I am hearing about a shot you get for alcoholism

[colomissy]

Does anyone know about this or what exactly it is? Does it help?

[Chilipepper]

I am hearing about a shot you get for alcoholism

Colo,
The only shot I know of is the monthly shot of naltrexone, which takes away the "high" from alcohol.

[Heavy Fuel]

I am hearing about a shot you get for alcoholism

The shot is "vivitrol," which is naltrexone. Naltrexone doesn't stop one from getting drunk; it stops the endorphin rush when one drinks. Naltrexone is an opioid antagonist which binds with the nerve receptors preventing the endorphins from binding to the receptors.

I stopped drinking alcoholically, and drinking at all at this time, by using naltrexone in the manner dictated by the Sinclair Method.

The shot has advantages and disadvantages over the pill form:

Advantages:

Can't cheat: always in system. Accepted by most doctors. Convenient.

Disadvantages:

ALWAYS in your system. Don't get the up regulation and positive reinforcement of non alcohol days.

If naltrexone is always in one's system, the problem is there is no endorphin rush. The pills have a half life of about eight hours, while the shots have about a 15 day half life. The pill is out of the system in 24 hours. If one needs an unplanned medical procedure, this difference is huge.

[Chilipepper]

I am hearing about a shot you get for alcoholism

Another disadvantage I've heard is that a steady amount of naltrexone(vivitrol) can negate the effects of certain pain killers. If you have an injury or accident causing a lot of pain, your doctor will need to know so he-she will be able to adjust your medication accordingly.

[YouKayBee]

I am hearing about a shot you get for alcoholism

Chilipepper;1392129 wrote: Another disadvantage I've heard is that a steady amount of naltrexone(vivitrol) can negate the effects of certain pain killers. If you have an injury or accident causing a lot of pain, your doctor will need to know so he-she will be able to adjust your medication accordingly.

Basically it blocks the opiod receptors in the brain (which is where endorphins are taken up too), so opiod pain relief isn't effective, and if used must be carefully titrated.

[jbkhy523]

I am hearing about a shot you get for alcoholism

mike 'the sitch' situation just committed to that nal shot on the recent jersey shore episode. i have taken oral nal... my problem with it is my emotions became too flat. i got away from the drinking, but i also felt like i was indifferent to just about EVERYTHING. maybe bac can make me indifferent to just alc

[YouKayBee]

I am hearing about a shot you get for alcoholism

jbkhy523;1392338 wrote: mike 'the sitch' situation just committed to that nal shot on the recent jersey shore episode. i have taken oral nal... my problem with it is my emotions became too flat. i got away from the drinking, but i also felt like i was indifferent to just about EVERYTHING. maybe bac can make me indifferent to just alc

Did you not have days when you didn't drink, and therefore didn't need to take nal so you could get the upregulation times and not constantly feel flat?A few of use using TSM find it also is an extra incentive not to drink most of the time too.

[dixon]

I am hearing about a shot you get for alcoholism

UKBlonde ,

How are you doing ??Do you remember me ?
Nice to see you here , I cant see you in general discussion these days Why ??
I was thinking of you and hoping your doing well.
Dix

[YouKayBee]

I am hearing about a shot you get for alcoholism

dixon;1392397 wrote: UKBlonde ,

How are you doing ??Do you remember me ?
Nice to see you here , I cant see you in general discussion these days Why ??
I was thinking of you and hoping your doing well.
Dix

Hi Dixon

No I don't, did we chat at some point?

I don't feel I have much to offer in GD since I don't practice complete abstenance, and my cravings for alcohol have gone thanks to TSM and naltrexone. I feel a bit of a fake telling others not to drink.

[Heavy Fuel]

I am hearing about a shot you get for alcoholism

jbkhy523;1392338 wrote: mike 'the sitch' situation just committed to that nal shot on the recent jersey shore episode. i have taken oral nal... my problem with it is my emotions became too flat. i got away from the drinking, but i also felt like i was indifferent to just about EVERYTHING. maybe bac can make me indifferent to just alc

I didn't use naltrexone in that manner. I took the pill every day for months, and then I had alcohol free days. I didn't take the pill on my alcohol free days, so the days I didn't drink I felt awesome!

The problem with taking naltrexone every day is the lack of endorphins. By following TSM, one gets the up regulation days that reinforce the non drinking.

Chilipepper: It's not that big of a deal: you just don't drink the day before. Anyone doing TSM for any length of time can easily pull that off. Also, the pill has a half life of about eight hours. At 16 hours its pretty much gone, as in endorphins are getting through and by naltrexone is gone by 24 hours.

Where I am at now is I don't drink and I don't titrate up or down. I don't take any pill unless I want to drink. Which is rare. I have had the same beer in the fridge for two months. There were 12 initially, and 9 remain. I think they will go skunky before I get around to drinking them. It's just funny how little I like beer. Or any other alcohol for that matter.

[colomissy]

I am hearing about a shot you get for alcoholism

Thanks everyone for your answers, I totally understand what it is now. We alcoholics are sooooo smart! One more question, so what is TSM that has been mentioned?

[Heavy Fuel]

I am hearing about a shot you get for alcoholism

colomissy;1392469 wrote: Thanks everyone for your answers, I totally understand what it is now. We alcoholics are sooooo smart! One more question, so what is TSM that has been mentioned?

TSM = The Sinclair Method, there is another forum group specifically for it. Google "sinclair method forum"

However, I must ask why the remarks in bold?

[YouKayBee]

I am hearing about a shot you get for alcoholism

The Sinclair Method there's a thread just below this one by Katie Smiles, she followed TSM and describes her experience with it there.

[lostsole]

I am hearing about a shot you get for alcoholism

I was under the impression Vivitrol lasts at least 3 weeks.

[Heavy Fuel]

I am hearing about a shot you get for alcoholism

The literature claims 3-4 weeks. The half life of anything is always less than the full efficacy (the substance is eliminated from the body at a gradual rate.)