Despite the fact that the prescription pain medications Dilaudid and Morphine are similar, there are some differences. One difference between these two drugs that are intended to treat those in severe pain is the fact that Dilaudid is considered to be a semi-synthetic drug. In other words, it has a chemical structure that is partially different from other opiates. Although Dilaudid is derived from Morphine, Dilaudid wasn't introduced until more than 100 years after the discovery of Morphine.
Differences in side-effects
When it comes to possible side-effects, both of these mega pain medications can cause nausea, vomiting, cognitive distortion, sleepiness, dizziness, constipation, feelings of euphoria and even depression. Many believe that Dilaudid's side-effects often aren't as severe as those induced by Morphine.
Difference in strength
Due to the fact that synthetic versions of Morphine is said to be about 4 times stronger than actual Morphine, a lower milligram of Dilaudid is prescribed when choosing this narcotic over Morphine. So when it comes to switching from one drug to the other, patients need to remember that a larger dose of Morphine is equivalent to a lower milligram of Dilaudid. This is important to know when attempting to maintain constant pain relief.
What makes these drugs similar?
These two opiates actually have more similarities than they do differences. First of all, they're both popular treatment options for those suffering from acute, severe pain. Neither drug is intended from long-term use, due to their tendency to cause dependency. Both Morphine and Dilaudid come in pill, injection and liquid suspension forms.
Morphine and Dilaudid are both quite expensive, depending on the strength and the pharmacy used. These two opiates can also both cause respiratory depression in some cases.
These narcotics are both more appropriate for treating heavy duty pain, usually on a short-term basis. When pain isn't severe, it's better and safer to take less potent narcotics such as Hydrocodone, Oxycodone or Codeine, although there is a chance of patients becoming dependent on these, as well. Safer choices, of course, would be over-the-counter pain relievers like Acetaminophen, Aspirin, and Ibruprofen. They don't cause dependency, but they're only intended for mild pain.
