Dilaudid is the brand name of a highly potent prescription opioid called hydromorphone, which is used to treat moderate to severe pain. When taken as per the doctor’s prescription, Dialudid can be highly effective in managing pain, but at the same it is habit-forming and has the potential for misuse, overdose, and even death.
Understanding how long does Dilaudid stay in your system, therefore, can be useful for a variety of reasons - for medical reasons and also in avoiding misuse. Typically, Dilaudid lasts in your system between 0.5 and 1 day. However, some drug tests can detect it for even longer.
Contents
- Half-Life of Dilaudid
- How Long Does Dilaudid Stay in Your System?
- What Does Dilaudid Look Like?
- How Long Does It Take for Dilaudid to Take Effect?
- How To Get Dilaudid Out Of Your System?
- The Risks and Side Effects of Dilaudid
- Find Dilaudid Abuse Treatment in Los Angeles
Half-Life of Dilaudid
Typically, the half-life for Dilaudid is anywhere between 2.5 and 3 hours. This means it takes 2.5-3 hours for your body to eliminate half of the Dilaudid, then another half, and so on. It takes nearly 15 hours for your body to eliminate Dilaudid completely. However, in certain cases, like renal impairments, this can take as long as 40 hours.
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How Long Does Dilaudid Stay in Your System?
How long Dilaudid stays in your system depends on factors like metabolism, dosage, organ functioning, and so on. On average, it lasts in your system for 0.5-1 day. However, it can be detected by some drug tests for even longer.
How Long Does Dilaudid Stay in Your Urine?
Dilaudid typically remains detectable in your urine for up to 3 days after your last dose.
Urine tests are commonly used to detect Dilaudid, as they are easy, quick, and cost-effective.
How Long Does Dilaudid Stay in Your Hair?
Dilaudid remains detectable in your hair follicles the longest, even up to 90 days after your last dose!.
Hair tests are not as commonly used as urine tests, as they are time-consuming and expensive. However, they can come in handy to detect long-term drug use or to establish a history of drug use.
How Long Does Dilaudid Stay in Your Saliva?
Dilaudid tends to remain detectable only for 1-2 days after your last dose.
Saliva tests are the least invasive tests for Dilaudid. They are also easy to administer and cost-effective. However, they are mostly used when immediate detection is required.
How Long Does Dilaudid Stay in Your Blood?
Dilaudid can remain detectable in your blood up to 24 hours after your last dose.
Blood tests are slightly more invasive than the other drug tests, so they are not as commonly used. However, they can come in handy in clinical settings where accuracy is preferred.
What Does Dilaudid Look Like?
Generally speaking, Dilaudid is available as a liquid and as a tablet. While the liquid is universally transparent, Dilaudid tablets are available as 2mg, 4mg, and 8mg pills. These pills differ slightly in appearance, so here is a chart for your understanding:
Dosage |
Color |
Shape |
Imprint |
Appearance Note |
Dilaudid 2mg |
Light orange/peach |
Round |
“2” or “P2” (varies by manufacturer) |
Small size |
Dilaudid 4mg |
Yellow |
Round or oblong |
“4” or “WPI 39” |
Slightly larger than 2mg |
Dilaudid 8mg |
White |
Round |
“8” |
Largest of the three |
How Long Does It Take for Dilaudid to Take Effect?
How long it takes for Dilaudid to take effect depends on the method of administration:
- Oral Tablets/Solution: Typically take about 30 minutes to kick in and provide pain relief for about 3-4 hours.
- Injection: Typically takes only 5- 10 minutes to kick in and provides pain relief for about 2-3 hours.
- Rectal Suppositories: Typically take about 15-30 minutes to kick in and provide pain relief for about 4-6 hours.
Dilaudid is available in immediate-release and extended-release formulations. Depending on these formulations, the peak levels of Dilaudid differ. The immediate-release formulations peak within 30-60 minutes of intake, during which the drug is at its most effective. The extended-release formulations reach peak levels comparatively slowly, after about 9 hours of intake.
How To Get Dilaudid Out Of Your System?
Like other opioids, several factors determine how you can get Dilaudid out of your system, such as:
- Dosage and Frequency: Higher dosage and frequent use of Dilaudid can make it longer for your body to get the drug out of your system.
- Metabolism: Higher metabolism rates help quickly eliminate Dilaudid from your body. Therefore, maintain a balanced diet and an active lifestyle to ensure you have an optimal metabolism rate.
- Age: Aging can slow down metabolism, thereby leading to longer retention of Dilaudid in your body. Therefore, maintaining a certain level of physical activity is crucial at all times.
- Liver and Kidney Functioning: The liver and kidney functioning affect the elimination of Dilaudid from your body via metabolism. Healthy functioning of the liver and kidneys is vital, as they play a crucial role in drug metabolism and excretion.
- Body Mass and Fat Distribution: Dilaudid is a lipophilic or fat-soluble drug, which means it can be stored in fatty tissues. Put simply, the higher the body mass, the longer the elimination rate.
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The Risks and Side Effects of Dilaudid
Dilaudid is a prescription medication, but it does have some risks and side effects, such as:
- Headache
- Dry mouth
- Vomiting
- Constipation
- Sweating bouts
- Allergic reactions
- Respiratory depression
- Low blood pressure
- Seizure
- Tolerance and dependence
- Misuse.
If you or a loved one is experiencing any of these symptoms, it is crucial to contact the doctor immediately.
Dilaudid Misuse
Dilaudid has the potential for misuse; therefore, you need to be aware of the signs of Dilaudid misuse so that you can seek help early:
- Taking more and greater doses of Dilaudid than prescribed.
- Using Dilaudid without a doctor’s prescription or even going doctor shopping to get several prescriptions.
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when not using Dilaudid, which can be unpleasant symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, sweating, restlessness, apathy, low mood, sleep disturbances, and strong cravings, among others.
Dilaudid Overdose
It is possible to overdose on Dilaudid, where one can experience symptoms like bluish lips or fingernails, slow or labored breathing, extreme drowsiness, and loss of consciousness.
If anybody experiences these symptoms, call emergency providers (like 9-1-1 in the U.S.) immediately, as overdose can even lead to fatality.
Find Dilaudid Abuse Treatment in Los Angeles
If you or a loved one is struggling with Dilaudid use, we are here to help you journey toward lasting recovery and a life free of Dilaudid. At the NuView Treatment Center, we treat Dilaudid use in outpatient settings by getting to the bottom of its use and equipping you with the tools you need to stay away from Dilaudid for a lifetime!
Do not wait any longer! Call NuView at (323) 307-7997 or email us at info@nuviewtreatment.com to begin your recovery journey today!
Contents
- Half-Life of Dilaudid
- How Long Does Dilaudid Stay in Your System?
- What Does Dilaudid Look Like?
- How Long Does It Take for Dilaudid to Take Effect?
- How To Get Dilaudid Out Of Your System?
- The Risks and Side Effects of Dilaudid
- Find Dilaudid Abuse Treatment in Los Angeles
Get Help Today!
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Dr. Ryan Peterson, MD, specializes in Addiction Medicine and Pain Management in Los Angeles, with advanced training from The George Washington University, St. Vincent's Hospital, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, and UCLA Hospital. Currently accepting new patients.
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Dr Ryan Peterson