Is One Day Opioid Detox Dangerous?
Article At a Glance
- Complete recovery from opioid addiction depends on successful detoxification.
- Rapid one-day detox programs claim that opioid detox can occur overnight, but they are dangerous and ineffective.
- Medical detox in a supervised setting is a safer, evidence-based method of undergoing detox. This should be combined with aftercare in a supportive post-detox recovery center.
Why Is Opioid Detoxification Important?
Opioid drugs are highly addictive because of their powerful effects on the brain’s reward center. Opioid use triggers the release of brain chemicals that give the user a feeling of pleasure while decreasing pain or physical discomfort. While understanding these neurobiological effects explains the most noticeable changes, opioid drugs affect many vital bodily functions.
Here are just some of the adverse effects or risky conditions opioid use can cause:
- Respiratory depression may lead to oxygen deprivation to brain and body tissues and other lung or breathing issues, potentially leading to cardiac arrest and death.
- Digestive system adverse effects include severe constipation, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, delayed digestion, gastro-esophageal reflux, bloating, hard stool, abdominal pain, and colitis.
- Impacts on the bile system, resulting in biliary stasis (blockage of bile’s ability to flow from the liver to the intestines)
- Decreased immune system functioning, possibly leading to several conditions that can harm every part of your body
- Hyperalgesia, or increased pain sensitivity, is often responsible for the continued progression of physical tolerance.
- Hormonal deficiency, which can cause sexual dysfunction, osteoporosis, and chronic fatigue.
- Liver impairment and many other dangerous conditions.
Inpatient medical detoxification is highly effective for those struggling with opioid dependence.
However, given the complex biological and psychological aspects and effects of this condition, one-day detox is not enough to ensure adequate physiological stabilization. Clinicians must have a clear understanding of the neurobiological and physical effects of opioid dependence. This gives the treating provider insight into current patient issues and clarifies the treatment plan and goals.
What is Rapid Detox?
In the 1980s, Dr. Norbert Loimer began experimenting with detox under general anesthesia. The theory was that rapidly inducing withdrawal while a patient is under anesthesia could avoid many of the painful withdrawal symptoms that often keep people from getting off opioids. The procedure has evolved throughout the years. Experts now have a clear understanding of its limits, risks, and benefits.
Unfortunately, some clinics take the terms rapid, accelerated, or ultra-rapid above its limits, jeopardizing patients’ well-being for advertising gimmicks or less care and higher profits. Medical procedures are as effective and as safe as the extent of experience and responsibility of the treating doctor.
There are no miracles, and patients should not be promised one. Instead, there are individuals with unique histories, conditions, and health needs. A skilled doctor needs to evaluate and clearly understand each patient before a specific treatment protocol and outcome and goals are determined. Once free of opioids, patients can start Naltrexone or Vivitrol therapy to ease physical cravings during the immediate post-detox period.
One-day rapid opiate detox programs claim to allow patients to undergo a full detox in less than 24 hours or, in some cases, overnight.
The safety and effectiveness of ultra-rapid detox programs vary widely, making it essential to understand the risks and benefits of these treatments.
Does One Day Opioid Detox Work?
It all depends on what “works” mean to you. Indeed, an overnight detox can remove all the opioids from your receptors, but as you read above, once the opioids are not present, several organs, simultaneously, will need to adapt. That process can be easy for some and very challenging for others.
How you feel after a fast detox depends on many factors, including:
- Your current emotional state. Individuals who struggle with anxiety and depression tend to feel discomfort more intensely.
- Length of time using opioids
- Opioids currently in your system
- Your age
- Your health status, including possible organ damage caused by substance use.
- Other medications, substances, or dependencies.
Sedation-assisted opiate detox can be an effective option to choose when you are ready to be free from opioids. This type of medical detox is safe and more comfortable for the patient than detoxing in a rehab center, especially for those coming off powerful drugs like fentanyl, Suboxone, or methadone.
However, one-day detox programs may not be the wisest choice when looking for safety, efficacy, and comprehensive care. Overnight detox is risky and can lead to negative side effects or adverse events. It is also extremely difficult for the caretaker. If you combine the level of physical vulnerability and emotional instability of a recent detox patient with the anxiety and lack of experience of a loved one, the results could be tragic. Having around-the-clock professional care after detox is necessary to maximize comfort and vital to ensure safety.
