A rapid buprenorphine detox is a form of opioid detoxification that combines anesthesia with opioid antagonist drugs to speed up the withdrawal process and swiftly remove buprenorphine from the system. While it may sound like the easiest way to get off buprenorphine, rapid detox is generally considered dangerous—and with good reason.
This article will explore buprenorphine rapid detox and explain why this medical procedure rarely yields lasting results.
What Is Buprenorphine?
Buprenorphine is an opioid drug FDA-approved for the treatment of pain and opioid use disorder (OUD). As a semi-synthetic opioid, it is derived from thebaine, a natural alkaloid found in poppy plants.
Buprenorphine is available in several forms, including:
- Injection (Buprenex®)
- Buccal film (Belbuca®)
- Sublingual tablet (Subutex®)
- Transdermal patch (Butrans®)
- Subdermal implant (Probuphine®)
As a partial opioid agonist, buprenorphine acts on opioid receptors but doesn’t activate them fully. As such, it relieves pain and opioid withdrawal symptoms without producing intensely euphoric effects. This, coupled with the fact that it has a “ceiling effect,” meaning its effects plateau at higher doses, may reduce the risk of opioid abuse.
Nonetheless, buprenorphine is an opioid. So, even though it falls under Schedule III controlled substances—rather than Schedule II, as is the case with most prescription opioids—it can still lead to dependence, addiction, and buprenorphine overdose, especially when abused.
What Is Buprenorphine Used For?
Buprenorphine is intended for pain management and opioid addiction treatment.
As an analgesic, it can be used to treat both acute and chronic pain resistant to non-opioid painkillers. A study by Suhani Dalal et al. suggests that buprenorphine is a safer alternative for treating chronic pain than other opioids since it has a lower potential for abuse and a better safety profile.
In opioid addiction treatment, buprenorphine is typically used as part of medication-assisted treatment (MAT), where it is prescribed as a substitute for other opioids.
What Is Rapid Buprenorphine Detox?
Rapid buprenorphine detox is an anesthesia-assisted opioid detoxification method that quickly clears buprenorphine out of the system.
Rapid detox under sedation reduces the discomfort of going through opioid withdrawal and condenses the typical month-long buprenorphine withdrawal timeline into several hours. During buprenorphine rapid detox, patients are placed under general anesthesia and administered medications, such as opioid antagonists, which induce and speed up the withdrawal process.
Detox centers often advertise rapid buprenorphine detox as a fast, painless, and effective way to overcome opioid addiction; some even claim they can heal buprenorphine dependence within 24 hours.
In reality, however, rapid buprenorphine detox isn’t a cure for opioid dependence—it’s simply a method of quickly flushing opioids out of the system.
Unfortunately, many patients aren’t aware of this; they’re led to believe that cravings and other symptoms of opioid dependence will remain a distant memory as soon as they wake up. Sadly, this couldn’t be further from the truth.
Most importantly, rapid buprenorphine detox alone does not address the underlying causes of opioid dependence. As such, it leads to more relapses than recoveries.
Rapid Buprenorphine Detox Risks and Considerations
Even though rapid buprenorphine detox may sound like an attractive option for those looking for a quick and easy fix for opioid dependence, it carries several significant risks and considerations you should assess before proceeding with it.
Specifically, rapid buprenorphine detox poses a high risk for relapse and complications; many detox centers also provide substandard care.
Let’s take a closer look at the risks and considerations associated with buprenorphine rapid detox:
- Relapse. Cravings and other withdrawal symptoms don’t magically disappear after undergoing rapid buprenorphine detox, regardless of what detox centers may claim. On the contrary, rapid detox doesn’t fix the neurochemical causes of dependence, which is why many people suffer from severe withdrawal symptoms after the treatment. This puts them at a very high risk of relapse, opioid overdose, and even death.
- Medical complications. Rapid buprenorphine detox isn’t safe; in fact, it can lead to adverse health outcomes, especially in patients with pre-existing medical conditions, such as heart disease or respiratory issues. A 2012 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report documented cases of adverse events—such as the exacerbation of mental health issues, pulmonary edema, cardiac arrhythmia, and even death—following rapid detox from opioids.
- Inadequate quality of care. Detox centers often provide substandard care as a result of underqualified staff and a lack of facilities; it’s not unheard of for rapid buprenorphine detox to be carried out in clinics by social workers or psychologists. Because of this, the quality and safety of the procedure may vary widely from one detox center to the next.
Buprenorphine Dependence vs. Buprenorphine Addiction
Buprenorphine dependence and buprenorphine addiction are distinct conditions, even though they often co-occur.
While buprenorphine dependence is characterized by physical symptoms—tolerance and opioid withdrawal symptoms—an addiction is primarily psychological. Those who take buprenorphine as part of an opioid treatment program are, by definition, dependent on it; they rely on it to keep cravings and other withdrawal symptoms at bay and function normally.
