For those considering Weismann methos or other Rapid Detox...

[HenryS354]

Before I get into my story, please let me say this.....  I beg you to think long and hard about undergoing Weismann.

I had the Weismann procedure done at the Garden Grove, CA facility in 2006.  It was the most torturous thing I have ever gone through in my life.  I am not discrediting Weismann or other rapid detox companies themselves as I was taken very good care of rather the concept is the issue...

I underwent many blood tests EKG's medical history forms and whatnot two days prior to the procedure.  I was checked into the hospital the night before, and given a morphine drip to hold back wd's.  I guess they do this so they can monitor my drug intake for 24 hours prior.

I was taken down to the ICU at 0900.  I was given a mild sedative Versed while they made preparations....   I was inducted under anesthesia using propofol, and pancuronium, and another dose of Versed.  I was intubated, and then given the injections....  I woke up somewhere around 1400 and I felt like my heart had been ripped from my chest.... I felt just downright aweful.....

I was transported back to the medical observation unit where I was given clonidine, ativan, and zofran.... To help with any "Residual wd's" as they call them....

I was discharged with a script for Revia four days later.....

I was miserable throughout my hospital stay....  Much worse than any ct that I have ever gone through....  Hell I ct'd off fentanyl far mosr comfortably than this...

The days to come were much much worse.  I got home and All I could do was cry asking myself why I went through this miserable procedure.  I was vomiting uncontrollably, stomach upset, chills, sweating, the works.... just seemed to all be amplified from any ct I have done before.

The real ***** was the PAWS....  It was unbearable, depression was constant, from time to time I would get rebound wd's, flashbacks.... bad news.  

This went on for a year and a half and I finally sought help elsewhere....  I was diagnosed with Post traumatic stress disorder... believed to be brought on by the trauma my body underwent during rapid detox.

At the time I was in the medical field finishing my first year of Medical school.... I had tried NA, methadone, everything but I could never get through the wd stage.  Psychologically, I was ok.  I worked around the stuff all day, no cravings, but when those wd's came... damn. I mean still no cravings, but I just couldnt handle physically being sick like that with work and school.... Which is what brought me to Weismann....

I paid $14,600 for my treatment, and was left with misery.   Please think long and hard before doing this guys....  You will still be an addict after its over, just a sicker one.

Oh btw, the PTSD and PAWS I couldnt take so I ended up relapsing again... this started everything back up.  I am now on suboxone 1mg daily and decreasing.  No wd's, no cravings....  Things are good.  

Be careful everyone,
Henry

[Jimmy1975]

My God ! You wonder if such facilities care about patients
or money .  What a drag . really sorry you went threw all that and out 14 grand !   Take care Jim

[Bre333]

Henry,
My question to you - were you ready to let go of the opiates, really? I know someone who went through the procedure and is doing excellent. Most people who are blessed enough to be able to recieve this kind of treatment seem so greateful. I've looked on their website and read their testomonials. It seems amazing. Where did they go wrong, or were you not ready to let the opiates go? Suboxone is still an opiate, you know that right? Either way, sorry to hear about your story and I hope that someday soon you'll be able to get off the Suboxone too.

[Lynn79]

I too looked into this, before finding out that is was around $14,000, of course.  I found a story on the internet that was a similar horrible experience.  This person said that during the procedure, they could literally FEEL their pleasure receptors being cleaned out.  That what rapid detox does, it cleans the receptors that drugs bind to, to get them out of your system right away.  But by doing that, it also leaves you bereft of ANYTHING in these receptors.  This causes depression and misery.  It's just crazy that facilities like this are licensed to perform something like this.  (Or are they?)  And if people can do this, why not brain surgery to treat the part of the brain responsible for addiction?  That at least sound like it could work!!!

[HenryS354]

Please re read my post very carefully.....

I made it very clear that Weismann treated me the best they could.  That the problem was not the treatment I received its the concept of the procedure itself.

When you are given high doses of Naloxone IV like another poster said, it can not distinguish between foreign and endogenous opiates... Which brought on severe boughts of depression.

I was very ready to give up opiates, as I dont know many people that would shell out that kind of cash if they werent.  The reason i relapsed was due to the chronic depression that no anti depressants or counseling which I sought out helped.  I was missing school, rotations, and on the verge of failing out of medical school.

None of that was any excuse to use, and I want to make that very clear.  My relapse consisted of a one time ordeal, one use.  I realized I was in danger, which took me to suboxone.

I am very well aware that Suboxone is an opiate.  And if I need to use that as a tool in my recovery, then I am just fine with that.  As I said in my post I am currently taking 1mg daily and decreasing.  If you read other posts here, that is a way less than average dosage of Buprenorphine which averages between 8 and 24mgs for the majority.

Suboxone not only reduces cravings (Which I stated I do not have at this point) but it allows and aides the brain to repair its neurotransmitter and endorphin system.  Something that we as drug addicts have damaged and chemically altered.  This takes time, and While its repairing, thats when we get the depression, the cravings, the urges.  We usually give in to that, starting the process all over again, never giving our brains time to heal.

Suboxone combined with counseling halts that.  After some time the brain is back on track and you can then begin to taper off the suboxone and not have to worry AS MUCH.

Please do some more research on the Indications and usage of Suboxone.  If I can help in anyway, please send me a message.

Thank you for your reply and concern.

Henry

[avisg]

We have a poster that just had it done two weeks ago she is feeling awful.It cost her 10,000 to feel bad . I would be very lery about this method

[Lynn79]

Henry, don't waste your breath on the naysayers, and you don't have to defend yourself to us.  The people who are "blessed" to have received the rapid detox treatment, and have come out okay, are extremely lucky.  Also, the testimonials on ANY website that promotes a particular company are ALWAYS positive.  Everyone knows this.  For example, you will not find on Proactive's website anyone saying, "I hated this cream, it s*cked for me."  The same goes for the Suboxone website.  Of course they are all positive, it is a website to promote their item.  The people who went through rapid detox should sue for their thousands of dollars back, as it is physically impossible to "clean out" receptors without also getting rid of the positive chemicals that your body needs to function.  Lets continue to help each other on this site by giving advice, and not by judging people's choices.