About Rapid Detox

Rapid detox, also known as Anesthesia Assisted Rapid Opiate Detoxification, is a hospital procedure that eliminates the addict's cravings for certain addictive drugs such as methadone and heroin by rapidly purging the body. It can detoxify the body of drugs in as little as five to six hours compared with the five to six days in conventional detoxification processes.

Uses

• Rapid detox is used for addictions to such drugs as: OxyContin, Percocet, codeine, Dilaudid, heroin, methadone, morphine, Fentanyl, hydrocodone and tramadol, among others. Your physician will determine if rapid detoxification is the correct method to treat your specific addiction.

Process

• During the rapid detoxification process a patient is placed under general anesthesia, during which time he is given a drug or combination of drugs to counteract the drug to which he is addicted. This puts the patient into sudden withdrawal, but because the patient is under anesthesia, he does not suffer the severe side effects associated with withdrawal. When the patient awakens he has lost his craving for the addictive drug; although certain residual effects may remain, they will diminish with time. After rapid detoxification, the patient is usually placed on the drug Naltrexone. Naltrexone blocks the effects of alcohol and other narcotic drugs; in other words, the patient can take the drug, but he will not experience a "high."

Side Effects

• Although the rapid detoxification process is appealing versus the long withdrawal faced when trying to quit an addiction cold turkey, rapid detoxification is not without side effects. Some of the side effects include rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure, shivering, sweating, muscle pain, anxiety, abdominal cramping, vomiting, nausea or diarrhea. These side effects are usually temporary.

Misconceptions

• It will depend upon the time the patient undergoes anesthesia as to whether or not the individual will wake up free of the physical cravings for the addictive drug. It is important to remember that the person will continue to be mentally addicted to the drug and the release of these addictions will take time. It is recommended that mental health counseling be used in addition to rapid detoxification, and many facilities require that mental health counseling and physical health monitoring be maintained during treatment.

Lack of Studies

• Although rapid detoxification has become a popular treatment option, as of July 2009, there have been no controlled studies released to prove whether or not rapid detoxification is effective.