What sort of side effects can i expect ?
In general restlessnes, problems sleeping, losing appetite, heart beating in your sleep, some panick attacks, pain in the stomach and the feeling you need to vommit.
Above symptoms are mostly in the first week and slowly disappear in the second week.
Good luck,
Escar
In case anybody Googles it, it is spelt 'nalmefene' Having said that, it has been widely discussed here so most people know, I am just saying for any new members who see this thread first
The most common side effects are nausea and sleep disturbances. Some people also report feeling a little strange, as if they are in a tunnel and detached from the world.
The issue is that nalmefene blocks endorphins from attaching to the opioid receptors in the brain. While that is good, in the case of alcohol, for those who have a problem with excessive drinking, it also stops more healthy activities (like exercise, extreme sports, going on rollercoasters, sex, cuddling babies and seeing cute animals) producing the same level of pleasure.
For this reason, although it may be necessary to take a tablet every day because alcohol is being consumed every day, initially, it is important to work towards having days off from drinking (and therefore days off from nalmefene) and doing those other pleasurable activities on those days, so that you can get the usual level of pleasure from them.
The side effects (nausea, sleeplessness and detachment) subside over the first week or so of taking the drug so it's worth persisting with it.
Besides all the good info Paul has provided, you might also ask your GP about Naltrexone. Very similar and for myself the side-effects have subsided now.
Still not too sure if it works yet 'cause I haven't lost my cravings yet. I have a need to Socialize and be around others, even go out of the way to do this, sooooo
You are right, Tim. The Sinclair Method was developed using Naltrexone. The only thing I would say is this:
The benefit of Nalmefene which was developed later, is that it is processed differently by the liver. This means that Nalmefene can be given without the need for Liver Function Tests. Naltrexone is not as gentle on the liver, although that shouldn't be a problem if the user hasn't developed any serious liver problems due to heavy drinking.
Thanks for this Paul. NOW, I just wish professionals such as yourself could convince countries like mine (Canada) to look into the benefits of Nalmefene.
Not only for the better of it's citizens but for the WHOLE health care system too boot !!!
Well, it's not so simple here in the UK Tim. Nalmefene is approved for use but for moderate drinkers, basically, those who don't really need it Then there is the requirement that a person also has psycho-social support (which isn't easily available in many areas) and then there is the cost of each tablet (£3.50) which means that many of the committees that agree what drugs can or cannot be prescribed in their local area, don't have Nalmefene as one of those allowed.
At last i was able to pickup a prescription for 14 tablets yesterday and took 1 about an hour ago. I have my usual 3 bottles of wine lined up so lets see what happens.
Hi Michael,
I do hope Selingro works for you like it works for me.
Please keep us updated about yuor progress.
Greetz and good luck,
Escar
Thought I would share experiences as have found this very helpful on this forum - I am in my late 60s and drinking every day (over 60 units/week) and finally, got Nalmefene prescription after "chasing" around for many weeks so was afraid that I would take it and not notice! Anything but!
Thursday - Took tablet 6 pm. 7 30 felt pain in stomach which went away. Felt "high" - pleasant/unpleasant a bit dizzy and restless
Went to bed and slept for 2 hours (was sleeping irregularly recently anyway) - Got up and had 3 bottles of beer watching Question Time and This Week - usually have much more when doiing this.
Friday - woke up still a bit zonked - lay in bed but could not get back to sleep, went out walk, not dizzy now but not "right" - decided not to have another pill today as I did not feel like drinking anyway - gradually feeling more normal
Saturday - felt more normal and went out to concert in the evening - had decided not to have pill in case of reactions - had 2 pints at concert - drunk this less rapidly than normal - had decided to take pill if I still fancied a drink when I got home but just had a snack and am now going to bed - Plan to take second pill tomorrow (Sunday) evening and have a drink - a bit apprehensive but happy very happy that the pill is having an affect as I was worried that after all my pushing to get on it that it might have no effect so I still plan to take regularly
Thanks for sharing your experience Davy. The one thing you need to be careful of is drinking without the pill which I think will be less likely when the side-effects subside after a few days of use.
Thanks Paul
You are right about drinking without the pill - just to continue my diary
Sunday
Still a bit woozy but trying to keep functioning with hobbies
Took pill and had two beers
Monday
I wanted something substantial in my stomach before taking Nalmefene.
My wife and I went out for a meal - we had some snacky type food in house but I wanted something more substantial - I ended up with a steak so had a meal with one pint then came home and took pill, watched football (don't know about me but United certainly haven't got it together ), did some work on computer so functioning a bit better and watched Newsnight and had two beers
I am writing this at 5 30 in the morning - so happy that I slept through this long - I had been having sleep difficulties before starting Nalmefene treatment
I still have a bit of vagueness but, I hope, I am approaching "normality".
My plan now is to take Selincro/Nalmefene daily on a full stomach so that I have a routine and don't drink before treatment - I don't want to get over hopeful but despite side effects I am very happy with way things are going. I will post later on general background and support issues and Nalmefene availability in my area. I am glad to finally be on it.
Thanks
Didnt go too well on saturday ;drank the whole lot. cannot remember much .
MY TYPING IS SOO SLOW ,very frustating as its half an hour behind my mind. have been thinking it would be damn usefull to be able to type at speed . Any recovered and tryin g ain
You my friend need some major computer cleanup.
Try CCleaner, Google it...or is it you ???
The other thing of importance on this site is to hear what others are suggesting, most helpful. Like the Nalmefene so many are raving about in the UK. Wish I could get it here in Canada.
Good luck and please give it a chance, I hear it works well.
Tim
*LOL* thats the way to go, doesn't matter, if you want it or not, one day the Selingro will take over ;-), hope youre doing fine after this bender.
Oh I forgot to tell you, Selingro doesn't get rid of your hangovers, did you enjoy this one ?
Hi Davey,
Thank you for sharing this with us.
The restless nights and waking up after two hours or so, are exactly the things I was feeling.
Also the pain in the stomach is one of them, this Is highly uncomfortable and a little painfull, but It takes about three four day's (in my situation)
Just like you I play'd a little with Selingro, like eating before, ajusting the time of intake etc.
Good luck, and keep on taking it, it's worth it.
So are you.
Greetz,
Escar
No not happy absolutely dreadfull. will it tho ? feeling fine now ;bit of led zep. ,,,,, i have a question
here is my dilemma. do i keep drinking taking pill and let them get used to my sytem ie every 2/3 days or what if i can stop for say a week . then what . do they naeed to build up or what . need an answer .sweet. as am thinging of doing a week ,,,, well then what you get me
Yes, I have a similar problem. I took first Nalmefend Friday then took Nalmefene Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday last week so was hoping I was getting into a routine but now have a chest infection and did not take Friday, Saturday and Sunday (today) as with my chest infection symptoms I did not feel like drinking. Going to Doctor tomorrow - expect antibiotics - wondering whether missing Nalmefene for this time will give me problems? I was hoping I was off and getting into a routine.
On average, it takes about a week worth of taking Nalmefene for the body to get accustomed to it. If you took it every 3 days, it would take about 21 days, so regard it as number of tablets taken rather than length of time taking it.
Some people, however, just don't get the side effects badly enough for it to bother them and they are the lucky ones.