Rapid detox is an addiction treatment that helps people go through drug withdrawal at an accelerated rate. With rapid detox, you can overcome physical drug dependence within just hours or days as opposed to weeks or months. Depending on which rapid detox method you choose, you may be given sedatives or anesthesia to help you relax or sleep during the procedure, along with high doses of medications that speed up withdrawal.
Those who become dependent on methadone have the option of choosing rapid detox to bypass withdrawal and the aches and pains that often come with it. But before you choose any type of detox treatment, it helps to know more about the facts and evidence that surround these treatments so you can make an educated decision for yourself or your loved one.
Here’s more about rapid methadone detox and other available detox options if you or a loved one needs help recovering from methadone dependence.
How Do People Get Addicted To Methadone?
Methadone is a medication commonly used in addiction treatment programs to help people discontinue other opioids without experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms. In some instances, methadone is used to reduce severe pain for long periods in people who do not respond to other medications. Despite the fact methadone is an addiction treatment drug, it is still habit-forming and can lead to physical dependence and psychological addiction when misused or used for a long time.
When used in an addiction treatment setting, patients must visit an outpatient rehab clinic to receive their daily dose of methadone and take the drug while being supervised by a nurse or clinician. However, there remain instances where people may get a hold of methadone and misuse the drug in ways that lead to dependence and addiction.
How Many People Successfully Detox From Methadone?
When overseen by trained and experienced addiction treatment professionals, methadone detox is safe, effective, and successful at helping people achieve long-term abstinence from this and other opioids.
In a study published in Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, researchers evaluated the outcomes of several different detox treatments for opioid dependence, including methadone detox. They found that inpatient methadone detox can be completed within five to seven days and produce a retention rate of 80%. When conducted in an outpatient environment, methadone detox takes longer to complete and has a lower retention rate of approximately 20%.
Regardless of the success rates associated with this treatment, it’s important to know that anyone can overcome methadone dependence. Though withdrawal symptoms may be difficult for some, they will gradually fade and go away the longer you stay off methadone. With rapid detox, this process can happen more quickly.
What Are Common Methadone Detox Symptoms?
Methadone withdrawal symptoms are typically the same as withdrawal symptoms for other opioids including heroin and oxycodone. However, methadone is a long-acting drug—meaning you may not experience any symptoms for at least 12 to 48 hours after the last dose, reports the World Health Organization.
According to the National Library of Medicine, methadone withdrawal symptoms may include:
- Restlessness
- Tearing eyes
- Runny nose
- Yawning
- Sweating
- Chills
- Muscle pain
- Joint pain
- Backache
- Dilated pupils
- Irritability
- Anxiety
- Weakness
- Insomnia
- Stomach cramps
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Loss of appetite
When going through methadone withdrawal, you may experience some or all these symptoms at varying severity levels depending on factors such as your medical history, metabolism, diet, and history with drug abuse.
What Are People’s Experiences Of Rapid Detox Of Opiates?
According to the American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, rapid opiate detox is an efficient and effective treatment that can play an important role in an integrated, comprehensive drug rehab program.
Many people who have gone through rapid opiate detox are still sober today. Going through opiate detox naturally without the use of medications is comparable to a bad case of the flu and can be extremely debilitating for some—especially for those who have underlying medical conditions. Rapid opiate detox significantly shortens the recovery process so you can resume normal activities even sooner and begin behavioral therapy to change addiction-related behaviors.
If you are curious about other people’s experiences with rapid detox, ask your addiction treatment provider to introduce you to peers in recovery who received this treatment. You can also search for patient reviews and testimonials online to get a better idea of what to expect from rapid opiate detox. Those who have completed drug rehab programs or who are continuing to make their way through recovery are often more than happy to share their personal experiences if they think it will help another person who is suffering from addiction.
What Is the Best Way to Detox From Opiates?
Drug detox treatments are often personalized for each patient due to the different ways each person responds to any given treatment. There is no “best” way to detox from opiates; however, it’s important that you receive treatment from a certified, licensed, and experienced provider who can minimize your risk for potential complications, including drug relapse. Many opiate detox centers use methadone in their detox treatments, but using methadone to detox will not be an option for you if you are already dependent on this medication.
Rapid opiate detox is ideal for those who are highly motivated to stay sober and ready to join a drug rehab program to receive behavioral therapy. This detox method eliminates much of the pain and discomfort associated with opiate withdrawal. If you are dependent on methadone, rapid detox can help you quickly recover from drug dependence without having to gradually wean off this medication using a tapering method.
Medical detox and tapering are other common ways to treat methadone dependence. During medical detox, patients withdraw from methadone over an average of 10 to 20 days while being closely monitored and supervised by nurses and staff who can intervene at any time to minimize withdrawal symptoms. Clonidine is typically used to reduce any lingering withdrawal symptoms following methadone detox. With the tapering method, patients work closely with their doctors over a several-week period to gradually reduce their daily doses of methadone until they are no longer dependent on this opioid.
How Is Methadone Addiction Typically Treated?
Detox treats only physical dependence on methadone and does not treat psychological addiction to methadone. Following detox, many patients transition into drug rehab programs to receive counseling and behavioral therapy for addiction. Without addiction treatment, you will likely face a higher risk of relapse regardless of the detox method that was used.
If you choose to undergo rapid detox, ask your treatment provider for a referral to a nearby drug rehab center for addiction treatment. Though you may no longer experience methadone cravings or other withdrawal symptoms after detox, you may still have routines and habits that can trigger a relapse. At drug rehab, you’ll receive the skills and education needed to stay sober long-term, and you’ll be connected with support groups and other aftercare programs that can help you stay in touch with your recovery community.
Where Can I Find Rapid Methadone Detox?
Summer House Detox Center offers methadone detox in Florida to those who want to recover from methadone dependence in a safe, comfortable residential environment. Call us today at 800-719-1090 to learn more about our many available drug rehab programs.
