Whether you are struggling with an opioid addiction yourself or you have a family member or friend who is, it can be a complicated and sometimes stressful journey. First, it’s imperative to understand whether someone has a dependency or an addiction because these two issues vary significantly. Next, there is the process of deciding which type of treatment to seek. Rapid detox is a medical process that involves IV sedation while the patients are going through opioid detoxification. This accelerated detoxification greatly helps patients overcome withdrawal symptoms and possible health risks related to opioid withdrawal.
The goal of an anesthesia opiate detox process aims physiological stabilization and medical support as the body rids itself from opioid dependence while the patient sleeps. Someone struggling with a severe opioid problem must receive medical detoxification in a hospital setting where doctors can closely monitor and manage an opiate withdrawal. Furthermore, being under medical care provides a superior level of comfort and safety throughout the detox phase.
Learn more about rapid detox risks and benefits. Bellow explains the most common side effects and risks associated with the process and what to expect throughout a rapid detox journey.
What is Rapid Detox?
Rapid detox is the term that describes opioid detoxification that involves a patient being under anesthesia. The reason patients sleep through the acute detox is so doctors can minimize the discomfort and length of the withdrawal with specific medications. In a nutshell, patients can get through the worst part of opioid withdrawals while under sedation in a private ICU room. Additionally, a team of medical professionals can carefully manage vitals to ensure patients’ safety.
Rapid detoxification provides a quick withdrawal from opioid drugs and blocks the physical cravings that often lead to relapse. In other words, rapid detox uses a combination of intravenous medications, including Naloxone, to accelerate and shorten the duration of acute withdrawal. More importantly, immediately following the detoxification, patients can embark on a Naltrexone or Vivitrol therapy, which substantially improves the possibility of long-term recovery.
Rapid Detox Treatment is Also Referred to as:
Although most rapid detox centers advertise a similar procedure with similar names, the overall safety, protocols, and, more importantly, the results are very different. It is essential to understand that the differences in protocols, facility, and treating physicians directly affect the effects of the treatment and safety of the patient. Below is a list of common names for anesthesia detoxification treatments:
- Waismann Method®
- Rapid Detox
- Ultra-Rapid Opiate Detox
- Rapid Drug Detox
- Naltrexone Detoxification
- Anesthesia Assisted Detoxification
- Accelerated Opioid Detox
When researching a Rapid Detox Center, be sure to inquire about the center itself as well as the types of treatments they offer. Don’t be afraid to ask questions; there is much more to know about a rapid detox center than just the success rate. People’s standards of success may not be what you expect. Also, ask whether they are accredited medical hospitals. This is an essential requirement to ensure licensed and qualified doctors are readily available if needed.
How does Rapid Detox Work?
For someone experiencing opioid addiction or dependency, we understand that it’s easy to be skeptical when a treatment promises to provide the help you have spent so many years looking for. Despite what most people have heard, opioid dependence is a treatable and reversible condition when a patient receives adequate medical treatment.
Opioid addiction might feel like an overwhelming and never-ending battle. The good news is that rapid detox has been proven to work time and time again. The Waismann Method® has provided rapid opiate detox for two decades, with an over 98% success rate.
Here are several reasons why the Waismann Method rapid detox works:
- Rapid detox is a much more comfortable way to overcome the acute symptoms of an opioid detox than withdrawal from most other methods without anesthesia.
- Accelerated opioid detoxification also shortens the length of the acute detox. What is highly beneficial in cases that involve drugs with long half-lives like buprenorphine-based drugs and Methadone. Some of these medications can cause patients to feel withdrawal symptoms for weeks or even months, while rapid detox greatly condenses the discomfort.
- Rapid detox is administered at a full-service monitored hospital, ensuring a knowledgeable medical team surrounds patients at all times.
- Rapid detox allows someone to immediately begin Naltrexone or Vivitrol therapy, which immensely reduces the chance of immediate relapse.
- One of the most beneficial aspects of rapid opioid detoxification is the replacement of judgment and suffering from science. This way, individuals suffering from Opioid Use Disorder can seek medical help for OUD, like they would with any other medical condition. Consequently, fewer patients will allow this dangerous condition to continue due to fear and shame of receiving treatment.
Also, a study by Hensel and Knox analyzed 72 patients who underwent rapid detox. None of the patients experienced significant medical complications from the treatment, and 68% of the participants abstained from opiates 12 months post rapid detox.
Next, learn more about possible rapid opioid detox side effects and risks.
Common Rapid Detox Side Effects
Common side effects of rapid detox will depend on several factors, including the severity of a patient’s opioid use and the length of time they’ve been using. Here are some of the most common effects of post-anesthesia detox:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Restlessness
- Poor sleep
- Muscle pain
- Sweating
- Watery eyes and runny nose
- Shakiness and chills
Opioid drugs work by enhancing the activity of neurotransmitters and receptors within the brain. Neurotransmitters carry inhibitory messages, so pain and discomfort effects are lessened. Once opioids are no longer present, the body needs to relearn how to deal with uncomfortable feelings. Furthermore, because Opioid Use Disorder directly affects endorphin production, emotional and physical hypersensitivity are also part of the immediate recovery process.
