Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhich Is More Powerful?When They’re AdministeredSide EffectsDrug FormsPotential for AbuseFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Which Is More Powerful?
When They’re Administered
Side Effects
Drug Forms
Potential for Abuse
Frequently Asked Questions
Dilaudid (hydromorphone)and morphine are two of many opioid medications (previously called narcotics) that healthcare providers may prescribe to people in moderate to severe pain.They work on the opioid receptors of the body to reduce pain and may also cause a euphoria, commonly called a “high.”
While similar in many ways, these two medications are different substances. Morphine is a naturally occurring opioid processed from poppy plants. Dilaudid is a semisynthetic medication, a derivative of morphine, made in a lab.
This article compares Dilaudid and morphine in terms of strength, side effects, the potential for abuse, and more.
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What’s More Powerful, Morphine or Dilaudid?
For the same amount of medication (dose), Dilaudid will have a more substantial pain-relieving effect than morphine.The opioid oral morphine milligram equivalent (MME) from morphine to Dilaudid is five, meaning Dilaudid is about five times as strong as morphine.
Bioavailability
Other factors affecting bioavailability include:
Your healthcare team willassess your painbefore, during, and after treatment. It is normal to adjust pain medications, doses, and timing to find a process that helps your pain.
Dilaudid vs. Morphine: When They’re Administered
Both Dilaudid and morphine are meant to be prescribed for the treatment of moderate to severe pain. In the past, morphine was a commonly used pain medication.
Because of the high potential for abuse and the strong side effects of these medications, they are available only with a prescription from a healthcare provider. Dilaudid is generally reserved for people who have tried other, milder medications and still have pain, as well as for those with chronic, long-term pain.Before dispensing a prescription, your provider will ask questions about your pain location and type, and the treatments you have already tried. Typically, opioids are used for short-term treatments of acute pain.
Because of the high potential for abuse and the strong side effects of these medications, they are available only with a prescription from a healthcare provider. Dilaudid is generally reserved for people who have tried other, milder medications and still have pain, as well as for those with chronic, long-term pain.
Before dispensing a prescription, your provider will ask questions about your pain location and type, and the treatments you have already tried. Typically, opioids are used for short-term treatments of acute pain.
The side effects of Dilaudid and morphine are very similar. Opioids activate receptors in thecentral nervous system(brain and spinal cord) and throughout the body. Side effects vary but may include:
While the general side effects are similar, Dilaudid has a higher potential forsedation, a shorterhalf-life, and a higherpotential for abuse.Overdose of opioids can lead to death.
Both medications also have immediate-release and extended-release formulas available. Extended-release formulas of these medications are usually for people with chronic (long-term) pain. Your healthcare provider will determine which drug, dose, route, and type for you to use.
Dilaudid and morphine are controlled substances with a high potential for abuse and addiction. Concerns about misuse of pain medications like Dilaudid and morphine have led the healthcare community to raise concerns about the opioid crisis, sometimes called the opioid epidemic.
Due to the euphoria that opioids create, there is a high potential for medication misuse. Some people take these medications in higher doses or more frequently than prescribed. Other people buy or sell these medications without a prescription from a healthcare provider.
Understanding the difference between abuse, dependency, and addiction is important, They entail:Abuseis when medication is taken at a higher dose or more often than is prescribed. Mixing medications (for example, opioids and alcohol) can also be a form of abuse.Dependencyis when the body adapts to regular exposure to the medication, and withdrawal symptoms occur if the next dose is delayed or skipped.Addictionis a physical and psychological dependence on a substance in which a person constantly and compulsively seeks the next dose.
Understanding the difference between abuse, dependency, and addiction is important, They entail:
How to Recognize and Treat Opioid Abuse Before It’s Too Late
Summary
Dilaudid and morphine are opioid medications for short-term treatment of moderate to severe pain. They are similar but different medications. Dilaudid is four times stronger at the same dose.
While both are effective for pain, both drugs also can have uncomfortable to life-threatening side effects and a significant potential for abuse. Speak with your healthcare provider about any concerns regarding your pain or pain management plan, and be sure you understand how to safely use any medications you have been prescribed.
Frequently Asked QuestionsOpioid medications are very effective pain relievers. They work mainly on the brain and spinal cord to reduce pain signals from the body.They do not fix the source of the pain but help you tolerate it.Dilaudid is considered to have a higher analgesic potency than morphine. Dilaudid provides more pain relief with a small dosage. However, the exact mechanism of strength or potency of any medication for one person is not fully understood. Your healthcare team will work with you to develop a pain management plan.
Opioid medications are very effective pain relievers. They work mainly on the brain and spinal cord to reduce pain signals from the body.They do not fix the source of the pain but help you tolerate it.
Dilaudid is considered to have a higher analgesic potency than morphine. Dilaudid provides more pain relief with a small dosage. However, the exact mechanism of strength or potency of any medication for one person is not fully understood. Your healthcare team will work with you to develop a pain management plan.
