Naltrexone - ???

[NoraC]

Hi all. I am going to my Psych tomorrow and I am planning on talking about anti-craving meds. The one that I am seriously leaning towards is Naltrexone because it doesn't seem to be as hard regarding titrating up and side effects.
I would appreciate any comments or suggestions that you can give me to help me in my discussion tomorrow. I am not thrilled with this Psychiatrist that I see but am limited because of my insurance. I want to go in prepared.
Thank you for any advise.

[KatieSmiles]

Naltrexone - ???

Hi Nora
Noelle has used Naltrexone as an anti-craving with great success, she had no desire to drink right from the start and as far as I know she is still AF which will be about 8 months now.
I take Naltrexone too, I'm following The Sinclair Method in which you have to drink in order to extinguish the desire to drink, it takes longer, but I am seeing a distinct decline in my drinking. Same med different path.

[NoraC]

Naltrexone - ???

Thanks Katie. Thank you for that. Have you had any side effects?
I worry that people (Psych) think I'm looking for the magic pill. But, I'm just trying to find tools to help me succeed.

[KatieSmiles]

Naltrexone - ???

I had a few side effects in the beginning, a little dizzy and weird feeling for the first two weeks, and some stomach cramps. Both of those have been long gone now that I'm in week 17. Some have nausea, but overall the SE's aren't too bad and pretty much go away after 2-4 weeks. My GP has prescribed Naltrexone for a full year to see what the end result will be. She feels that 50 mg is safe, but sent me for bloodwork prior to prescribing to see what my liver was like.

[NoraC]

Naltrexone - ???

Well - I'm going to try to get a prescription tomorrow. Thank you for your help.:thanks:

[KatieSmiles]

Naltrexone - ???

Good Luck Nora and let me know how it goes. My GP prescribed because of the findings at an addiction conference held in the USA this past Spring.

[Guest]

Naltrexone - ???

Side effects are absolutely minimal, I felt a little nausea for the first week or so, then nothing since.

[Sammi33]

Naltrexone - ???

Good luck with your doc, nal was great for me very few SE's and they only lasted a cuple of days.

[Guest]

Naltrexone - ???

Best add here that some people can experience sickness with their first few doses of Nal, this passes and sometimes is best to start with 25mg the first time to minimise this, moving to 50mg the next time.

[NoraC]

Naltrexone - ???

Update

Thanks for the help folks. But I didn't have any luck today. My Psych does not prescribe "those" type of drugs. He gave me the name of a chemical dependency place and kept talking about Suboxone. I just barely Googled it but it doesn't seem like what I want to try right now.
I really want to try Naltrexone. So, I am so discouraged right now. But, I'm going to make some calls tomorrow and see if I can find a Doctor that will work with me.

[Guest]

Naltrexone - ???

NoraC;1167328 wrote: Thanks for the help folks. But I didn't have any luck today. My Psych does not prescribe "those" type of drugs. He gave me the name of a chemical dependency place and kept talking about Suboxone. I just barely Googled it but it doesn't seem like what I want to try right now.
I really want to try Naltrexone. So, I am so discouraged right now. But, I'm going to make some calls tomorrow and see if I can find a Doctor that will work with me.

Nora you can order Naltrexone online, although getting it via a Doctor is preferable. I too have found my Doctor required outside guidance because she didn't have any drugs or alcohol prescription experience, apart from Campral which is quite straightforward!

I have likened it to going to your Dr with cancer and asking them for chemo drugs, so suppose we can't expect any more. I'm sure you can find someon over there with the relevant experience, I found Chick in the Uk so you must have someone in the US!

[NoraC]

Naltrexone - ???

Well - I have put in a request with my GP to see if she will give me a prescription. I've got my fingers crossed.

[KatieSmiles]

Naltrexone - ???

Hopefully your GP is opened minded. Mine was, even though she has no other patients on Naltrexone, she was willing to let me try it for a year to see what kind of results I get.

[NoraC]

Naltrexone - ???

Right now my GP is researching it. Don't know if she is going to give it to me or not.
Do you know of any good links to information that I could send her?
I've talked to my husband and he is behind me 100% on this. So, if she won't give me the prescription, I'm going to order it from River Pharmacy. I was just hoping to do it under Doctor's care.

[KatieSmiles]

Naltrexone - ???

Hi Nora
My GP prescribed Naltrexone to me based on the information found at a medical addictions conference in the USA this past spring. Hopefully your GP will be able to get this information.

NOTE* My GP doesn't know anything about TSM but she said the findings at the conference were that if an alcoholic drinks while taking 50 mg Naltrexone per day, they tend to drink less. She said it had to do with genetics and unbalanced substances in the brain. I explained to her the process of TSM and she thought it made sense, so agreed to let me take Nal according to the method for one full year after which we will review my end result. I had bloodwork done at the start to check my liver enzymes. She also monitors my progress every 3 months regarding SE's, mood, bloodpressure and to see if I feel it's working.

If you would like me to ask my GP for more information on the said conference I will be happy to do so.

BTW I feel Naltrexone works for me, I have many months to go until I can positively say so for sure.

I am
51 yr old female - functioning heavy daily drinker from age 20 ( that can't type very well, which frustrates the hell out of me )
Irish heritage
Family history - almost every single family member on fathers side has a history/ problem with heavy drinking