Palladone is a common brand name for hydromorphone, which is also sold under other brand names such as Dilaudid, Dimorphone, Hydromorphan and Opidol. It is available in capsules containing 1.3 milligrams or 2.6 milligrams of Palladone. Physicians typically prescribe Palladone as a pain reliever and cough suppressant, especially for dry, prolonged coughing.
“The treatment for a Palladone overdose is similar to that of other opioids.”
It has a strong potential for dependence like all opioids, and it causes severe symptoms in the event of an overdose. The treatment for a Palladone overdose is similar to that of other opioids. Call to learn more about Palladone overdose treatment options.
Symptoms
The adverse side effects of Palladone are similar to those of other strong opioids such as heroin and morphine. The common side effects of Palladone in therapeutic doses include the following:
- Constipation
- Dizziness
- Itching
- Lightheadedness
- Nausea
- Sedation
- Sweating
- Vomiting
The primary signs of an overdose on Palladone are respiratory depression, which may require respiratory assistance. Circulatory system collapse can also occur in cases of massive overdose, although this is rare. Palladone is at least five times more potent than morphine, and some fatal overdoses have occurred when a patient received Palladone instead of morphine. The effects of Palladone are much greater when they are combined with other depressants such as alcohol and benzodiazepines.
Palladone also produces very strong euphoria in many patients, which can lead to reward-seeking behavior and addiction. This potential for dependence also applies to all other opioids. It is important that you use Palladone only for pain relief and discontinue its use as soon as possible.
Did You Know?
Palladone is often more effective for the treatment of severe, acute pain than morphine.
Withdrawal
Palladone is metabolized more quickly than morphine, so its withdrawal period is shorter but more intense than that of morphine. Palladone overdose symptoms typically reach their peak between 14 and 21 hours in cases of mild addiction. The withdrawal symptoms of Palladone generally resolve completely within three days, assuming the patient has normal liver function and does not take any other opioids.
Severe cases of Palladone addiction include users who take at least 40 milligrams per day. These patients can expect their Palladone overdose symptoms to peak in about nine hours, and the entire withdrawal period may last up to two weeks. Severe withdrawal symptoms include the following:
- Cramps
- Diarrhea
- Insomnia
- Muscle pain
- Shaking
- Sweating
Treatment
The withdrawal process breaks the physical dependence on Palladone but not the psychological dependence. Palladone addicts usually require psychological counseling to treat the root cause of the addiction. The best environment for the treatment of Palladone overdose symptoms is typically long-term care as an inpatient in a residential facility. Inpatient treatment usually has a lower relapse rate than self-directed treatment or outpatient treatment, since opioids are more difficult to obtain in a treatment facility.
The inpatient treatment of Palladone generally involves living at the treatment facility full time, preventing patients from being distracted by other issues in their lives. Residential facilities often specialize in a particular type of patient such as teens or women. Many facilities use a 12-step treatment program, while some may use their own signature program to treat Palladone addiction.
” Long-term addicts may require additional treatments such as nutritional counseling and courses in life skills development.”
Palladone rehabilitation centers frequently offer other programs in addition to the standard therapy for Palladone overdose symptoms. These alternative treatments include art therapy, music therapy and group therapy. Long-term addicts may require additional treatments such as nutritional counseling and courses in life skills development.
The standard term of care for inpatient treatment of Palladone addiction is typically three months. Longer stays provide patients with more time to develop the necessary defense mechanisms needed to stay sober after leaving the facility. It also allows a therapist more time to discover any underlying psychological causes of addiction.
Call to get more information about treatment of Palladone addiction.
Did You Know?
Purdue Pharma introduced Palladone in 2005. It voluntarily pulled Palladone from the US market in July of that year.
