Maybe a bit of a daft discussion, but am interested. When I first joined this group, I found loads of help and information from other people in similar situations, and people were always posting.
i know it's me with probably too much time on my hands, but unless I'm missing something, there aren't many, if any, recent topics. Which made me start to wonder how everyone is.
I'm on day 7 without alcohol which doesn't seem much I know. There used to be several regulars updating. Maybe we are all doing better than we think.
A separate question is I've bought a water chiller to keep my fluid intake up and seem to be constantly drinking water. Is there a limit as to how much you should have? Can easily drink 2 litres or more daily.
I LOVE the fact you are drinking around 2 litres of water a day!! This should really help your live, and flush out any crap in your system- you seem to be doing good, and I'm sure you feel the benefit-keep going x
Hi Vicky. I am on day 5 of the tablets, I have a terrible 1st day, but have been better since. I found this forum great in helping me to cope with the initial problems. Maybe I did not do enough initial research, but the initial side effects really need to be spelt out. Fortunatly I did not drive on day 1 but I did have 3 appointments, and was most confused and felt ill.
With regards to alchohol consumption Day 1, I would not have been able to drink anyway, day 2 I have nothing, day 3 I have 2 175ml of red wind, and day 4 2 beers. I have high expectations of being able to curb my consumption.
I hope this helps others.
Hi l am happy for you vickylou its quite a achievement day, 7 that's great, u can drink as much water as u can ,it helps to flash out the system, take it one day at a time are u taking medication to comb act the craving, how much did u use to drink before, cheers
No medication for drink, but I do take trazadone for anxiety. I've had long standing issues with alcohol and after many years was happy taking it or leaving it. However when I have an anxiety episode I will binge drink. Two bottles of wine for a week then stop. This last time seems to be taking longer to recover from. Lethargic, constant butterflies and depressed. I've not drunk spirits like I used to, two bottles of vodka in three days. Thanks for the reply, how are you?
Are these the tablets to help you control the amount you drink? When you've had two glasses of wine, do you still want anymore? Well done, how much would you normally have had if you don't mind my asking?
thanks, my appetite has much improved, seem to be constantly thinking of food which must be a good sign!
Hi vickylou. 7 days no Alcohol !!!!! Amazing - " One Little Pill " D V D from U S A waste of money !!! Naltrexone and Nalmefene made me so ill - even a quarter of one. So no Thanks.IWILL stick to my WINE and hopefully die without too much pain. Cheers. XX
Susan I've never tried naltrexone/ nalmefeme. My gp had never heard of either of them, and the alcohol counsellor I used to see hadn't either, in fact I told her. She did some research and the next time I saw her she said it was a weird American drug trial! Enjoy your wine, we all have our own choices
Hi vickylou. Your comments were very interesting. We sound very similar - personality wise anyway. Itake citalopram for my depression / anxiety , never heard of your medication- must look into it ( we both sound like Hyprocondreacts ) Which medication are you taking to help with the Alcohhol addiction ? Might give it ago- got to do something ! Husband Brian just caught me returning from Town with several wine bottles plus bottle of Vodka now locked away !!!!! Was so looking forward to it- now it's gone - so mean of him . Did own research on those two drugs with help from Richard ( on here ) and Turning Point. A A no help. So much for their Higher Power. Keep in touch . X
Are u trying to stop or, what your husband is doing doesn't help my wife used to that, it didn't work bcoz l was not ready to stop, l ended hiding it , the more u hide usually the more u drink, u have to want to stop at your own time, bcoz u are stopping for yourself noyone else, they are so many drugs on NHS that can help if u want to stop, cheers.
My husband used to pour my drink down the sink in front of me! Nightmare at the time. Other times he would take it off me and hide it. In the end he stopped as at the end of the day, if I desparately wanted a drink he knew I'd get one. I'm not taking any medication for cravings, cut down slowly, then stopped. Just take trazadone for anxiety/depression. How you doing without your drink?
You are a girl after my own heart, I totally understand what you are saying.
Cheers to you too,
Pat xxx
I think your GP should be sued for malpractice, obviously your GP does not keep up to date with newer treatments.
Nalmefene (brand name Selincro) is NOT a weird American drug trial!!
Nalmefene was approved by NICE in November 2014 specifically for treating alcohol dependency. NICE approved this for GP's to prescribe in their GP surgery. There is absolutely NO excuse for your GP to not be aware of it.
Here is the NICE link that you can read and print off and take to your GP - https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ta325
It clearly states....
''If you are dependent on alcohol, and your doctor thinks that nalmefene is the right treatment, you should be able to have the treatment on the NHS.''
In fact, it has been approved right across Europe.
If you are interested in trying this, I would march straight back into your GP and ask why she is not up to date, why she is having to look up things (and not looking them up very well), why she did not look at their own NICE guidance proceedures.... and most importantly, why she thinks she is a good GP when she doesn't even have the slightest awareness of a medication that has been all over the news since November 2014. It is her job to help provide people with approved medications that will ease their suffering.
There are a few side effects such as mild nausea and sleep disturbances (like with a lot of medications) but whilst uncomfortable these will disappear over the first 5-7 tablets. They are no worse than a bad hangover anyway, and we've all survived many of those!!
Good luck if you chose to look at this medication as an option.
Joanna.
Susan, not sure if you remember our hour+ long phone conversation on Sunday 26th July??
The side effects WILL pass over the first 5-9 tablets max, usually they are much less after only 4 tablets and completely gone by the 7th or 8th tablet. I told you that. I've taken nalmefene, as have many others since in was approved in the UK. I've spoken to almost 100 people now, and with support, we've ALL got through the side effects and felt the benefits of the medication.
Side effects happen with a lot of medications. Nalmefene is no different in that. Eating first and drinking lots of water during the hour long wait will lessen then to a certain extent too.
How many times did you take the medication before dismissing it? If you took, say 10 tablets, and were still sufering then yes maybe the medication is not for you, but if you gave up at 3 or 4 tablets then you didn't give it a long enough chance for the side effects to disappear.
Joanna.
grat with 2L per day and just what your liver wanted....all still ok?? feeling ok booze free?
Hi Vicki
That is exactly what I used to do with alcohol. Something would upset me and then I would think 'That's upset me. I'm going to buy half bottle of vodka'.
But it was not the way to deal with things. I only realized it late in life.
It's been 15 years now and if you can stop drinking you will feel proud when the first year is over and then it gets better.
I hate alcohol now. Maybe that is hypocritical but it is like when people stop smoking, they hate cigarettes.
Hugs Vicki
Hi Richard
My mum was alcoholic and she hid a bottle behind my gianrt panda bear toy.
Maybe I am lucky that I did not inherit the gene. I hate it.
When you have partner who drinks, do you feel alone even though they are there?
How are you coping?
Hi robin
I don't need to ask how you're doing, you must be very proud of you're achievements. I'm doing fine, anxiety episode has passed so no longer thinking of alcohol. Had a couple of glasses of wine last weekend and had a good week. Big test was last night. Went to local pub with friends and always have a 'lock in' and usually come home about 2-3am. Had a few glasses of wine, but by 10pm I'd had enough. The pub is literally just a couple of minutes walk from home. Told my husband I wanted to go home, but he could stay. He walked me home and went back. Saturday morning and no hangover. Am up and about, ready to go shopping as I need another treat!! Thanks so much for asking, you're posts always cheer me up and offer excellent advice