12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Food and Drug Administration.Opioid medications.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Opioids: commonly used terms.National Institute on Drug Abuse.Prescription opioids drug facts.Drug Enforcement Agency.Drug fact sheet: hydromorphone.Dowell D, Ragan KR, Jones CM, Baldwin GT, Chou R.CDC clinical practice guideline for prescribing opioids for pain - United States, 2022.MMWR Recomm Rep. 2022;71(3):1-95. doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr7103a1Preuss CV, Kalava A, King KC.Prescription of controlled substances: benefits and risks. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2022.Vraníková B, Gajdziok J.[Bioavailability and factors influencing its rate].Ceska Slov Farm. 2015;64(1-2):7-13.Price G, Patel DA.Drug bioavailability. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2022.Gulur P, Koury K, Arnstein P, et al.Morphine versus hydromorphone: does choice of opioid influence outcomes?.Pain Res Treat. 2015;2015:482081. doi:10.1155/2015/482081Drug Enforcement Agency.Drug fact sheet: morphine.Kosten TR, George TP.The neurobiology of opioid dependence: implications for treatment.Sci Pract Perspect. 2002;1(1):13-20. doi:10.1151/spp021113American Society of Anesthesiologists.What are opioids?.
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Food and Drug Administration.Opioid medications.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Opioids: commonly used terms.National Institute on Drug Abuse.Prescription opioids drug facts.Drug Enforcement Agency.Drug fact sheet: hydromorphone.Dowell D, Ragan KR, Jones CM, Baldwin GT, Chou R.CDC clinical practice guideline for prescribing opioids for pain - United States, 2022.MMWR Recomm Rep. 2022;71(3):1-95. doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr7103a1Preuss CV, Kalava A, King KC.Prescription of controlled substances: benefits and risks. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2022.Vraníková B, Gajdziok J.[Bioavailability and factors influencing its rate].Ceska Slov Farm. 2015;64(1-2):7-13.Price G, Patel DA.Drug bioavailability. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2022.Gulur P, Koury K, Arnstein P, et al.Morphine versus hydromorphone: does choice of opioid influence outcomes?.Pain Res Treat. 2015;2015:482081. doi:10.1155/2015/482081Drug Enforcement Agency.Drug fact sheet: morphine.Kosten TR, George TP.The neurobiology of opioid dependence: implications for treatment.Sci Pract Perspect. 2002;1(1):13-20. doi:10.1151/spp021113American Society of Anesthesiologists.What are opioids?.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Food and Drug Administration.Opioid medications.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Opioids: commonly used terms.National Institute on Drug Abuse.Prescription opioids drug facts.Drug Enforcement Agency.Drug fact sheet: hydromorphone.Dowell D, Ragan KR, Jones CM, Baldwin GT, Chou R.CDC clinical practice guideline for prescribing opioids for pain - United States, 2022.MMWR Recomm Rep. 2022;71(3):1-95. doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr7103a1Preuss CV, Kalava A, King KC.Prescription of controlled substances: benefits and risks. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2022.Vraníková B, Gajdziok J.[Bioavailability and factors influencing its rate].Ceska Slov Farm. 2015;64(1-2):7-13.Price G, Patel DA.Drug bioavailability. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2022.Gulur P, Koury K, Arnstein P, et al.Morphine versus hydromorphone: does choice of opioid influence outcomes?.Pain Res Treat. 2015;2015:482081. doi:10.1155/2015/482081Drug Enforcement Agency.Drug fact sheet: morphine.Kosten TR, George TP.The neurobiology of opioid dependence: implications for treatment.Sci Pract Perspect. 2002;1(1):13-20. doi:10.1151/spp021113American Society of Anesthesiologists.What are opioids?.
Food and Drug Administration.Opioid medications.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Opioids: commonly used terms.
National Institute on Drug Abuse.Prescription opioids drug facts.
Drug Enforcement Agency.Drug fact sheet: hydromorphone.
Dowell D, Ragan KR, Jones CM, Baldwin GT, Chou R.CDC clinical practice guideline for prescribing opioids for pain - United States, 2022.MMWR Recomm Rep. 2022;71(3):1-95. doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr7103a1
Preuss CV, Kalava A, King KC.Prescription of controlled substances: benefits and risks. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2022.
Vraníková B, Gajdziok J.[Bioavailability and factors influencing its rate].Ceska Slov Farm. 2015;64(1-2):7-13.
Price G, Patel DA.Drug bioavailability. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2022.
Gulur P, Koury K, Arnstein P, et al.Morphine versus hydromorphone: does choice of opioid influence outcomes?.Pain Res Treat. 2015;2015:482081. doi:10.1155/2015/482081
Drug Enforcement Agency.Drug fact sheet: morphine.
Kosten TR, George TP.The neurobiology of opioid dependence: implications for treatment.Sci Pract Perspect. 2002;1(1):13-20. doi:10.1151/spp021113
American Society of Anesthesiologists.What are opioids?.
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