What happens during medical detox?
On admission a physician takes a full history, runs blood tests and often an ECG, and calculates a withdrawal-risk score (for alcohol, commonly the CIWA-Ar scale). A tapering medication plan is set and reviewed daily.
Nursing staff monitor vital signs and symptoms around the clock. Nutrition, hydration, vitamin supplementation (especially thiamine for alcohol) and sleep are actively managed.
How long does detox take?
Alcohol: 5–10 days. Short-acting opioids: 7–14 days. Methadone or high-dose opioids: up to 3 weeks. Benzodiazepines: 3–8 weeks with a slow taper. Cocaine and stimulants: 1–2 weeks of psychiatric stabilisation rather than medical detox.
Why detox alone is not enough
Detox treats physical dependence, not the addiction itself. Without the psychotherapy and relapse-prevention phase that follows, most people relapse. Good clinics plan detox and therapy as one continuous programme.
Which conditions is medical detox used for?
- Alcohol addiction treatment
- Opioid addiction treatment
- Prescription drug addiction treatment
- Cocaine addiction treatment
- Dual diagnosis treatment
Swiss clinics offering medical detox
- CALDA ClinicZurich
- Clinic Les AlpesLes Avants
- Paracelsus RecoveryZurich
- The Kusnacht PracticeKüsnacht
- Clinique La MétairieNyon
- Privatklinik MeiringenMeiringen
- Sanatorium KilchbergKilchberg
- Privatklinik WyssMünchenbuchsee
Frequently asked questions
Is medical detox painful?
Medication controls most symptoms. Discomfort is common, but supervised detox is far safer and easier than stopping alone.
Can I detox at home?
Heavy alcohol or benzodiazepine users should not detox without medical supervision because of seizure risk.
