Discover if you are a candidate for opiate detox.
Prescription drug abuse continues to be a rampant problem in the U.S. today, and opiate detox is needed for many patients. As more people become addicted to prescription drugs like oxycodone and hydrocodone, doctors struggle to find ways to help patients successfully overcome their life-threatening dependencies.
Rapid opiate detoxification is an option available to people addicted to opioids
Before you undergo this procedure, you should learn more about it to determine if you are a viable candidate for it
What is Rapid Detoxification?
Rapid opiate detoxification is a medical procedure that is designed specifically for people addicted to prescription medications like hydrocodone, oxycodone, and suboxone. It can shorten the detox process by blocking receptors in patient’s brains. When carried out successfully, the detoxification can reduce patients’ drug cravings.
The rapid opiate detoxification procedure was invented in 1988 and continues to be an option for opioid dependency.
What is the Procedure for Rapid Detoxification?
The process starts with patients undergoing physical examinations to determine if they are healthy enough to be put under sedation.
The examination also allows doctors to determine how well patients will tolerate the abrupt withdrawal of drugs from their systems. People who have life-threatening illnesses or who are deemed too physically fragile may be disqualified from undergoing the rapid detox procedure.
Once they are admitted and the procedure begins, patients can expect to be sedated during which the doctor will administer a medication called naloxone, which is an opioid antagonist that helps wean patients from medications like hydrocodone and oxycodone.
It also targets patients’ physical dependencies for these substances. When they wake up from sedation, patients could notice reduced cravings for the drugs to which they were once addicted.
Rapid Opiate Detoxification Precautions
As with any medical procedure, patients should take several precautions before undergoing rapid opiate detoxification. First, they should ensure that the center at which they will receive this treatment is fully accredited and that the staff is trained in the procedure.
Second, they should make sure that they have a few days to devote to this process between consultation, the procedure itself, and recovery at the retreat center. They should take time off from work or school if needed.
Third, they should anticipate undergoing several pre-procedural examinations including a full physical evaluation to determine if they are healthy enough for the opiate detox. The evaluations will also determine how well they may react to the medications used during the procedure.
Finally, they should anticipate some post-procedural side effects that can range from physical pain to emotional distress. These side effects are often common but treatable.
Other Information about Rapid Opiate Detoxification
Along with keeping these important precautions in mind, you would also do well to remember some other important information about rapid detoxification. The most important piece of information that you should realize involves the expense of the procedure.
Rapid opiate detox is not typically covered by insurance, and it tends to be significantly more expensive than traditional drug rehabilitation treatment options. However, because it is not covered by insurers, it guarantees you a higher level of confidentiality and privacy.
You should also understand that your eligibility for the treatment depends greatly on a number of different factors, notwithstanding your physical health. If you suffer from life-threatening illnesses like high blood pressure or heart failure, you may not be allowed to go through the rapid detox process.
Likewise, you will not be put under general anesthesia but will rather be briefly sedated during opiate detox. This light sedation will last between a half hour to an hour and a half. You will be awake during the remainder of the process so that your doctor can monitor you and respond to your specific needs.
Finally, as effective as this process can be for detoxing your body of the drugs to which you are addicted, it could be less effective if you do not follow up with post-procedural care. You should make arrangements for additional recovery support such as counseling, support meetings, AA, or other recovery resources that are available in your community.
These resources could help you relearn behaviors needed to avoid drug use in the future. They could also provide you with support you need in case you feel tempted to abuse prescription medications again.
Dependency on prescription drugs like oxycodone and hydrocodone continues to be a serious and devastating public health problem. When traditional drug rehab services are not an option or have not worked, you may be eligible to undergo rapid opiate detoxification. This detox procedure could shorten the withdrawal process and help your body avoid the discomfort and cravings that some addicts experience when recovering from their dependencies.
treatment and assessment options.