I mood has spiralled I've been taking meds for 3 weeks. As it blocks reward from drink could it be cancelling my antidepressants meds? Please I'm in a bad place.
Oops! I have no medical experience and cannot guide you. Your GP or Doctor who described tomorrow by phone? Or your Pharmacist perhaps. Robin
Hi.
I've had numerous conversations about Namalfene, Natrexone and the effect on medication. I am bipolar and take numerous meds including antidepressants and was told by a very reliable source that there was no interaction so my meds wouldn't stop working.
However, both my GP and psychiatrist refused to prescribe either namalfene or Natrexone so I don't have the experience. But the clinician who advised me had experience of working with depressed people and bipolar sufferers so I have no doubt he K we what he was talking about
Sorry
Maybe your mood has spiralled from the lack of alcohol. I know from experience that after a binge I get so depressed and anxious. It's withdrawal and will pass. It would be helpful to know how long, what and how much you've been drinking? Is that something you can talk about?
Dear Cisorium,
I am on antidepressants too. I am on Naltrexone. I am not sure whether it is a chemical reaction, but I went through the same thing. Initially, I felt bad too, but more a "saying goodbye" kind of sad. I believe, because I had a relationship with red wine for such a long time, I just could not imagine for it to ever be different.
My moods is also low when I keep on drinking too much for my liking, but I can see progress, albeit slowly, which gives me hope and lifts my mood.
Just think that you are taking a step in the right direction.
I really hope you are feeling better soon.
Hugs Carola
How Carola, I'm still drinking the same a bottle everyday I'm not getting the enjoyment from it but still got the habit. I'm not seeing doctor until 16 APRIL. I know my depression is back as I don't want to do anything, I'm doing my best to gide it from my children. Is there any point staying on Nalmafene 😑
Hi Liz, I'm drinking 1 bottle of wine everyday. When I told my doctor SCM
She looked at me like I was mad. She had to get a book out to look up drug and gave me Nalmefene. I feel so alone even GP hasn't a clue.
Cisorium, do call your doctor about this as they may want to make an adjustment to your medication. What kind of antidepressant are you taking and what was your drinking like before you started that antidepressant? I ask this because some antidepressants can make some people crave alcohol more and if that's the case for you, it's something your doctor should hear about.
It could also be that you were self-medicating your depression with the alcohol, as drinking does release endorphins and raises dopamine levels in the brain. Even though you haven't been drinking less (did you drink less when starting the Nalmefene, then your drinking popped back up again?), the endorphins could well still be blocked by the Nalmafene.
There's also the chance that you might get along with Naltrexone better, if it's offered in your NHS area. The side effects from Naltrexone are generally easier to get along with.
Hi. I’m on Sertraline 200mg, pregabalim 150mg, lamotrigine 25mg and zolpadine 10 mg. I have alcohol use disorder. I can go weeks, months without a drink but when I do I can’t stop. And will go on a bender for days. But my doctor and psychiatrist still refuse to prescribe namalfene or Naltrexone. I think it would help me but I don’t understand why they won’t let me have It? Maybe it’s the interaction with my meds or cost?
Hi ADEfree, I'm on Fluxetine 6 months I've never needed meds before. I'm a triathlete and normally train 6 days a week until I spiralled out of control. I've been drinking a bottle and a bit last year I knew I needed help when I was moving to the seconded bottle, id get cross if my husband tried to stop me drinking more. Yes to start meds stopped me drinking but now I'm back to a bottle. I'll be asking for Naltrexton but I don't think I can get in as I'm in Northern Ireland.
I kinda demand it I had a enough information to back it she couldn't say know, you should do the same.
Unfortunately, I don't have a lot of information about Northern Ireland. You might have to find a private psychiatrist to prescribe it off label. There's also a clinic in Ireland that will prescribe it, but they also offer Naltrexone implants (which can't be used for The Sinclair Method).
Did you try the fluoxetine to help with the drinking? Did it seem to make any difference in your drinking when you started it? It's kind of a curious thing, as SSRI medication can make some crave more, some less and others see no difference in their drinking at all.
Something that might help is to go to a pharmacist and see if they have any information on the guidelines for prescribing Naltrexone in the Northern Ireland Formulary. They might also be able to tell you what kind of doctor can prescribe it (GP or specialist) and give you a referral to a private physician if public healthcare doesn't cover it.
Whereabouts are you Liz? UK, US, Europe, Oz...
Some doctors are very old-fashioned and believe that people should use their willpower and support groups alone to battle the bottle.
Hi. I'm in Birmingham, England. I can't get either meds off my GP or psychiatrist. I've even asked them both to speak to an expert on the matter but they still refuse. I can go private but it's so expensive that I don't think I could afford it indefinitely.
Liz, it looks like Nalmefene is offered on NHS for reducing alcohol consumption. It's a Red Light item:
"Restricted to Specialist Substance Misuse Services only"
I'll send you the link with the info, sounds like you would either have to get a referral to one of the services or you would self-refer.
You might also want to contact Joanna at C3Europe if you haven't spoken with her already.
For Naltrexone, it does indeed sound like you would need to seek a private prescription to be used off-label, but as you would generally only take it before drinking (like Nalmefene), it may not be too expensive to bear.
Perhaps check with a couple of pharmacists to see if there's any interaction with your medications, just so you don't go off on a goose chase.
Good for you!! Love to hear about patients standing up for themselves!
Cisorium, one other thing - opioid antagonists like Nalmefene and Naltrexone block endorphins and shouldn't interfere with SSRI medications (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors). What blocking the endorphins mainly does is to stop a neurochemical cascade that ends up as elevated dopamine levels in the brain's Reward System. That's what I know about the subject as a layperson.
That said, some have reported that they feel depressed after starting Nalmefene or Naltrexone (and some have felt their depression lifting, so go figure). It might take a bit more time for you to get past this rough spot, or your doctor may need to change out your medication. But do call your doctor and let her know what's going on, don't wait until the 16th.
You seem professionally trained ADEfree. A very concise reply.
My first few months on antidepressants I was back to my old self I didn't even realise I had depression thought it was chronic fatigue from training so much. My body was sore I'd no engery and I just wanted to sleep. I was shocked, tearful when Gp suggested.... at that stage she didn't know about my drinking. I've sense had test done as I keep braking bones most think over training but I'm osteopinic doc said I'm not absorbing calcium because of my drinking. I've got away with racing and drinking for the last 5 years my body has had enough. My tolerance was so high I never got hung over training no problem. I'm back to no engery wanting to do nothing, still drinking a bottle of wine while children are sleeping trying to feel better. I know I'll still drink later if anything just to sleep. My drinking only eased up for two weeks with Namalfene. No change drinking from antidepressants. Hiding this dark cloud isn't easy. I'm glad I have you, who understand. I thank you.
Dear Cisorium,
I am also a triathle for about 15 years. Pretty pathetic at it though, but I love sport. I have been drinking a bottle of wine right throughout plus smoking, but I never broke any bones. I am on Naltexone for 10 weeks and it is an up and down journey. I do believe that training helps a lot. I want to be able to control my drinking and then tackle the smoking. Want to do a half Ironman in December of this year. Having kids and training is tough by itself. Been there done that. I did the full Ironman 11 years ago and that was too much for me, so only half for me for now. If you concentrate on becoming a super fit healthy person, maybe the less drinking will come by its own. Well, this is how approach it. Good luck. Hugs xX