Rapid Opiate Detox for Oxycodone Addiction

Opiates are a popular medication choice for those who have chronic or severe pain due to illness or injury. This is because they are highly effective and provide a sense of euphoria that’s very pleasurable. Unfortunately, the euphoric aspect also makes opiates a popular recreational drug. Oxycodone is one of the most commonly used – and abused – opiate medications. It is frequently prescribed by physicians and is sold under the brand name OxyContin.

One of the problems with oxycodone is that is highly addictive. Even those to whom it is legitimately prescribed risk developing an addiction to it if they are not cautious. Those who abuse the drug for its highly desirable effects have an especially high risk of becoming addicted to it.

Regardless of how an oxycodone addiction occurs, it is dangerous to stop taking the drug suddenly. Detoxification from the drug often includes weeks of muscle cramps, shaking, and vomiting that are very difficult to tolerate. Because of this, far too many addicts drop out of rehab and return to taking oxycodone. The painful withdrawal symptoms are too much to endure.

Because of the effectiveness and highly addictive nature of oxycodone, the face of the "typical" drug addict has changed. People from all walks of life have become addicted to the drug. They find themselves in a perplexing dilemma where "toughing it out" might not be the best option due to their current physical condition.

New Hope for Opiate Addicts

Researchers have spent years looking for a faster detox method for those with an oxycodone addiction. The goal has been to help them get through the detoxification process without the tremendous physical stress of withdrawal. This can now be done via a program called Rapid Opiate Detox.

Rapid Opiate Detox is especially appealing to opiate addicts who’ve been unable to overcome their addiction. The procedure has been used in other countries for a while. It is being hailed by many as a "fast and easy cure". It isn’t without controversy, however. As with many programs, there are both proponents and critics who are taking a stand in favor or against using this method of detoxification to bring addicts long-awaited relief.

How Rapid Opiate Detox Works

Sedation is probably the most appealing feature of Rapid Opiate Detox for addicts. During detox, they are placed under sedation so that they are unaware of treatment process and the unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.

Once sedated, patients are given intravenous medications. These prevent the drug from attaching to the opiate receptors of the brain. Patients are also given medications to speed up the physical reaction to the withdrawal symptoms. This reduces the entire process to as little as a few hours and up to 48 hours, depending on the specific medications used.

Some clinics that offer Rapid Opiate Detox also follow the initial treatment with Naltrexone, an opiate blocker that is known to reduce cravings. It is often added to IV fluids along with vitamins and electrolytes to help flush the drugs out of the body and to keep the patient hydrated.

Pros of Rapid Opiate Detox

Rapid Opiate Detox offers many benefits. The greatest benefit is that it gives patients a fast detox without consciously experiencing the dreadful withdrawal symptoms. Getting through the withdrawal process during detox is often the most difficult aspect of addiction treatment.

Other benefits of Rapid Opiate Detox:

• Patients report being free from their oxycodone addiction right away; they have no cravings for the drug upon waking from sedation.
• Individuals with serious health conditions are spared the extended, physically stressful withdrawal process.
• This process has allowed many patients, who were previously unable to overcome their addiction due to the inability to endure the lengthy detox process, the chance to finally be free from their addiction.

   

Cons of Rapid Opiate Detox

Although Rapid Opiate Detox has many impressive benefits, it also has many negative aspects. Traditional methods of detox for oxycodone addiction include sedative detoxification, methadone, and "toughing it out" without medications. In comparison with any of these methods, the risk of injury is considered to be much higher. The program places more stress on the body. This can be dangerous, especially for patients with certain pre-existing medical condition such as heart disease or diabetes. Other cons include:

• Individuals may feel that they are "cured" of their drug addiction so they start using other substances. The goal of drug rehab treatment is long-term recovery – not a transition to a different addiction.
• Since the results of Rapid Opiate Detox are supposed to be complete, leaving the person "cured" once the procedure is over, there’s often no follow-up treatment to help patients adjust to life without drugs. Traditional drug treatment programs usually include counseling or psychotherapy to help addicts understand the underlying reasons for their addiction. Without this element of treatment, they are much more likely to start using drugs again.
• The risks from anesthesia may be too high for some patients, depending on their overall
• Patients must be closely monitored throughout the procedure to prevent the possibility of vomiting while under sedation.
• Some argue that Rapid Opiate Detox isn’t as effective as advertised. They question whether patients are really "cured" when they wake up from sedation and argue that extended drug treatment is still necessary following the detox, in order to prevent relapse.
  • The cost may be prohibitive. Although it’s often significantly less expensive than residential drug treatment, Rapid Opiate Detox has no proven benefits in the treatment of oxycodone addiction. As a result, many insurance companies regard it as "experimental" treatment and won’t cover the cost.
• Medications and treatment programs vary from facility to the next, making it advisable to check out several before choosing one.

   

If you or someone you love has an oxycodone addiction or other type of opiate addiction, be cautious before choosing to go through Rapid Opiate Detox. Make sure you carefully weigh the pros and cons first. While it sounds like an "easy" fix, it may not be the best option for you.