Fast, Comfortable Methadone Detox at the Coleman Institute In Richmond, VA

Why Methadone is Used, and Why People May Want to Detox

Methadone is one of the more well-known medications used in Medication-Assisted Treatment for opioid addiction. It is what is known as a “long-acting full opioid agonist,” which means that it acts on the opioid receptors in the brain by reducing cravings and withdrawal symptoms and by blocking the euphoric effects of opioids if a methadone user relapses. It can be very useful for transitioning patients away from more dangerous opioids like Fentanyl or heroin and onto a comparatively safer and legal (when prescribed and administered by a professional) alternative.

But Methadone is itself an opioid. It is also an addictive substance, and trying to stop using Methadone without help can result in withdrawal symptoms similar to the symptoms experienced when withdrawing from other opioids. Many of our patients who have used Methadone treatment to overcome addiction to another opioid have told us that detoxing from Methadone can be more difficult than detoxing from other opioids.

Many Methadone patients are grateful to be off of the more dangerous opioid they were using before, but they can often feel like they’ve just traded one addiction for another. They often get to a place in their lives where they want to stop using all addictive substances.

That’s where our Buprenorphine detox program comes in. We use non-addictive Naltrexone Therapy to help people like you detox from Methadone in as little as 8 days and take an important step toward living a life completely free of addiction.

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What To Expect From Our Methadone Detox Program In Richmond, VA

Detoxing off of Methadone can be a very difficult process, so choosing a detox program that works for you is a crucial step on your journey toward an addiction-free life. We’re here to help you through the entire process. Here’s what you can expect if you decide to try the Coleman Method for Methadone detox.

Getting Started:

Start by calling us at 877-773-3869 or use our online form to request a callback and one of our Richmond, VA Care Advocates will reach out to you by phone. During this initial call, the Care Advocates will answer any and all questions you might have about outpatient Methadone detox. They will also help you choose which dates to schedule your treatment. We can typically start treatment within a week – there is no waiting list.

Before Your Appointment:

To prepare for the 1st appointment, we ask all of our Methadone detox patients to stop taking their Methadone 48 hours before the appointment. We also ask patients to arrange to have a support person with them for the duration of the detox program and for 48 hours after detox has concluded. Patients going through detox should not drive motor vehicles and should be monitored at all times to ensure safety and comfort.

Your First Appointment:

At your 1st appointment, you will likely be experiencing mild withdrawal because you stopped taking your Methadone 48 hours before the appointment. One of our practitioners will administer tailored doses of comfort medications throughout the day to help relieve your withdrawal symptoms. You will also be given a micro-dose of Naltrexone.

Intermediate Appointments:

Your intermediate Methadone appointments will be much like the first appointment. Our practitioners will continue to give you tailored doses of comfort medications according to your individual needs, and they will also continue to give you micro-doses of Naltrexone.

Final Appointment:

When you reach your final appointment, you will have made significant progress. You can rest comfortably in your own private room at our Richmond, VA detox center while the remaining Methadone is gently removed from your brain. This final stage of the process typically takes about 6 to 8 hours. A practitioner will monitor you closely to make sure you are safe and that detox is progressing well. When this appointment is over, detox is complete. You will then be given long-acting Naltrexone to help support you in the coming weeks. Patients often find that this long-acting Naltrexone gives them the support they need to start building healthier habits and living a new life free from addiction.

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Why The Coleman Institute’s Methadone Detox Program – The Fast And Comfortable Option

Methadone stays in your system longer than other opioids and can cause serious withdrawal symptoms, so most people are not able to stop using it on their own. They quickly learn that a medical detox will most likely be necessary for them to stop using opioids once and for all. Here are some common Methadone detox options available in the Richmond area:

Self-Detox:

Trying to stop taking Methadone without help can be very uncomfortable and potentially dangerous. Quitting Methadone “cold turkey” and trying to stop using it suddenly can result in very uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms and may, in some cases, be life-threatening. Some people who use Methadone try to stop by gradually tapering off their dose in an effort to wean themselves off of it over time. This almost never succeeds. Self-detox from Methadone usually results in the patient either going back on Methadone or relapsing back onto the more dangerous opioid they were using before. Because of the potential health risks and the high probability of relapse, we do not recommend trying to self-detox from Methadone.

Inpatient Detox:

Inpatient Methadone detox requires the patient to have an extended stay in a hospital or rehab facility so medical professionals can monitor them and administer medications to help alleviate the pain and discomfort that often accompanies withdrawal. The length of the stay depends on the patient and their condition, but it is possible for an inpatient rehab stay to last upwards of 30 days. A long stay in inpatient rehab can be very expensive and very disruptive to a patient’s life.

Ultra Rapid Opioid Detoxification (URD or UROD):

Ultra rapid detox involves hospitalizing the patient, putting them under general anesthesia, and giving them large intravenous doses of opioid antagonist medications like Naltrexone to flush the drugs out of their system. True to its name, this process can be very fast. Drugs can be completely flushed out of a patient’s system in as little as 5 minutes. But the procedure is very expensive and there could be significant health risks. There have been some reported fatalities after this treatment. Because of these potential risks, we have not done an ultra rapid detox since 2001.

Our Outpatient Methadone Detox Program:

Our outpatient Methadone detox program uses tailored doses of comfort medications and Naltrexone Therapy to let patients detox from Methadone safely and comfortably in as few as 8 days with as little disruption to the patient’s daily life as possible and few of the risks or costs associated with traditional detox methods. We think our 98% completion rate speaks for itself.

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