What is stronger: Dilaudid or Demerol?

Question

In early 2002, I was diagnosed with bulging/herniated L5 and S1 disks with an annular tear between the L5-S1 disks. My dr. put me on Percocet. Within 18 months, she had to increase the dosage to 7.5/500 mg, 4-6/day because the pain had gotten so bad. In May of this year, I switched medical groups and began seeing a new pain mgt. specialist. He said from the beginning that I've have to go to PT, but he did prescribe the Percocet and he added 30 mg of morphine, twice a day. By July, he said to take the morphine three times/day. By the end of July, I was so sick of taking meds (I was taking incredible amounts just to sleep), that I stopped everything, except the Perc. I've since found out that Oxycontin makes me hallucinate. The dr. prescribed 50 mg Demerol, but I've been unable to get it filled yet. I've been trying to figure out what is stronger, Dilaudid or Demerol? I have such severe pain that radiates into my right groin and down the exterior of my right leg. Please help!

Answer 1

Dilaudid is considered a stronger pain reliever than Demerol, but both are used to treat moderate to severe pain. However, drugs work differently for different people- so which you find more effective is a judgement only you can make. Neither is as strong as the percocet/morphine combo you were taking, though. The main concern with any of it would be that taking it over a long period of time would require ever increasing dosages to recieve the same level of pain relief, and would increase your risk of becoming addicted. Both are class II narcotics, so there is a limited amount that you can be prescribed at any one time, and in a months time- unless you are admitted to a hospital. Just curious as to why you have not elected to have a laminectomy done, as opposed to treating the pain. It sounds as if things are getting worse instead of better, and they need to treat the cause of your problem as opposed to the symptoms.

Answer 2

Demerol Vs Dilaudid

Answer 3

Dilaudid is a heck of alot stronger than demerol. The reason for that is Dilaudid is the same thing as Morphine just you need less to achieve to the same effect. For ever 10ml morphine you need 1ml dilaudid. Demerol is a much weaker pain killer, however it does do the trick depending on the severity of the pain. Usually it is Morhine or Dilaudid given after sugery for a few days and than they put you on Demerol...... Hope this helps.

Answer 4

Dilaudid would be the stronger as it is actually "synthetic heroin" and I doubt very seriously that your doctor will prescribe it for you. When you get where you hurt bad enough, you'll have surgery to correct the situation or try a chiropractor. Either way, taking more meds won't heal a bulging disc. You can also try cortisone injections to the spine (be sure to ask for anesthetic). This might help out the inflammation. If you're sick of taking meds, I wouldn't start on anything that would be considered addictive. I'd search for a permanent solution and get a second opinion from a specialist. Godloveya.

Answer 5

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RE:
What is stronger: Dilaudid or Demerol?
In early 2002, I was diagnosed with bulging/herniated L5 and S1 disks with an annular tear between the L5-S1 disks. My dr. put me on Percocet. Within 18 months, she had to increase the dosage to 7.5/500 mg, 4-6/day because the pain had gotten so bad. In May of this year, I switched medical groups...

Answer 6

My boyfriend went through reconstructive foot surgery, a very painful procedure since he had major nerve damage. 1 mg Dilaudid was given to him (180 lbs) every 3 hours. It provided relief for about an hour and then he was miserable for the remaining two hours until the subsequent dose. Then they increased the dose to 2 mg every 4 hours but it didn t really matter since Dilaudid has a short half-life and therefore "wears" off rather quickly. Demerol IV (given with Phenergan IV - an antihistimine) although weaker, but had a better effect on him and provided relief. So it really depends on what works with your biochemistry

Answer 7

Dilaudid Versus Morphine

Answer 8

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In my nursing home we administer a lot of dilaudid tablets starting at usually 2mg which is the weaker dose, my one patient is on 6mg 4xs a day and also uses duragesic 125MCG every 72hrs, and her pain is still not completely managed. I have seemed to notice Oxycontin 20mg-40mg works fairly well on some of my patients as well, we never seem to give demerol, how ever i had it when i was having my son, it only worked a short period of time, these drugs I mentioned are more longer lasting, well oxycontin usually 12hrs given, as for dilaudid,most given every 4hrs some again for breakthrough every 2hrs! We also have a lady on morphine tablets i cant remember the strength and she takes every 4 hrs. I used to see a lot of MS contin in the nu rsing home but not any more and tht was a drujg that relased over a period of time. seemed to be replaced i guess with the oyxcontins int he home.

Answer 9

I believe that Dilaudid is the stronger (and more addictive) of the two meds you mentioned. When I had my spinal fusion surgery in Feb of 2005, I had dilaudid I.V. for the first 48 hours after the surgery. I was in severe pain and really needed it. But it made me feel quite wierd so I asked the Doc to stop it and I then took (in the hospital) Vicodin 10 mg for pain. Dilaudid is a very serious drug. Have you been to a good spinal surgeon with MRI's to get a definite diagnosis? That's what I would recommend.

Answer 10

If you're talking about taking them one at a time - dilaudid is the stronger. Your history suggests they've been mixing and matching...trying to find the right combination.
Have they exhausted all attempts to fix the original problem - or is it too dangerous?
Get another doctor (opinion) - go to a major health care facility, i.e. the Cleveland Clinic where all aspects of this can be looked at. You can't go on "living" like this.
Good Luck!!