Hydromorphone lasts different lengths of time in bodily fluids like saliva and urine. Factors like the dosage, frequency and health status can impact these estimates.
Article at a Glance:
- Hydromorphone is an opioid also known by its brand name Dilaudid.
- The pain-relieving action of short-acting hydromorphone kicks in within 30 minutes, but it can be detected in your body for much longer.
- The drug can be detected in saliva for up to two days, urine for up to three days, blood for almost four hours, and hair for up to 90 days.
Hydromorphone Hydrochloride Showing Up on Drug Tests
Hydromorphone hydrochloride (Dilaudid) is an opioid that comes in both short-acting and long-acting formulations. The short-acting form of the drug starts to workwithin 30 minutes, reaching its peak effect within an hour. In contrast, the long-acting form starts to workwithin six hoursand reaches peak effectiveness within nine hours.
However, even after its pain-relieving properties start to wear off, the drug may still show up on drug tests, including urine, blood, saliva and hair tests.
How Long Does Hydromorphone Hydrochloride Stay in Your Urine, Hair, and Blood?
Hydromorphone will show up in a drug test screening. For this reason, you should inform the drug test administrator if you are taking or have recently taken this prescription.
Hydromorphone can be found in the following drug tests:
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- Saliva:Up totwo days
- Urine:Up tothree days
- Blood:Up to3.8 hours
- Hair:Up to90 daysin a 1.5-inch hair sample
Half-Life of Hydromorphone Hydrochloride
The half-life of a medication is the time it takes for your body to break down half of the drug. Generally, it takes five half-lives for a drug to completely leave your system.
- The half-life ofshort-actinghydromorphone is2–3 hours, meaning it can stay in your system for up to 15 hours.
- The half-life oflong-actinghydromorphone is8–15 hours, meaning it can remain in your system for just over three days.
Factors That Influence How Long Hydromorphone Hydrochloride Stays in Your System
Several physiological factors influence how long hydromorphone hydrochloride will stay in your system after the last dose. These factorsinclude:
- The drug’s formulation (short or long-acting)
- Dosage
- Frequency you took the drug
- How you took the drug (injected versus orally)
- Your age
- Your body composition and sex
- Your overall health
- Other medications you take
- Your hydration and nutritional status
Your doctor can help you to approximate a time frame in which hydromorphone hydrochloride will stay in your system. Inform your doctor of your complete medical history so he or she can accurately help you.
Hydromorphone Hydrochloride Prescription Facts
Hydromorphone is asemi-syntheticopioid analgesic, meaning that it is partially man-made. The drug is prescribed to change the way your body feels and reacts to pain. It is prescribed forsevere painthat can only be controlled with opioids.
As with any other prescription drug, hydromorphone hydrochloride carries a risk of side effects. These side effects caninclude:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Constipation
- Lightheadedness
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Sweating
- Flushing
- Dry mouth
As with other opioids, overdose is possible and potentially deadly. This isespecially trueif you take the drug with other central nervous system depressants, like alcohol or benzodiazepines.
Inform your doctor if you are experiencing anyside effects from hydromorphone hydrochlorideand avoid any medications or substances it interacts with, including alcohol, while it remains in your system. If you’re unsure about the safety of taking other medications or drinking alcohol after taking your prescription of hydromorphone hydrochloride, talk to your doctor.
Hydromorphone Hydrochloride Regulations
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has listed hydromorphone as aSchedule IIcontrolled substance, meaning it has a high potential for abuse, dependence and addiction.
Most Commonly Abused Drugs Containing Hydromorphone Hydrochloride
Hydromorphone is available both as a generic drug and under the brand nameDilaudid. When hydromorphone hydrochloride is abused, people may be misusing a prescription, or they may be illicitly purchasing the drug off the street. Street names for hydromorphoneinclude:
- Dust
- Juice
- Dillies
- Smack
- D
- Footballs
How Hydromorphone Hydrochloride Affects the Brain and Body
Hydromorphone hydrochloride works in your brain to change the way your body feels pain. It works by binding to the brain’s mu-opioid receptors, reducing pain sensations.
Over time, your body can become physically dependent on hydromorphone. Physical dependence is not the same thing as addiction. Instead, it means that your body has come to expect the presence of hydromorphone. Therefore, if you abruptly stop taking hydromorphone, this may bring about uncomfortablewithdrawal symptoms. Consult your doctor to receive assistance as needed while weaning off of this prescription.
Opioid addictioncan happen to anyone, even if they’re used as prescribed. If you or a loved one is struggling with an addiction to hydromorphone or another opioid,addiction rehab treatmentaddresses the physical and psychological impacts of opioids to help you learn why you became addicted in the first place.
ContactThe Recovery Village’s helpful representatives to discuss your treatment options, answer your questions about treatment and get you started on the path to long-term recovery.
