"i was given dilaudid while being treated in the hospital for gastritis/esophogeal pain.  the pain was very severe and my blood pressure rose to over 200/100.  within 30 seconds of the dilaudid being inserted into my i.v., the pain in my sternum was gone and i was relaxed and sleepy. (after the first &quot;whoooosh&quot; head rush).  although i could have it every 2 hours, after the first 2 doses, the pain relief lasted 4-6 hours.  most effective, and i reacted to it better than i had done in previous hospitalizations when receiving morphine.  "