Naltrexone

[kaponium]

Hi there - am just new to this site which I stumbled across after googling Naltrexone - I start it this Friday. Anyway I live in New Zealand, so to the member who was asking if it is available in Auz, I guess so. I am really excited to have this opportunity - when I drink, it is any body's guess whether I will stop again in 3 days, 3 months or three years...a chronic relapsing alcoholic am I! However, with the help of 12-step support (which I have been a part of on and off for the past 15 years) I am one month sober and am really grateful for the posts i have read from those of you who are currently using naltrexone. i just want to LIVE - comfortably, in my own skin - One Day At A Time! Bless you all, kapone

[A Work in Progress]

Naltrexone

Good for you, kapo, and welcome! I hope that MWO will be a very helpful part of your sobriety program.

wip

[MyRedWhine]

Naltrexone

hi there. i was wondering in what capacity you're using the naltrexone--i'm doing the sinclair method and wondering if you're doing that--as you're one month abstinent, i'm guessing you're going to couple naltrexone with abstinence, then sub in the naltrexone for relapses? i've just started naltrexone myself (still a drinkin') and am curious about all sorts of experiences with it. good luck! well, not luck, good DRUGS!

[kaponium]

Naltrexone

naltrexone cont

Well thanks to you both for your encouragement! I went to my appt last friday, only to be told that I shall have to wait until 13 november to start. It was really disappointing but I have not picked up a drink ...unfortunately I have always "cross-addicted" to opiates, which are far less harmful to me than drinking, but still not a very good idea. I combine AA with abstinence in my daily life. Drinking really is not a option for me - I drink to blackout every time I pick up, and if I were to start drinking today, I would probably have to be hospitalised to stop, as these days I suffer delerium tremens, and can be drunk around tha clock for months. So the plan is to use the naltrexone to help prevent the "cravings" and that if i DO pick up a drink, it won't carry on into my usual "bender"style. Thanks again, for your replies and support - it means lots. How are you going with the drinking, work in progress and my red whine? Blessings!

[A Work in Progress]

Naltrexone

kap, good to hear from you. I am 90 days AF, and feeling great. Not using any medications; I have done 3 years AF, years ago, in AA. I think the supplements were helpful to me at first, when I got off the alcohol (again! this time), and meditation and exercise are hugely important in my own program.

I am wondering about using naltrexone as an anti-craving medication. It isn't usually used for that purpose. Have you considered Topamax or one of the other drugs specifically used to target cravings? Naltrexone is thought to be helpful to reduce the quantity consumed, and frequency of occurrence, of drinking episodes, because it blocks the effects of the alcohol on the dopamine system (the "reward" system in the brain); but it is not as likely to keep you from wanting to drink, between drinking episodes.

It sounds as if you are doing well already, with not picking up that drink! And that AA is helpful for you, as well. That's fantastic.

wip

[kaponium]

Naltrexone

naltrexone cont...

Gidday there, A Work... thanks very much for your reply - really encouraging. I had not heard of Topomax until this site - will ask about it. AWESOME to hear of your sobriety to date! (What does AF mean?) I totally agree about the meditation etc, my spiritual life progressing...also exercise a biggie for me, helps with natural sleep. I remember the last time I was in front of a judge for drunk driving (early 2007) - well, the judge called me "A work in progress!" - I found that encouraging too! Bless you in your day-to-day continuing sobriety. ***Serenity is the Calm Within the Storm***

[kaponium]

Naltrexone

[QUOTE=kaponium;447064]Gidday there, A Work... thanks very much for your reply - really encouraging. I had not heard of Topomax until this site - will ask about it. AWESOME to hear of your sobriety to date! (What does AF mean?) I totally agree about the meditation etc, my spiritual life progressing...also exercise a biggie for me, helps with natural sleep. I remember the last time I was in front of a judge for drunk driving (early 2007) - well, the judge called me "A work in progress!" - I found that encouraging too! Bless you in your day-to-day continuing sobriety. ***Serenity is the Calm Within the Storm***

[muriel]

Naltrexone

Hi there - I am new to this site. Am curious about people's experiences of Naltrexone - I have tried it in the past to help stop my cravings for alcohol. I had really bad side effects - depression and general flatness just lost interest in everything esp food.
I also tried the drinking after it - to unlearn cravings and really had weird scary effects - so much that I am terrified of trying Naltrex again. But I do need help....

[kimmy123]

Naltrexone

Hi Muriel,
What scary side effects did you experience?

[bettyflinstone]

Naltrexone

FYI

If you want more info on Naltrexone or the Sinclair Method there is a new book out there called The Cure for Alcoholism that proves there may be a viable treatment for people suffering from alcoholism. Apparently The Sinclair Method has been used successfully in Finland and has been proven to work on almost 78% of the patients. So, what is The Sinclair Method? Naltrexone + Drinking = Cure. The book is The Cure for Alcoholism and you can find it on Amazon.com and also find it mentioned under The Sinclair Method in Wikipedia. Hope that helps!

[bettyflinstone]

Naltrexone

Hi kap new to the site but well known to topamax... this one is rough. good luck if you can handle all that comes with it!

[gabby]

Naltrexone

betty what do you know about topamax

[bloggy]

Naltrexone

It seems there may be people arriving here by googling Naltrexone and drinking, which is great.

We have discussed Naltraxone and the Sinclair method to quite an extent- if you do a site search you should find the posts.

:welcome:

[kaponium]

Naltrexone

Hi bet flint and all - well, my appt for naltrexone has been deferred to next friday (nov 28) so still can post no results - however I can say I have had a "slip" i.e I got drunk (for two dam weeks) and the familiar 4 day withdrawl has made me dam determined to hang in there another 6 days. The drunkenness HAS to stop! I am 6 days sober (again) today, and doing OK. I have just read the post by the user who experienced the depression and lethargy etc, and that sounds scary, my biggest downfall before I pick up a drink is INTENSE anxiety - hey - can anyone out there tell me, does naltrexone help with anxiety? Blessings to all. Kap:thanks::thanks:

[bloggy]

Naltrexone

Hi Kap

I think it could do as it made me feel quite sleepy for the first few days. My anxiety tends to be worse after I have drunk- as the alcohol is leaving my system.