Hydromorphone and Vomiting: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• February 2, 2010

For Pain "I developed severe pancreatitis and hepatitis due to gallstones. They tried morphine first, but it makes me vomit even if they give me Zofran, Phenergan, or Reglan with it. I'm allergic to many medications and latex. My only previous experience with painkillers was codeine for a severe cough and Percocet for a gynecological issue. I had an anaphylactic reaction to the Percocet. Not fun. So they decided to try Dilaudid on me - at least if I had a bad reaction to it, they could treat me immediately. I was so grateful! Complete pain relief and no vomiting. No side effects either, nor did it feel like I was on anything, it just made the pain stop. IV Dilaudid worked within 30 seconds. They gave me pills to take home, the pills take about 30 minutes."

• Mel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 9, 2015

For Pain "I was administered Dilaudid in the ER after having suffered a copperhead bite to the ankle. They administered the antivenin and morphine with Phenergan (sp?) and returned after about 10 minutes to check my pain level-- no effect. The Dilaudid didn't completely stop the pain, but it definitely took the edge off. This was my first experience taking any narcotic-- so both the morphine and Dilaudid caused the 'whoooosh' sensation, stomach dropped, body felt very heavy... But that sensation was much greater with Dilaudid. Shortly after getting the Dilaudid, I started vomiting pretty heavily-- but no way to know if that was the venom, antivenom, morphine, or Dilaudid. Lesson learned, don't step on a snake!"

• T...
• July 31, 2009

For Pain "I have high pressure in my head from a brain injury last year. Morphine won't touch what Dilaudid can. It has worked great for my headaches, which they say is the worst head pain ever experienced. So anyway, a lot of narcotics will give me rebound pain, but this one does not. Only side effects, if not given with Zofran, it makes me vomit."

• cla...
• May 14, 2008

For Pain "Was given this drug while in the hospital. Had severe tonsillitis and could not eat, drink, speak, or breathe. A shot in the IV and then flushed with saline! What a relief!!! Worked instantly! Even though it doesn't make you sick like morphine, I still vomited when I got home after a dose two hours earlier."

• Luc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 30, 2015

For Pain "I was admitted yesterday, 9-29-15, in Mission Regional Hospital. I was in pain due to having diverticulitis. I was put on IV with this medication called Dilaudid. It was horrible. I started seeing everything moving. I couldn't stop vomiting. I would try to have my eyes open, but I was so dizzy. For me, this is the worst medication. I have never felt like this with other painkillers."

• Fox...
• October 13, 2011

For Pain "I have been suffering with abominable head/back pain (pain lasting around the clock for up to 4-5 days straight), as well as abdominal pains with constant vomiting and no ability to lead a normal life, including having to take a leave of absence from my job. In '11 alone, I was hospitalized 4 times, 4 months in a row. One stay, I was vomiting blood and passing it in my stool. In the ER, Dilaudid IV gave me relief. I was given it every 2 hours. Zofran and Dilaudid helped at home too. My doctor put me on Vicodin in lieu of Dilaudid, saying the latter was habit-forming. Since then, no relief of pains. Dilaudid 4 mg helped great. Miracle medicine."

• Fox...
• October 13, 2011

For Pain "I have been suffering with abominable head/back pain (pain lasting around the clock for up to 4-5 days straight), as well as abdominal pains with constant vomiting and no ability to lead a normal life, including having to take a leave of absence from my job. In '11 alone, I was hospitalized 4 times, 4 months in a row. One stay, I was vomiting blood and passing it in my stool. In the ER, Dilaudid IV gave me relief. I was given it every 2 hours. Zofran and Dilaudid helped at home too. My doctor put me on Vicodin in lieu of Dilaudid, saying the latter was habit-forming. Since then, no relief of pains. Dilaudid 4 mg helped great. Miracle medicine."

• Kar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 26, 2017

For Pain "I suffer from chronic intractable migraines and fibromyalgia and have a recent history of strokes. I'm a long-term pain management patient, and my normal pain meds are OxyContin 15 mg twice a day, with Oxy IR 15 mg every four hours. Three weeks ago, I tripped in a parking lot and fractured my shoulder. Because of my normal meds, my orthopedist put me on 4 mg Dilaudid (tablets) every 4 hours (in place of the Oxy IR) because of the extreme pain of the fracture. I have to say that I was surprised that it did not work at all. It did, however, make me violently ill with near-constant vomiting and diarrhea. I have had Dilaudid via IV many times and never experienced these symptoms, and they resolved as soon as I stopped the oral Dilaudid tablet."

• ver...
• March 21, 2011

For Pain "I was in the E.R. for pain associated with a condition causing kidney stones {1 in each kidney}. I am severely allergic to all anti-emetic drugs (anti-nausea/vomiting drugs), but I required a potent painkiller. I was given Dilaudid by IV, having never been on anything stronger than Percocet pills. The doctors were afraid that I'd become very nauseous, vomit profusely, and be unable to be treated for nausea. To my relief, it did the trick! I only vomited once and was prescribed hydromorphone 2mg. NO SIDE EFFECTS! I was too sick to see the beauty in everyday life, until now!"

• vme...
• April 17, 2011

For Pain "I just had emergency gallbladder removal surgery. When I woke up from general anesthesia, I was given a Dilaudid IV. The pain was still there. I begged and begged for a higher dose but was not given one. Throughout the night and the next day, the moment the Dilaudid was injected in the IV, I would vomit. I had to keep my eyes closed for most of the morning. Even with anti-nausea injections, the Dilaudid had me vomiting. In regard to the pain, it lasted only about 2 hours, and then the pain was back. I had them stop administering it to me."

• Tin...
• November 19, 2016

For Pain "I just had a total abdominal hysterectomy done 3 days ago, 11/15/16. Dilaudid was awful for me. I was given it via IV along with anti-nausea meds. Every time I could feel a wave of warmth, and then within minutes, was vomiting terribly. I told them 11 hours after surgery that I didn't want any more and to give only Tylenol. The vomiting stopped. I wouldn't recommend this at all."