Due to the adjustment period that occurs after detoxification, having professional assistance for a few days is critical for the success and safety of the patients.
Rapid Detox Risks
With any drug treatment program, there are always possible risks. People who abuse opioids often also abuse their bodies. Also, people suffering from Opioid Use Disorder often are self-medicating emotional issues that can surface after detox. Having a comprehensive evaluation before rapid detox and professional inpatient care after can substantially eliminate preventable complications.
Also, when anesthesia-assisted detox is provided in a full-service hospital, proper medical resources are readily available. A drug treatment program not located in a full-service hospital cannot provide patients with an immediate medical response in case of an emergency. Additionally, there are several cases where patients have died in drug rehabs due to the staff’s lack of care or medical understanding.
No medical treatment comes with a guarantee that there won’t be uncomfortable side effects. However, as we mentioned previously, our rapid detox facility has a more than 98% patient success rate. Besides, we operate within a fully accredited hospital, unlike many rehab centers. This ensures our medical professionals can adequately respond to any situation that may arise throughout the detox phase.
Furthermore, we understand the importance of not trading out one dependency for another. This is why we avoid using drugs such as Methadone or Suboxone (buprenorphine), which are also opioids and can become addictive. Instead, our rapid detox process delivers patients to complete opioid detoxification.
The Detox Process
During Rapid Detox Treatment
- The Rapid drug detox program should always be administered in a full-service accredited hospital. This will ensure there are medical professionals monitoring patients 24-7.
- Generally, patients remain 2 to 4 days in the hospital. The length of stay is based explicitly on each patient’s health needs and not on a predetermined schedule. There is typically one day of pre-admission to perform all necessary testing and preparation for the rapid detox process, the day of detoxification, and the day post-procedure.
- Following the hospital, the patient will spend 3-7 days at our exclusive recovery center. During this time, various types of services are available to make the recovery phase effective and pleasant.
Rapid Detox Aftercare
- After the anesthesia-based rapid detox treatment, the patient’s body needs to adjust and re-regulate physically and emotionally. A responsible quick detox center will not expect a family member or loved ones to assess and assist patients throughout this significant and most fragile phase.
- Furthermore, the anxiety of a family member can become an additional stressor for the patient, which can escalate into an immediate crisis.
- Because we have two decades of treating and understanding the possible effects of opioid addiction, we recognize that rapid detox does not finish at the hospital. It is essential that each individual is seen, heard, and assisted by professionals for a few days. Also, at Domus Retreat, people have guidance from a therapist to create a safe exit plan.
Choose the Best Rapid Detox Center
Waismann Method® has been the leading provider of rapid detox since 1998. Thousands of patients have flown from every corner of the world to receive this outstanding opioid treatment. What mainly attracts patients to the Waismann Institute is that it has one of the highest success rates of any opioid detox program. Second, it is performed under the medical care of a quadruple board-certified MD and in a full-service hospital. Finally, the Waismann team offers several options for opioid treatment tailored to each patient.
The Waismann Method® has been a leader in treating opioid dependency for more than 20 years. We take great care in ensuring safety throughout our treatment process, and our patients are always our priority. Our experience and commitment to excellence have allowed us to maintain a more than 98% opioid detox success rate.
Explore some additional benefits only available at the Waismann Method® Rapid Detox Center.
- Full-service accredited hospital with a vast number of medical resources.
- Private rooms for patients with undivided medical attention and privacy.
- Comprehensive inpatient evaluations and pre-treatment for a full day before detoxification.
- A team of physicians with recognized credentials and extended experience performing rapid opiate detox
- Discharge from hospital-based on each patient’s physical readiness vs. operating from preset discharge times regardless of the patient’s condition.
- An inclusive recovery retreat for a few days post-detox while you go through the regulation phase (no being shuttled to a random hotel room).
Let us guide you through the opioid addiction treatment process today. Our qualified and caring staff will explain what you can expect every step of the way. We look forward to speaking with you.
Published on Nov. 29, 2018
Reviewed by Clare Waismann, CATC, Founder of Waismann Method® Advanced Treatment for Opiate Dependence
All topics for the Opiates.com blog are selected and written based on high standards of editorial quality, including cited sources. Articles are reviewed by Clare Waismann, CATC, and founder of Waismann Method®, for accuracy, credibility, and relevancy to the audience. Clare Waismann is an authority and expert on opioid dependence, opioid use disorder, substance dependence, detoxification treatments, detox recovery, and other topics covered on the Opiates.com blog. Some articles are additionally reviewed by one of Waismann Method ®’s specialists, depending on their field of expertise. Please see our Terms of Service for additional information and disclaimers regarding third-party sources and content for informational purposes only.
