's just been a month since the surgery. I was opioid tolerant at the time. I have sarcoidosis, degenerative disc disease, and osteoarthritis. I feel so much better than I have in a long time. I'm not sleepy, but I did get tingling in the lower left leg that went to my toes. I am stiff in joints, but not sure if it's the arthritis or Dilaudid. I rate it at 8.5."

• Himmy...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 3, 2013

Exalgo (hydromorphone) "I've been on Exalgo for about 3 weeks now and the difference is amazing. I have chronic pancreatitis, and the pain from that is just unbearable... the worst I've ever experienced. I had been taking 15 mg oxycodone on an every-8-hour regimen with 2 mg Dilaudid as needed for breakthrough pain. The oxycodone had lost its effectiveness, and I was having more and more pain that was becoming more and more difficult to control. When my doctor suggested Exalgo, I agreed to try it. Once my insurance authorized it, I got the prescription filled. I had to take 2 mg Dilaudid every 4-8 hours for a few days while the Exalgo built up, but once it did, my pain went from a 7 to a 3 on the pain scale. Wow."

• suziem
• January 4, 2014

Exalgo (hydromorphone) "My pain management doctor switched me to this medicine 2 days ago. It's a miracle. I have been on everything. I was taking Oxycontin 80mg 2 x per day along with 30mg oxycodone every 4 hrs for breakthrough pain. I felt the difference within hrs. I suffer chronic pain due to my back. I've had 5 spinal fusion surgeries. "

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 11, 2012

Exalgo (hydromorphone) "Worked great for my back pain but had a whole slew of bad side effects including Anxiety, panic attacks, mental/mood changes, suicidal thoughts. Never have been subject to depression or suicidal thoughts before. Had to be taken off the med immediately when we realized that it was what was causing me to have all these problems."

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

Dilaudid (hydromorphone) "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."

• ROB
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 3, 2013

Exalgo (hydromorphone) "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."

• New...
• April 28, 2015

Exalgo (hydromorphone) "I am 5'. 105 lbs and was a carpenter for 6 years . I have a bad back 2 disc replaced in neck with a plate & 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 X day . Which only lasts 2 to 3 hrs. 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 hrs. 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!"

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

Exalgo (hydromorphone) "I just started on Exalgo ER 12mg's. 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(8Hrs) and not wake up with a hang-over 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 a 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."

• Nan
• September 24, 2020

Dilaudid (hydromorphone) "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."

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

Exalgo (hydromorphone) "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."

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

Exalgo (hydromorphone) "I am a 30y/o German automotive technician, when I was 18 I was hit by a drunk driver. Broke my lower back in 2 places,my hip and knee. I was taking 40mg OC and breakthru 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 form that was worse than anything I had experienced before. My dr 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 16mg/day with 2mg 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!"

• lbp
• October 25, 2013

Exalgo (hydromorphone) "I have CRPS stage 3 in my left arm and left foot. I started on 16mg a day of exalgo, then up to 12 2xday, now 16 2xday for 32mg a day. I found the 2x a day was the key for this medicine since its takes a long time to start so the next dose 12 hours apart really helped. I'm just starting the 32mg a day since my crps spread to my entire left arm so I'm hoping I don't eventually get to the 32mg 2x/day.. has anyone else taken that much?"

• Ps91
• September 21, 2015

Exalgo (hydromorphone) "The pain management Dr prescribed morphine sulfate ( due to cost) rather than OxyContin . It was horrible. I felt loopy and sick with pain in my side . So a different Dr switched me to Exalgo SR .. What a relief! Ian finally thinking clearer . I take dilaudid for breakthrough pain and between the two , I am functioning much better. I think it is much better than OxyContin as well , because OxyContin always made me feel flushed and a bit dopey in a different kind of way. ( not as bad as morphine though) I am so glad I am getting pain relief without feel sick and doped up . I think Exalgo is a perfect match for me ."

• littl...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 23, 2017

Dilaudid (hydromorphone) "I was experiencing pain in my hips like never before Because I had no insurance finding any relief meant a trip to ER. Finally I was approved for medicatation. After waiting longer than I should of for care, I saw a doctor that said I have aseptic necrosis. What is this? It is interruption of blood supply. Without blood, the bone tissue dies and the bone collapses. Treatment is total hip replacement. I have had my right done. It was collapsed. Very painful! Now waiting on my left. That is not the end. My shoulders need replacement. I was prescribed 60 mg Hysingla ER (hydrocodone bitartate) . It was not for me. My doctor finally decided on dilaudid 4 mg. Thank god! Thinking he needs to up my dose. Much better now!"

