Waismann Method: World's Premier Rapid Opioid Detoxification

The Waismann Method is a hospital-based, medically supervised opioid detoxification protocol designed to eliminate physical opioid dependence safely, rapidly, and with the highest standard of medical care. Rooted in nearly three decades of clinical experience and grounded in scientific principles, this treatment is regarded as one of the most effective and responsible methods for opioid detoxification available today.

1. Hospital Admission: Pre-Detox Medical Evaluation, Stabilization, and Symptom Prevention

Each patient is admitted to a full-service, accredited hospital and placed in a private room for confidential, individualized care. Patients are admitted at least one day before the detoxification under sedation, allowing for essential stabilization and comprehensive medical evaluation before opioid withdrawal is induced.

To ensure comfort and avoid the onset of withdrawal symptoms during this period, patients who arrive physically dependent on long-acting opioids or illicit substances are transitioned to short-acting opioids. This clinical strategy:

• Prevents uncontrolled withdrawal during the evaluation and stabilization period
• Allows for a more predictable and manageable detox process the following day
• Supports a safer and more comfortable adjustment of medications based on metabolic rate, tolerance, and overall health

This initial day is critical. It gives the medical team time to complete:

• Full lab work and toxicology panels
• Cardiac, liver, and renal function assessments
• Respiratory and pulmonary evaluations
• Hydration therapy, electrolyte balancing, and nutritional optimization

Only after all necessary data has been gathered and the patient is physiologically prepared does the medical team proceed with detoxification under sedation, always tailored to the individual’s medical profile and clinical safety.

2. Medically Managed Detoxification Under Sedation

For appropriate candidates, opioid detoxification is performed under IV sedation in a private intensive care unit (ICU) room within a full-service, accredited hospital. This individualized approach ensures total patient privacy, optimal monitoring, and maximum safety throughout the procedure.

During sedation, opioid antagonists are administered to displace opioid molecules from the mu-opioid receptors, rapidly flushing them from the central nervous system and triggering an acute withdrawal. Because the patient is sedated and medically monitored, the distress and complications typically associated with withdrawal are significantly reduced.

This process:

• Eliminates opioids from the system while the patient remains unaware of the intense withdrawal symptoms
• Shortens the detox timeline, allowing the body to begin restoring neurochemical function sooner
• Avoids the unpredictable complications of unassisted or outpatient detox

Waismann Method strictly avoids outdated, intubation-based anesthesia models that carry higher risk. Instead, we use a non-invasive, controlled sedation protocol in a hospital setting, designed to minimize physiological stress and support rapid stabilization.

Every patient is treated in their own private ICU room—never side by side with others—ensuring confidentiality, individualized medical care, and strict infection control.

This procedure is led by Dr. Michael H. Lowenstein, a quadruple board-certified physician with more experience in sedation-assisted opioid detox than any other doctor in the nation. Under his supervision, each detox is performed with unparalleled clinical precision, professionalism, and attention to safety.

3. Post-Detox Recovery and Neuroregulation at Domus Retreat

Before hospital discharge, patients are medically evaluated for relapse prevention therapies. When clinically indicated, they are offered either:

• A Vivitrol injection (extended-release naltrexone), or
• Oral Naltrexone therapy

Both are non-opioid receptor blockers designed to eliminate physical cravings and support recovery without the risk of dependency. These agents help maintain opioid receptor blockade, allowing the brain’s natural endorphin and dopamine systems to begin restoring function.

Importantly, the initial regulation of the nervous system begins during the hospital phase, particularly during detoxification under sedation, when the central nervous system is rapidly cleared of opioids. By accelerating receptor detoxification in a controlled setting, the body begins the process of neurochemical reset—restoring homeostasis, reducing hyperactivation, and stabilizing autonomic responses.

Once discharged from the hospital, patients are transitioned to Domus Retreat, where they complete the total 5, 7, or 10-day inpatient program (inclusive of their hospital stay). Domus is a licensed and private recovery facility designed to continue the work of stabilization and regulation.

This phase is essential for:

• Ongoing neuroregulatory support, as the central and autonomic nervous systems adjust to functioning without external opioid input
• Sleep and circadian rhythm restoration, often disrupted by both chronic opioid use and acute detox
• Emotional and psychological recalibration in a private, compassionate setting—never based on stigma or generic group therapy models
• Nutritional rehabilitation and physical recovery, addressing the systemic depletion caused by long-term opioid dependence

Patients stay in private, well-appointed suites with access to personal devices, allowing for privacy, communication, and autonomy. Care is flexible and completely customized—there are no forced groups or rigid programming. Instead, a multidisciplinary clinical team and support staff provides one-on-one care based on real-time needs and progress.

This continuation of care at Domus Retreat is not simply a luxury—it’s a clinical necessity. It allows patients the time and space to rebuild neurological balance, reduce cravings, and regain emotional and physical strength, setting the foundation for lasting success beyond detox.