Hydromorphone medication is a potent Schedule II opioid analgesic drug. It is marketed as injectable ampules, multiple-dose vials, tablets, and suppositories. Dilaudid 2 mg (Hydromorphone) is indicated for the relief of moderate-to-severe bodily pain. The Hydromorphone drug is supplied under the brand names Dilaudid (immediate-release) and Exalgo (controlled-release). Apart from that, it is also marketed in its generic form.

How to Identify Dilaudid 2 mg?

What Dilaudid 2 mg looks like depends on the form it is supplied. In its pill form, Dilaudid pills are typically distributed in small, round, colored tablets or three-sided white tablets. In its liquid form, the drug is supplied as a slightly viscous and colorless solution, clear or pale yellow in appearance. While Dilaudid suppositories doses are supplied in typically oblong in shape ampules.

On our Rxpharmasmeds website, Dilaudid is available as:

• Dilaudid 2 mg
• Dilaudid 4 mg
• Dilaudid 8 mg

The 4 mg and 8 mg pills can be characterized as round, yellow, engraved with “4” and “P” on their faces, and triangular, white, engraved with an “8” and “M” bisected, respectively. However, the generic Dilaudid 2 mg tablets are round, white, and engraved with “2” and “M” on either side.

Proper Usage and Dosage of Dilaudid

• While using the pill form, Dilaudid 2 mg pill should be taken as a whole and should not be broken or chewed. Crushing or chewing Dilaudid 2 mg pills may cause too much of the drug into the system and is considered a form of abuse. Depending on how much of the drug is taken, an excess release of Dilaudid can lead to a potentially fatal overdose.
• Dilaudid medication works by activating opioid receptors present in the brain, resulting in the most extreme effects of opioids. This also means that it has a high potential for abuse and addiction over time. As it produces pleasurable feelings with each dose, an individual’s temptation to abuse the drug increases. Meanwhile, the user may build up a tolerance in as little as a few weeks of usage, potentially leading to an addiction.
• If you are concerned about increasing your dosage of Dilaudid, it is always recommended that you consult with your physician first. Doctors can also prescribe other medication to replace Dilaudid if you start to feel a dependence.

Various Doses of Dilaudid

The dosage of Dilaudid 2 mg drug is the prescribed amount that should be taken at any given time. Generally, the dosage can be expressed in weight, volume, number of dosage forms, or other quantities. While the recommended Dilaudid 2 mg dosage varies from individual to individual, the amount of medication prescribed for adult use is as follows:

• Dilaudid Liquid Solution: Somewhat between 2.5 ml and 5 ml of Dilaudid is recommended every, 3 to 6 hours intervals for the treatment of severe pain.
• Dilaudid Pills: 2 mg or 4 mg of Dilaudid is advised to be taken by mouth every 4 to 6 hours as prescribed by the doctor.
• Dilaudid Suppository: One suppository dose should be taken through rectal administration as recommended by your concerned doctor.
• Dilaudid Injection: Administer Dilaudid 2 mg under the skin or into the muscle every 4 to 6 hours as prescribed for pain management.

Metabolization of Dilaudid 2 mg

Once ingested, Dilaudid 2 mg pills are processed by the system and are used to block pain signals from the brain. Dilaudid 2 mg drug is metabolized in the same place in the body as most other opioids, the liver. There, Dilaudid medication is broken down into a metabolite called Hydromorphone-3-glucuronide. This metabolite then works to block pain receptors present in the brain to show its effects. All the drugs are eventually ejected from an individual’s system altogether via urine and feces.

Tolerance and Dependence on Dilaudid Pills

As with all other opioid-containing products, your body may become used to Dilaudid medication. Taking it for a prolonged time may result in physical dependence. Physical dependence means that you may experience withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking or discontinue Dilaudid 2 mg medication suddenly. Hence, it is important to take it exactly as directed by your concerned doctor.  Tolerance to Dilaudid 2 mg may develop, which means that the effect of the medicine may decrease. If this happens, more doses or higher doses may be needed to maintain the same effect.

Other Medicines Along with Dilaudid

Before taking any medication you must consult with your doctor or pharmacist first. Inform the doctor if you are taking any other medicines, vitamins, or supplements that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy. Certain medicines may interfere with Dilaudid and affect its working in the system.

Using Dilaudid 2 mg tablets with some medicines can make you feel tired, severe drowsiness, decreased awareness, breathing problems, coma, and death. These medicines include:

• Sleeping tablets and other sedatives (Lunesta, Ambien, Restoril )
• Gabapentinoids (e.g; Pregabalin and Gabapentin)
• Cannabis
• Antihistamines
• Anxiolytics (Xanax, Valium, Ativan )
• General anesthetics
• Antiemetics
• Antidepressants like Fluoxetine (Prozac), Paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva), Sertraline (Zoloft), Citalopram (Celexa), Escitalopram (Lexapro), and also tricyclic antidepressants.
• Antipsychotic medications (Risperidone (Risperdal), Quetiapine (Seroquel), Olanzapine (Zyprexa), Ziprasidone (Zeldox), Paliperidone (Invega), Aripiprazole (Abilify) and Clozapine (Clozaril)) including phenothiazines
• Neuroleptics
• Other opioid painkillers such as Codeine, Methadone, Tramadol, etc.
• Alcohol