01 / Withdrawal comfort
Potential relief during supervised care
A small randomized study reported greater early improvement in withdrawal symptoms with HBOT during a medically supervised methadone taper.1
Scottsdale & Glendale, Arizona
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for addiction & opioid withdrawal
Recovery takes support. Early research points to HBOT’s potential to ease withdrawal discomfort, pain, and cravings in people receiving methadone treatment. Explore whether this additional support could fit your care plan at RX-O2.1, 2
An emerging, off-label option to discuss alongside established addiction care. Your consultation starts with your history, current treatment, and goals.
Support for your next step.Physician-led care in Scottsdale and Glendale.
FDA-cleared chambersHard-shell hyperbaric systems
100% medical oxygenBreathed through a dedicated mask or hood
Physician-led careMedical evaluation before treatment
NHSA-certified techniciansAttentive monitoring throughout your visit
Why researchers are interested
More support for the symptoms that make recovery harder
The most relevant human studies have explored HBOT as an addition to methadone-based care. Their early findings give patients and providers a reason to keep asking what may help.
02 / Pain and cravings
Encouraging symptom trends
A separate pilot found its largest favorable signals in pain intensity and drug cravings. These preliminary findings support further study of HBOT as an adjunct.2
03 / The underlying science
A closer look at brain immune activity
A 2025 mouse study linked reduced physical withdrawal signs with changes in microglia, the brain’s immune cells. This offers a possible biological explanation to investigate in people.3
Your current treatment remains the foundation. Medications such as methadone and buprenorphine are established treatments for opioid use disorder. HBOT should not replace them, and starting HBOT is not a reason to reduce or stop medication. Any medication change belongs with your prescribing clinician.6
Published research
Promising findings. A clearer conversation about your care.
Literature checked
Start with the patient studies, then explore the laboratory work behind them. These selected publications show why HBOT is being investigated, while keeping the size and scope of each study visible.
Human pilot · 2022
Withdrawal symptoms during a supervised methadone taper
31 adults randomized · HBOT plus care versus an attention control
Participants receiving HBOT reported a larger average decrease in withdrawal symptoms after the first day. The study also recorded a modest sustained methadone dose reduction at three months.
This was a feasibility study, not a definitive efficacy trial. Only 9 of 17 people assigned HBOT completed all five sessions. Tapering is not a goal or requirement for every patient.
Read the 2022 methadone studyHuman pilot · 2022
Early signals for pain and craving relief
8 adults receiving methadone · Double-blind, sham-controlled pilot
After two treatment days, the HBOT group showed greater average improvements in most measured symptoms, with the strongest favorable signals in pain and cravings.
Clinician-observed withdrawal did not show the same favorable pattern. With only eight participants, the results are preliminary and cannot predict an individual’s response.
Read the 2022 symptom-relief studyAnimal research · 2025
Physical withdrawal signs and microglial changes
Male and female mice · Published in Scientific Reports
HBOT reduced physical withdrawal signs in both sexes and altered microglial cell measurements in a brain region involved in opioid responses.
The regimen did not significantly change the reward- and aversion-related behaviors tested. This is mechanistic research, not evidence that HBOT prevents relapse in people.
Read the 2025 withdrawal studyExplore earlier withdrawal research: 2018 and 2016
2018: withdrawal and neurotransmitter signaling in rats
Researchers reported lower withdrawal scores and changes in neurotransmitter and nitric-oxide signaling in morphine-dependent rats. The findings help explain the scientific interest, but do not demonstrate a “dopamine reset” in people. Read the rat study.
2016: reduced physical withdrawal signs in mice
An earlier experiment found fewer physical withdrawal behaviors after HBOT in morphine-dependent mice. It contributed to the rationale for later human pilot work. Read the mouse study.
The human evidence summarized here concerns adults receiving methadone. It does not establish effectiveness for every substance use disorder, fentanyl withdrawal, or long-term recovery. Larger clinical trials are needed.
Find newer studies on PubMed · Opens a live search. New results have not necessarily been evaluated for this page.
The RX-O2 difference
Your facility matters. So does your team.
From your first questions to each treatment visit, our Scottsdale and Glendale clinics focus on medical oversight, patient education, and attentive care.
Care led by a physician
Medical Director Marvin A. Borsand, DO, FACOS, FACCS, HCC, leads clinical oversight. A licensed medical provider evaluates suitability and prescribes treatment when appropriate.
FDA-cleared hard-shell chambers
Our facilities use prescription-level hyperbaric systems, with chamber selection and treatment settings matched to your prescribed plan.
100% medical-grade oxygen
You breathe oxygen through a dedicated mask or hood while the chamber is pressurized with air. Your technicians monitor you throughout treatment.
NHSA-certified hyperbaric technicians
Our technicians are certified through the National Hyperbaric Safety Association and trained in chamber operations, patient monitoring, and emergency procedures.
A conversation, then a plan
Bring your questions. We’ll help you explore the next step.
Whether you are already in treatment or helping someone you care about, your consultation is a place to discuss HBOT’s potential role and whether it is appropriate for your situation.
Share your care history
Bring your medication list, relevant records, and your treating provider’s contact information. Tell us which symptoms most affect your day.
