Alternative to Meds Center blends many strategies together to safely ease Dilaudid or hydromorphone withdrawal. In many cases, Dilaudid is prescribed as an “alternative” for opioid addicted persons, which at once can discourage the goal of restoring drug-free health after addiction or dependence has developed. Opiate withdrawal symptoms themselves act as a powerful barrier to stopping.
Do Your Symptoms Require Dilaudid?
Our program addresses the root causes for conditions that preceded opioid use, and those that resulted from overuse of opioid medications. One important piece is restoring the body’s own endorphin production. To this end, we provide the nutrition and natural raw materials necessary to bring the gut microbiome and
healthy biochemistry back to normal condition. This is essential, because more than 50% of our dopamine is produced in the gut. Opioid overuse shuts the factory down.1,2 And proper treatment can bring it back to thriving health again. Additional effective strategies are discussed below.
For nearly two decades, Alternative to Meds Center has provided the tools, strategies, and orthomolecular guidelines for recovery during and after Dilaudid/hydromorphone withdrawal. You can review our exceptional success rate for our many clients over the years. There is no other program like ours for authentic sustained recovery for persons looking for relief from drug dependence and addiction.
15 Years Experience by Professionals Who Understand Your Journey.
Dilaudid or Hydromorphone Withdrawal Symptoms Can be Severe
Dilaudid (hydromorphone hydrochloride) is an extremely potent pain medication. It is classed appropriately as Class II, meaning it has a high risk of addiction.3,7,12
Withdrawal from hydromorphone can be extremely rough and when the drug is abruptly stopped it can even be life-threatening for some. The loss of body fluids and electrolytes can be catastrophic from continuous vomiting, excessive sweating, and diarrhea. These conditions can lead to death if hydration is not carefully monitored and restored.8
In addition to the above, there is a chance that over the course of time taking opioids that the body has — as a defense mechanism — built new pain receptors as a response to the drug’s dampening effects. So when the drug is withdrawn, these new pain receptors can amplify pain even beyond the baseline levels that existed before the drug was started. Quite a catch-22 to overcome, as the pain level of a person can become even more excruciating if not otherwise addressed.5,9,11
Even if the drug was used recreationally, in hydromorphone withdrawal the sensations of pain can be many times more pronounced than what can be tolerated.
Even though Dilaudid/hydromorphone withdrawal symptoms are severe, and can be potentially life-threatening, many more people die from taking opiates than ever die from coming off them. Thankfully there are many methods that can ease and facilitate safe opiate withdrawal.
Why is Dilaudid Addictive?
Dilaudid, like all opioids, flips some important switches in human neurochemistry. These switches manage sending signals that affect emotions, sensations of pain, reward, mental cognition, and are also involved in virtually every physical aspect of the human body. Opioids generally suppress negative feelings such as stress and pain, and boost positive feelings such as relaxation and pleasure. For some, these effects are euphoric and powerful, and yet for others, opioids may worsen mood, or create undesirable effects such as dizziness or even opioid-induced pain (hyperalgesia).6
Addiction, repeatedly and compulsively returning to the drug, is more likely to occur in those who experience powerful positive effects. However, over time the positives diminish and the negatives become torturous. The fastest “solution” to the continuous threat of painful Dilaudid withdrawal is to take the drug more often and at higher doses. That is the trap. The problem of breaking the cycle of addiction is a formidable one. Just like knowing how a car works makes it a lot easier to fix one that is broken, understanding the mechanics of addiction can provide a way out of the trap.
Medical consensus explains some of the mechanisms that are at play in opioid addiction. Certain receptors in the brain and across the entire nervous system branching out throughout the body, bring about the rewarding effects that occur when opioids are present. These same receptors also bring about the horrible and unpleasant effects of withdrawal when opioids are less present, or absent, as in Dilaudid withdrawal. It is the avoidance of pain and other bad effects that primarily drives compulsive drug-taking and addiction. Because opioids are such powerful agents that aggressively interfere in natural neurochemistry, this means they are therefore highly addictive.5,9-11
And in recovery, rehabilitating functionality of natural neurochemistry is essential to bring relief.
Holistic Approaches to Comfortable Dilaudid Withdrawal
Perhaps you have attempted to quit on your own, without the success you wanted. Maybe you have tried a rehab program where Dilaudid withdrawal was eased through medication, but symptoms continued after cessation. For many, after the withdrawal was complete, the prescription for the substitute drug or perhaps additional drugs were given for relief. But unfortunately, relapse occurred anyway — so some, if not most, have found themselves returning to taking Dilaudid despite attempts to quit.
ATMC provides a very wide range of holistic treatments to prevent that revolving door outcome. Understanding the mechanics of addiction is key to knowing how non-drug approaches can have more long lasting and overall health benefits. Neurotransmitter rehabilitation will help, and that can be accomplished by orthomolecular nutrition and supplementation, and neurotoxin cleansing to free the body from the harmful effects of past accumulations of toxins.