Is Opioid Detox Under Sedation Safe?
Multiple scientific studies have shown that medically assisted detoxification under sedation is a safe and effective method for getting off opiates. However, specific basic safety requirements must be met.
The safest rapid detox centers provide:
- A private room in a full-service hospital, where you receive the undivided attention of the treating physician. Another benefit to this privacy is that you are not exposed to other patients’ behavior or possible medical issues.
- Detox is overseen by a board-certified anesthesiologist with extensive experience in sedation-assisted detoxification.
- The patient undergoes a comprehensive physical examination the day before detox under anesthesia begins.
- The treatment protocol is individualized for each patient, and other medically assisted detoxification options should be available.
- Doctors should determine hospital discharge based on each patient’s condition and health requirements.
- Option of Vivitrol and Naltrexone for craving control.
- The patient is discharged to a specialized post-detox recovery center for a few days of stabilization.
How to Choose a Safe Rapid Detox?
Unfortunately, the dangers of one-day rapid detox vastly outweigh the benefits. Human beings are complex, and drug use can lead to undetected physiological damage.
Allowing adequate inpatient care before and after a detox under sedation is crucial to a positive outcome.
Prior to Rapid Detox
A properly trained, experienced, and responsible physician understands the need for a comprehensive inpatient physical examination and stabilization the day before anesthesia. The physician also understands that whatever the patient ingests the day before, from food to supplements, medications, or drugs, can directly affect the safety and success of the detoxification. Furthermore, understanding the patient’s unique response to certain medications before sedation detox allows for a smoother and more effective protocol. A person’s unique tolerance and reaction to specific drugs could impact the comfort and safety of each treatment. By having this knowledge beforehand, the doctor can prevent unnecessary discomfort and medical complications.
Post Rapid Detox
After the physical detoxification, patients need to be assisted and observed during this crucial stabilization period, by health care professionals for at least a few days. During the initial days post-detox, a person is vulnerable emotionally and physically due to the sudden absence of opioids from their system. Professional monitoring during this time is vital to prevent adverse events or worse, immediate relapse.
What Are the Best Alternatives to One-Day Rapid Detox?
Not all opioid detox centers are created equal. Many one-day, accelerated or ultra-rapid detox treatment programs do not provide their patients with adequate support. However, reputable detox centers do exist. These programs typically operate within a full-service hospital and are overseen by board-certified specialists in anesthesia and addiction medicine.
The best alternative to a one-day rapid detox is a medical detox that considers each patient’s health needs. Any treatment program that promises results within a specific time frame and uses a one-size-fits-all protocol may not be safe for all individuals. Because they only have one protocol to offer, they might disregard the patient’s unique medical requirements.
Instead, look for programs that take an individualized approach to treatment planning:
- A medically assisted opioid detox that offers a comprehensive inpatient evaluation before a treatment protocol is finalized.
- A detox center that provides doctors the adequate time to understand the patient in front of them.
- A treatment team that is willing to customize the treatment plan to meet patients’ needs, rather than disregarding patients’ specific needs to match the only available protocol.
Written by Aurora Harklute
Aurora is a neuropsychologist and freelance writer with more than ten years of experience with a bachelor’s degree in human physiology, a master’s degree in cognitive psychology, and a Ph.D. in clinical psychology. Aurora writes for a variety of industries within the substance abuse and medical fields. She also specializes in the impact of substance use on mood and cognition.
Reviewed by Clare Waismann
Clare is a Registered Addiction Specialist (RAS), Substance Use Disorder Certified Counselor (SUDCC), founder of WAISMANN METHOD® Opioid Treatment Specialists & Rapid Detox Center and Domus Retreat®. Mrs. Waismann is an authority and expert on opioid dependence, opioid use disorder, substance dependence, detoxification treatments and detox recovery.
Medically Reviewed by Michael H. Lowenstein, MPH, M.D.
Dr. Lowenstein is the medical director for WAISMANN METHOD®. He is board-certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology, American Board of Pain Medicine, American Board of Addiction Medicine, and American Board of Anti-Aging, Regenerative and Functional Medicine. Dr. Lowenstein is globally recognized in medically assisted opioid treatment and rapid detoxification.