Review suitability together
A licensed medical provider reviews your health, treatment goals, and HBOT risks. With your permission, care can be coordinated with your existing addiction-treatment team.
Set goals and reassess
If HBOT is prescribed, agree on a schedule and a point to review your response. Discuss your time commitment and costs before purchasing a package.
Planning your visits? Our pricing and packages page lists current options and purchase links. There is no established HBOT session count for addiction or opioid withdrawal; your provider will explain any individualized recommendation.
Local care, two Valley locations
Explore HBOT in Scottsdale or Glendale
Looking for a hyperbaric consultation near Phoenix? RX-O2 offers two locations for patients across the Valley. Call the clinic closest to you for appointment availability and help planning repeat visits.
RX-O2 Scottsdale
9035 E Pima Center Parkway #11Scottsdale, AZ 85258
An East Valley option for patients in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Fountain Hills, and nearby communities.
RX-O2 Glendale
5626 N 51st AvenueGlendale, AZ 85301
A West Valley option for patients in Glendale, Peoria, Phoenix, and nearby communities.
Before your consultation
Your questions about HBOT and addiction care
Understand how a consultation can help you decide.
Can HBOT help with opioid withdrawal?
Small human pilots suggest possible symptom benefits when HBOT is added to methadone-based care. Those findings are encouraging, but too preliminary to establish reliable benefit. A consultation can help you weigh the evidence alongside your health and current treatment.1, 2
Can I ask about HBOT while taking methadone or buprenorphine?
Yes. Bring your complete medication list to the consultation. The human HBOT studies featured here involved people receiving methadone; that does not establish the same results with buprenorphine. Keep taking medication as prescribed unless your treating clinician changes it.
Does HBOT replace detoxification or addiction treatment?
No. HBOT is being explored as an additional therapy, not a replacement for medication treatment, counseling, or medically supervised withdrawal care. Relief of withdrawal symptoms does not establish treatment of the underlying disorder or prevention of relapse. Medication treatment for opioid use disorder reduces overdose risk.6
Is HBOT for addiction or withdrawal FDA approved?
No. These are off-label uses. RX-O2 uses FDA-cleared chambers, which describes the equipment; it does not mean HBOT is approved or proven effective for addiction or opioid withdrawal.
What about alcohol, benzodiazepines, or other substances?
Different substances require different medical care. The clinical HBOT research emphasized on this page cannot be generalized to all addictions. Alcohol and benzodiazepine withdrawal can be dangerous and require medical assessment; do not attempt to manage them with HBOT or stop these substances abruptly without clinical guidance.9, 10
How many sessions would I need?
There is no established course of HBOT for opioid withdrawal or addiction. The small research schedules are not a standard treatment recommendation. If treatment is appropriate, your provider will discuss a proposed schedule, goals, reassessment, and cost.
What should I know about safety?
Your provider screens for risks such as lung conditions, ear or sinus problems, and seizure history. HBOT can cause ear-pressure injury, temporary vision changes, and confinement anxiety; oxygen toxicity and lung pressure injury are less common but serious risks. RX-O2 monitors patients throughout treatment and prohibits electronics and battery-powered devices inside chambers.7, 8
Where can I book a consultation near Phoenix?
RX-O2 has clinics in Scottsdale and Glendale. Book online, call 480-270-6090 for Scottsdale, or call 623-930-0887 for Glendale. A medical evaluation and prescription are required before treatment.
Explore another layer of support.
Talk with RX-O2 about the research, your goals, and whether HBOT could complement your existing care.
Sources & further reading
- Wilson M et al. (2022). Hyperbaric Oxygen to Assist Adults With Opioid Use Disorder in Reducing Methadone Dose. Journal of Addictions Nursing, 33(1), 27–36.
- Wilson M et al. (2022). Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Pain, Opioid Withdrawal, and Related Symptoms: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. Pain Management Nursing, 23(5), 616–624.
- Southard MT et al. (2025). Hyperbaric oxygen treatment attenuates naloxone-precipitated opioid withdrawal behaviors and alters microglial activity in male and female mice. Scientific Reports, 15, 23677.
- Chen C et al. (2018). Hyperbaric Oxygen Attenuates Withdrawal Symptoms by Regulating Monoaminergic Neurotransmitters and NO Signaling Pathway at Nucleus Accumbens in Morphine-Dependent Rats. Neurochemical Research, 43, 531–539.
- Nicoara D et al. (2016). Hyperbaric oxygen treatment suppresses withdrawal signs in morphine-dependent mice. Brain Research, 1648, 434–437.
- CDC. Opioid Use Disorder: Treating. Established medication treatment and overdose prevention.
- FDA (2025). Follow Instructions for Safe Use of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Devices.
- Heyboer M III et al. (2017). Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy: Side Effects Defined and Quantified. Advances in Wound Care, 6(6), 210–224.
- MedlinePlus. Alcohol withdrawal. Medical assessment and withdrawal risks.
- FDA. Benzodiazepine drug-class safety communication: dependence and withdrawal.
Five selected studies inform the research discussion; the additional sources address established care and safety. Literature checked September 10, 2026. This date reflects a source check, not an independent physician review or a comprehensive systematic review.
For suspected overdose, call 911 and give naloxone if available. Do not delay emergency care to arrange HBOT.