Elements of recovery can span many areas which if addressed can pave the way for healing and rehabilitation. But they have to be powerful enough to successfully combat and overcome such a powerful addiction. Some of these are listed below and we encourage finding out more about the technical/medical reasons these are recommended for recovery in addiction treatment and Dilaudid withdrawal.13-16
Holistic approaches to Dilaudid withdrawal and recovery can include:
Diet and nutrition overhaul
Comfort therapies
Healing the gut microbiome
Cleansing the body of toxic residues
Relaxation techniques, administered and learned for self-care
Physical exercise
Lifestyle changes
CBT and other psychological counseling
Holistic approaches can help a person “do the work” of recovery and build the foundation for true health and happiness.
Holistic Pain Management Strategies
Pain management is a critically important focus for many who are prescribed opiates to alleviate physical discomfort. This can become absolutely critical for successful hydromorphone withdrawal. It cannot be considered humane to simply stop prescribing medication that reduces pain without at the same time providing alternative therapies that themselves can bring pain relief without drugs.
At ATMC, each individual is programmed according to unique needs, and holistic pain management services are generously blended into the program. You can find out more about strategies used at ATMC on our services page under holistic pain management for more details than can be adequately described in this short article.
SAFE Holistic Hydromorphone Withdrawal at Alternative to Meds Center
For more extensive information on the way Alternative to Meds Center provides safe Dilaudid withdrawal services, please take time to review a description on many topics listed on our services overview pages. The information there is extensive, but reader-friendly for the benefit of all.
Many persons come to us at the center after numerous failed attempts using limited or only conventional approaches to addiction recovery. We have helped thousands of clients to recover their authentic drug-free health and happiness through techniques delivered inpatient in our pristine facility in Sedona, Arizona. For more information simply call us anytime and speak to a friendly and informed service consultant. We look forward to speaking with you further and answer any questions you may have about our services, your insurance coverage, or any matters of interest that may be helpful to you about correct and effective approaches to Dilaudid withdrawal.
7. Shah M, Huecker MR. Opioid Withdrawal. [Updated 2023 Jul 21]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK526012/ [cited 2024 Jan 4]
Originally Published January 5, 2024 by Diane Ridaeus
This content has been reviewed and approved by a licensed physician.
Dr. Samuel Lee
Dr. Samuel Lee is a board-certified psychiatrist, specializing in a spiritually-based mental health discipline and integrative approaches. He graduated with an MD at Loma Linda University School of Medicine and did a residency in psychiatry at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle. He has also been an inpatient adult psychiatrist at Kaweah Delta Mental Health Hospital and the primary attending geriatric psychiatrist at the Auerbach Inpatient Psychiatric Jewish Home Hospital. In addition, he served as the general adult outpatient psychiatrist at Kaiser Permanente. He is board-certified in psychiatry and neurology and has a B.A. Magna Cum Laude in Religion from Pacific Union College. His specialty is in natural healing techniques that promote the body’s innate ability to heal itself.
Diane is an avid supporter and researcher of natural mental health strategies. Diane received her medical writing and science communication certification through Stanford University and has published over 3 million words on the topics of holistic health, addiction, recovery, and alternative medicine. She has proudly worked with the Alternative to Meds Center since its inception and is grateful for the opportunity to help the founding members develop this world-class center that has helped so many thousands regain natural mental health.
Medical Disclaimer: Nothing on this Website is intended to be taken as medical advice. The information provided on the website is intended to encourage, not replace, direct patient-health professional relationships. Always consult with your doctor before altering your medications. Adding nutritional supplements may alter the effect of medication. Any medication changes should be done only after proper evaluation and under medical supervision.
Our Success Stories
Medication Withdrawal Success Stories
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These conditions can lead to death if hydration is not carefully monitored and restored.8
For some, these effects are euphoric and powerful, and yet for others, opioids may worsen mood, or create undesirable effects such as dizziness or even opioid-induced pain (hyperalgesia).6
Perhaps you have attempted to quit on your own, without the success you wanted. Maybe you have tried a rehab program where Dilaudid withdrawal was eased through medication, but symptoms continued after cessation. For many, after the withdrawal was complete, the prescription for the substitute drug or perhaps additional drugs were given for relief. But unfortunately, relapse occurred anyway — so some, if not most, have found themselves returning to taking Dilaudid despite attempts to quit.
Pain management is a critically important focus for many who are prescribed opiates to alleviate physical discomfort. This can become absolutely critical for successful hydromorphone withdrawal. It cannot be considered humane to simply stop prescribing medication that reduces pain without at the same time providing alternative therapies that themselves can bring pain relief without drugs.
