I have been following the development of the Nalmefene drug and have tried to get my own Gp to perscripe it for me but with no success. It seems to be the just the thing I need to help me cut back.
I would be interested if anyone can tell me why I can't get it.
Regards
Alan
Price is the simple answer. Nalmefene costs around £3 per tablet. In each area, there is a committee which decides which drugs can be prescribed by GPs. You will have seen stories in the news about a postcode lottery which affects some patients getting cancer drugs. It is by this same decision-making process that Nalmefene is either available or not, based on the committee's decision. Each item on a prescription costs the patient (if they are not exempt from the charges) £8.05. Obviously, that would cover the cost of less than 3 tablets and, with an attitude (a very wrong one) that alcohol problems are a 'choice' that indiciduals have made, many of these committees are just not prepared to add Nalmefene to the approved list.
This goes against recent guidelines from NICE who have recommended that Nalmefene should be prescribed to patients who are drinking a 'little' too much.
It may be worth asking your GP if he/she would give you a private prescription for Nalmefene. You have to pay the full cost of the medication at the pharmacy for private prescriptions but, if you consider that one £3 tablet is similar to the cost of one drink, it may be worth it to you as it helps to reduce what you drink.
Excatly my thoughts, I would be happy to pay for it, I need the help but the last time I went to see a Gp, he hadn't even heard of Nalmefene! I had to show him the article I had first seen. I wasnt aware that I could ask for a private perscription thou. Might try that next
Hi Alan, I will follow your posts with great interest. I am wanting to cut down on my nightly consumption, I don't feel ready to contemplate total abstinence. I haven't approached my doctor yet, but was interested to hear from Paul that a private prescription would be an alternative.
Please let us know how you go on.....and good luck.
Pat.
I know exactally how you feel, I am stuck between wanting to be safe and stop drinking so much and wanting to be still be me.... I am smiling at the fact that I am here on this site, having drunk 2 bottles of cheap 10.5 wine and feeling fine and knowing that in the morning I will be awake at 7am bright and cheerfull but my lovely lady who has n't drunk anythinng will be grouchy as hell if I wake her before 11am
Hi Alan I have just managed to convince Gp to prescribe me for 6 months only and that has taken me a couple of months jumping through hoops by insisting I go to weekly support which I do. He seems to think it is to be used with support with a final abstinence but I read the information as it is for cutting down. I will see what develops in time. What reasoning did your Gp give because to be honest mine had never heard of it so Im educating him and being the guinea pig in the practice. He also says it's too expensive.
Regards
Lin
Rega
Hmm as Paul said, I think its a mixture of price and ignorance. (Not having a go at Dr's they are busy people) I will be booking an apointment and this time I'm not going to be fobbed of with vitamin B tablets.
Is there anyone else who will join me? I understand the need for support but really want to be forced to go to group.
Linda how are you finding it? Do the tablets actually work? £3 is a lot to pay but its still cheaper than my nightly booze intake.
You do feel a bit strange but yes they definAtely work which is amazing because you don't actually want another drink. My Gp has told me if I stop support he will withdraw the prescription.
Lin
Linda, how many tablets do you take and when? How long do the effects last? I am so pleased to hear that it seems to be working for you and further strengthens my determination to try and get a prescription. Sorry for all the questions, I appreciate any info you take the time to post. Thank you,
Pat
Yes, yes, I totally concur with that. Because I never drink during the day, in fact never before 8pm, I really don't feel the need to stop altogether, at least not right now. I just need to get down to the safe units as stated everywhere. I want to stll be me too....
Pat
One thing I've found today is this ;The Cure for Alcoholism: The Medically Proven Way to Eliminate Alcohol Addiction. A kindle book on Amazon, I have just ordered it and will let you know what I think. The reviews are excellent. So I'm hoping that this along with the Namefene will get me back on the straight and narrow.
It is very well worth a read and challenges the traditional view that people who get into trouble with alcohol have somehow imposed that on themselves. Dependence on alcohol is a physical illness NOT bad behaviour. Every person with an alcohol problem should read this book.
Hi Basilbrush,
that topic has been discussed many time. Please do a search to locate opinions from those who have shared their experiences.
Kind Regards
HOPE4CURE
Sorry if I have reworked an old thread, I came across this site by chance and didnt do my homework and research it as I could have, I blame the red wine 
I don't think Hope4 Cure meant to complain at you, but let you know that there is a lot more information available on this forum than you may have realised. Nalmefene has been discussed in detail for some time on here now
Thank you Paul, I did take it as a bit of a slap but I think that anything that can help people find a way is worth repeating.
Ok nothing really new to report other than I am actually excited about seeing my Gp to push for my private perscribtion, the more I read about Nalmefene the more I want my old self back... And yes i do realsie that its not a magic bullet.. its still going to be tough.. but with support who knows ?
It's actually more 'magic' than any other alcohol treatment in history and it also makes it a lot less tough than traditional methods.
I would not discribe Nalmefene as "Magic", it's extremely hard work to stick on the program.
Especialy the first two weeks.
I'm taking Selingro for over 6 weeks now and well on the way to finish week seven.
Up from week 3 life seels to become better, before this I had many downfalls and almost gave up this "magic pill"
Does it help, yups, it realy does, if you get yoursellf trough the first week.
After this, things become easyer every singel day.
The thirth week, you really start to regonise the diverences.
Good luck on your new perscription, anny questions, please do so.
Succes,
Escar
Oops so many typo's, so many mistakes in spelling, sorry for this.
English is just my fourth in Langues.
I hope you all wil understand, I'm French ;-)