• tonyp...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 28, 2016

Exalgo (hydromorphone) "I was taking 80 mg. day of oxycodone (percocet 10 mg. + 325 acetaminophen per pill ) and finally found a pain doctor who is a psychiatrist and a neurologist as well as a pain mgmt. specialist and an addiction treatment specialist. He asked how long the percocet worked for me. I said 2 to 2 ½ hours. He said based on the number of years I had taken it (4) and the increases of dosages over those years (beginning of 4 mg. 4 x day to 8 mg. 6 x day over 4 years) that I had become tolerant to oxycodone. He put me on exalgo 32 mg. extended release once/day which is hydromorphone which is dilaudid and 4 mg. dilaudid/hydromorphone (the same drug but not timed release) for break through pain 4xday. It was pretty amazing. My pain just stopped."

• Vegan...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 18, 2018

Dilaudid (hydromorphone) "Dilaudid is just delicious! I suffer from severe Spinal Stenosis and often times the pain is unbearable. When necessary, I enter the E.R. and explain my condition. An understanding doctor will prescribe this drug, I.M. and I will soon then begin to feel immediate pain relief."

• SUPER...
• June 22, 2016

Dilaudid (hydromorphone) "I have severe fibromyalgia and possibly still undiagnosed endometriosis. I'm currently in the hospital (admitted) and they have been giving me 1mg of dilaudid every 4-5 hours for pain. It helps so much but eventually it wears off within the 3rd hour. This is through the IV. I have been sitting up and getting back to my self. The 2 cons: super drowsiness and it is addictive. I worry becoming dependent on it but at the same time it relieves my pain better than Norco."

• You...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 14, 2018

Dilaudid (hydromorphone) "I had ankle reconstruction surgery. They gave me 1-2mg every 4 hours and it did absolutely nothing to help with the pain. Sounds like only the IV is the only successful route. I had to ask for stronger meds which did the trick. I wouldn’t bother with such a low dosage. It doesn’t do anything for you."

• Tiger
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 3, 2019

Hydromorph Contin (hydromorphone) "I have real pain but have been treated as drug addict. MY addiction is being pain free so I can work, and socialize with my friends & family. I had a back operation in 2000 not long afterwards the leg(sciatica) pain came back. I was prescribed quick release pain medication. OXY. My new doc weaned me off the oxy and put me on slow release Hydromorph Contin. and now I can function. The doc explained, on quick release tablets my pain is spiking up and down all day long, you have pain and then you take a pill. Time released capsules slowly administer pain relief through the day and it works well for me. This medication has saved my life. Thank you Dr. For first saving my life, and now giving me a life."

• BackP...
• September 14, 2016

Dilaudid (hydromorphone) "In Sept 2006 I was in a bus accident had been in such pain nothing was working, my blood pressure would sky rocket do to the pain, nothing was helping until I got the Dilaudid IV in the hospital, I also have to take zofran for nausea. I had overgone 5 back surgeries in 10 years. I never needed pain medication until the bus accident. They tried tordol, morphine, percocet, but nothing helped. I was on a high dosage of Dilaudid for 3 years until my screws were removed in 11-2013. I have been going off dilaudid for 3 yrs now. I take 3. 4 mg tabs a day it takes almost 1 hour to work, but it only helps the pain for about 3-4 hours. This should only be used when nothing else will. I am so thankful."

• frank...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 28, 2017

Dilaudid (hydromorphone) "Had a motorcycle accident in 2013 and broke 3 vertebrae, 6 ribs and my pelvis. I was given morphine in the ER, but it wasn't putting even a dent in my pain. I asked if there was anything else they could give me and dilaudid was the answer. IV administration quickly relieved my pain. I describe the feeling as melting into the bed in a feeling of euphoria. I was told by hospital staff it was 8 x stronger than morphine. Easy to see how people get addicted. I was disappointed when the nurse told me they were going to start weaning me off after 3-4 days."