How long does campral take to work in reducing cravings?

[sosad61]

I want to stop drinking (I'm a heavy drinker) and have been prescribed campral to reduce cravings. However, I don't want to drink while taking the drug.

If I begin taking it today (haven't had a drink yet), how long before it will reduce my cravings?

Any help would be MUCH appreciated.

:new:

[startingover]

How long does campral take to work in reducing cravings?

Hi there Sosad, and a big welcome to you.
I have never taken campral, but I am sure someone will jump in with some advice soon. I just wanted to say "hi"
Also, you might want to consider some other tools to help you stop drinking? Reading the book might give you some ideas to get a plan together. There are supplements like Lglutamine and kudzu that also work against cravings. Plus using this site for support will help you get thru any tough periods.
Best wishes.

[sosad61]

How long does campral take to work in reducing cravings?

Thank you so much for the prompt response. For the first time in my life, I'm scared to death of what drinking is doing to me physically, emotionally, and otherwise.

Sometimes, I just feel if I would be better off dead. No suicidal thoughts here, but passing quietly in my sleep just doesn't seem as awful as my daily life much of the time.

[startingover]

How long does campral take to work in reducing cravings?

Hey I felt EXACTLY the same way....I remember finding a lump in my breast and hoping it was cancerous. I was very low too.
BUT I think these negative feelings are due to the alcohol. Alcohol is a depressant and it causes depression and anxiety. I bet you that a few days into your sobriety you will begin to feel better again.

[sosad61]

How long does campral take to work in reducing cravings?

I'm sure of that, but it's just so hard for me to take that first step. My wife and Daughter are the two things that keep me going; without them I'd be even more of a mess. The problem is our Daughter is a championship athlete and both her and my wife are spending 95 percent of the time in a far away place while she trains; it's necessary but very stressful on me not being able to see them. That's when the drinking became heavy; about a year ago when all of this began.

[startingover]

How long does campral take to work in reducing cravings?

Oh yes I can see that would be really hard for you. But you must be sooo proud of your Daughter?
The first step is mighty hard but you have done it. You have asked for help. Thats probably the hardest thing to do. Well done!

[The New Me]

How long does campral take to work in reducing cravings?

Dear Sad,

When you get familair with the posts here, you will find out that most of us had the same reaction. No wonder we, have the same disease. Just read a lititle bit, I guarantee you, you will see the light at the end of the tunnel.
I am not taking any meds, just supplements; no advice from me other than just try. And - warm welcome to you. BTW, I am only on day seven and already feel like a million bucks!

[sosad61]

How long does campral take to work in reducing cravings?

Thank you all so very much. This forum is like a blessing to me. I'm sure that I'll be posting more and more in the coming days/weeks/months. And New Me, congratulations!

Startingover, thank you so much for the kind comments, and yes, we are very proud of our daughter.

[The New Me]

How long does campral take to work in reducing cravings?

Sad, I see you are already getting on with the program. Welcome Taurus, good sign!
Soemone for sure will get back to you - as you can see, 18 people read your message by now. Some people take meds, some don't - just wait for the one that took Campral to read it.

[timpin]

How long does campral take to work in reducing cravings?

Hi Sosad61
It looks as if you and I are in the same boat ! I'm still drinking at present, but I am preparing myself for the big stop. Tell me how much and how regular you are drinking and let's see if we have similar patterns. Maybe we can tackle this together.

Tim

[National]

How long does campral take to work in reducing cravings?

Sosad - I'm away from my entire family as well (on a different continent and in a different hemisphere)...heading into my 3rd year soon. The first year and a half I was very depressed and drank like crazy (and had been for the last 11 years...heavy). A few months ago, although I was still drinking, I had the crazy idea of how I could use this time to get out of my old ways...primarily drinking. As I've told others on this board, my mid term dream (a few months from now) is that when I show up to see my family for a short visit, that they will see a new side of me. A happier and healthier person. I promise you, after 5 AF days (and no, they weren't easy...but they're paying off) I'm already seeing the world in a different light. Sure, my so called "schedule" is upside down and I've had to find things to fill the void (namely being outside, being on this PC, exercise, etc.), but it gets easier each day. I wish you the very best of luck! You must be very proud of your daughter by the way!

[sosad61]

How long does campral take to work in reducing cravings?

timpin;662740 wrote: Hi Sosad61
It looks as if you and I are in the same boat ! I'm still drinking at present, but I am preparing myself for the big stop. Tell me how much and how regular you are drinking and let's see if we have similar patterns. Maybe we can tackle this together.

Tim

I drink every single day. 18 beers over a period of about the same amount of hours. I'd like to tackle this with you as well timpin.

Thank you for your support; you certainly have mine and you are welcome to contact me at anytime friend.

[sosad61]

How long does campral take to work in reducing cravings?

I can't thank you all enough for your support. This forum is a HUGE stepping stone for me on the road to recovery. I'm still drinking, but am setting a stop date soon. I think that's the best plan for me, to set a time and date to halt this madness.
I'm hoping and praying that campral will help. I just can't seem to get over the urge to drink by cutting down alone. The loneliness of being away from my wife and daughter 9 months out of the year certainly doesn't help. A few weeks back, when they were here to visit, I stopped drinking for the entire week (the withdrawl was hard but after 3 days, it felt so good to be myself once again). But, as soon as they returned to where our daughter is training, I resumed drinking heavily again.

God Bless you all.

[JS81]

How long does campral take to work in reducing cravings?

Hey SoSad,

I'm taking Campral. I've been on it since May 15. I would say it takes a few days to start working. You don't really "notice" it working aside from the fact that you just don't want to drink and the thoughts are not as persistent - best case scenario, non-existent.

I've only had one serious relapse since I've been on it. I don't blame the meds though, I was ignoring usual triggers and the situation was one where I was feeling weak and I should have not been in.

Overall, I think it works. The thing is, all the psychological aspects of drinking are still there, so you've got to deal with those the best you can. I find myself occasionally wanting a drink because that is what I "used to do" in certain circumstances/situations.

I think reading these forums have helped me a lot in that regard. I've been using the DrinkTracker to watch my progress and it's exciting to see all those AF days start to add up. I've been thinking of going to AA or a similar support group too, just haven't made it there yet.

I've got a Campral thread going on over in the "meds" forum here. Feel free to join in.

Oh yeah... :welcome:

[autumnj]

How long does campral take to work in reducing cravings?

campral

I am on day 3 of taking campral