If you take buprenorphine for pain relief, you may also become dependent, even if you take it precisely as instructed. Over time, buprenorphine, like any other opioid, causes an increase in opioid receptor production, resulting in tolerance. As tolerance grows, the effectiveness of your original dose diminishes.
Once you develop buprenorphine dependence, you will inevitably experience uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms upon drug discontinuation. Unfortunately, many people aren’t aware that quitting buprenorphine is no easier than getting off of other opioids.
Meanwhile, buprenorphine addiction is marked by a loss of control over opioid use. People addicted to buprenorphine experience an overwhelming urge to take it and feel unable to quit it, even when it wreaks havoc on their lives.
Buprenorphine abuse significantly increases the risk of addiction. Despite being considered safer than most opioids, it can still be misused. A study done by researchers from the University of Verona found that nearly 30% of patients under opioid maintenance treatment (OMT) misuse buprenorphine, methadone, and other intravenous OMT medications.
Buprenorphine Withdrawal Symptoms
Buprenorphine withdrawal symptoms occur in opioid-dependent people once they stop taking their medication or suddenly reduce its dosage. Importantly, buprenorphine can also trigger precipitated withdrawal when administered prematurely.
Withdrawal from buprenorphine looks different for everyone, as the extent of opioid use, the type of medication taken, and other individual factors impact the buprenorphine withdrawal timeline.
For example, Subutex withdrawal symptoms typically set in within the first two days after the last dose and last up to a month.
Typical buprenorphine withdrawal symptoms include:
- Anxiety
- Diarrhea
- Insomnia
- Joint pain
- Headache
- Depression
- Mood swings
- Muscle aches
- Opioid cravings
- Nausea and vomiting
- Flu-like symptoms, such as fever and runny nose
More often than not, psychological withdrawal symptoms like cravings and depression worsen as physical ones start to improve.
Although you may be able to alleviate some withdrawal symptoms with home remedies, buprenorphine withdrawal management without medical assistance is not recommended under any circumstances. It amplifies the risk of relapse, post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS), and health complications, some of which—like electrolyte loss—may be life-threatening.
Seeking professional treatment for buprenorphine withdrawal, therefore, is of vital importance.
Accelerated Neuro-Regulation for Opioid Dependency
Accelerated Neuro-Regulation (ANR) is a cutting-edge opioid dependency treatment that re-regulates the endorphin-receptor system, negating the risk of ongoing withdrawal symptoms and relapse.
As the first and only method that acknowledges and targets the neurochemical causes of opioid dependence, ANR treatment has empowered close to 25,000 people worldwide to achieve freedom from opioids.
ANR differs from rapid detox and other treatments in that it attacks opioid dependence at its core instead of merely helping manage its symptoms. By identifying and treating the root of the problem, it has revolutionized opioid dependence treatment.
Most importantly, ANR is scientifically proven to be safe and effective. It is performed in an ICU setting of fully accredited state-of-the-art hospitals with modern medical equipment. Meanwhile, the ANR team consists of highly experienced and compassionate board-certified healthcare professionals, including anesthesiologists and critical care physicians.
Furthermore, ANR isn’t a one-size-fits-all treatment; it is tailored to each patient’s individual needs and medical history. As such, it can be safely performed on virtually anyone, including those with co-occurring medical conditions. ANR Clinic also works with cardiologists, nephrologists, and other medical experts to ensure utmost patient safety.
With ANR, you can overcome opioid dependence within a matter of days, even if you’ve been battling it for years. The average hospital stay for ANR patients lasts only 36 hours.
ANR: Aftercare and Long-Term Support
ANR fosters long-term recovery by reversing the damage opioids cause to the brain and restoring its normal function. To help achieve lasting results, the ANR team will also keep working with you throughout your recovery to stabilize and optimize your endorphin system.
Since modulating the endorphin-receptor system addresses the very root of the problem, ANR treatment has an exceptionally high success rate. It eradicates cravings and other withdrawal symptoms, allowing you to enjoy life without the fear of relapse.
To get started with ANR, contact us today for a free, completely confidential consultation—we’ll be happy to answer your questions and help you reclaim your life.
Key Takeaways
The bottom line is that rapid buprenorphine detox comes with more dangers than benefits. Although it may be quick, it is neither safe nor effective. The key to making a sustained recovery is to opt for a comprehensive treatment that fixes the biological causes of opioid dependence, which is something buprenorphine rapid detox fails to achieve.
Here’s a summary of the key points we covered today:
- Buprenorphine is an opioid used for pain relief and opioid dependence treatment that has a lower potential for abuse than other opioids, but it does not cure addiction.
- Rapid buprenorphine detox is an anesthesia-assisted medical treatment that quickly cleanses the body of opioids but comes with considerable risks, such as relapse and adverse health effects.
- Thanks to repairing the endorphin-receptor system, ANR is the most effective treatment for opioid dependence that facilitates long-lasting recovery.
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