In the news again today:
My worry is that the 'continuous social support' will not be available to many GPs who will therefore feel unable to prescribe it.
Hi Paul,
this was the drug i had asked my GP to prescribe for me, i had been reading a book about alcohol abuse and there was a tried and tested method being used in Finland with this drug. she told me she didnt know anything about it and wouldnt even look at the paperwork i had printed to bring with me to show her. As i understand it this drug is expensive which made me wonder right away if this was the reason she said she didint know about it. it had also been on the news that week about trials in Scotland and how well they had gone. i do wonder if this is likely to be many GP's reaction?? i felt exremeley let down by my GP who has known me and my family for over 27 years. This was why i eventually took myself to a alcohol and drug abuse centre as i felt i wasnt getting any support from my GP. there seems to be plenty of support out there to help smokers quit, why not drinkers?? again i tend to beleive that if you drink you are looked down upon as if to say its your own fault. like i have said before im sure none of us went out with the fore thought that one day in the future alcohol would over take our lives and we would need some help to quit. well on a positive note Paul im now on day 24 without any alcohol.
I had a meeting with my key worker at substance abuse clinic today and I mentioned about this drug. Apparently I don't drink enough to need it! All being well, my CBT will start in January.
We also discussed whether I want an alcohol free programme, or a controlled drinking plan. My husband has a new boss who has asked us out for dinner this Saturday. I've discussed with my key worker about having wine with my meal which she said was fine and we agreed on no more than 3 glasses of wine. I'm getting confused reading all the alcohol forums as some seem to say you can't drink at all, and others talk about controlled drinking. Any explanation Paul would be much appreciated.
3 pints or half a bottle of wine is the recommended amount a person should be drinking to be appropriate for Nalmefene.
Some people are physically dependent on alcohol and those people need a detox and to totally abstain from drinking. Those who are drinking too much but are not dependent should reduce their alcohol intake. Nalmefene is to help this second group.
This is the problem. GPs are likely to see Nalmefene as difficult to prescrive because of the lack of support available for those that take it, which goes against the guidelines.
I am discussing with a contact of mine who also provides private alcohol treatment, an idea to help NHS patients to get Nalmefene on the NHS with the appropriate support. I don't want to say any detail here, but I will update when appropriate.
*prescribe
Thanks Paul, I understand now
Hello Paul I consider myself to be in the category that could be helped by selincro as I do not drink 24/7 I just can't be satisfied with one drink once I start. Having read the article what should I do if GP declines to prescribe. Hearing about this tablet is what gave me the courage to speak to him and the alcohol dependant team regarding my problem. It was no easy feat to admit I have a problem but now that I have I don't where it leaves me.
I'll tell you what, Linda, I will ask that question of Dr David Collier on Monday on the Radio 5 Live discussion (3pm to 3.30pm - will be available on BBC iPlayer later). It's a good question and one which many people will be asking.
Dr David Collier was responsible for the clinical trials of Selencro (Nalmefene).
Hi Paul I would really Appreciate that and u will listen with interest
I will listen with interest
Hi Paul how did it go today. I can't seem to work out how to listen on my iPhone?
Well, I was all set, headphones on, in the BBC studio in Birmingham, and they played the interviews with the two patients who have taken Nalmefene before the news came through that the situation had escalated in the Sydney siege. They broke away from our discussion to give updates on that and ran out of time to finish the Nalmefene discussion, so Dr Collier and I never got to talk.
It may be done again at a later date, and I will post a message here if I have a new date.
I was all set to listen in too! Sadly other events became more serious. My interpretation of gps prescribing nalmefeme is that in theory it sounds excellent treatment for some people. I've read all the NICE info, but like so many things with the nhs, the follow on support won't be available. It's easy to just write a prescription, but it's the ongoing social support that could be the stumbling block, so some gps won't prescribe it due to lack of funding
Yes when I first plucked up the courage to GP and admit I had a problem , although he was sympathetic and said he had never heard of This drug when I encouraged him to look the first thing he said was it it expensive. That being the case if he says the same to me tomorrow I am wondering if it can be purchased privately. Surely 1 tablet a day is less expensive than alcohol? I will let you know the outcome of my visit.
Linda look forward to hearing how you got on. I mentioned it to my GP who had heard about it, but confessed to not knowing much about it. He looked it up in his BNF and said it was expensive but I didn't drink enough to warrant it, basically I didn't need it. He also said it was probably a drug that the practice wouldn't prescribe as it needed specialist support and follow up and resources were stretched enough already. My CBT has been put back to around Easter 2015 as there are far more urgent cases to deal with. In other words, unless you are having suicidal thoughts, self harming or have young children then you are classed as routine and not urgent! Good luck.
Went to GP this morning and unfortunately my support worker hadn't sent any information to him so I have to wait until they sort themselves out. So wasted trip.
Hi Linda
how annoying, it's enough to drive you to drink. I've got an appointment with my key worker tomorrow morning. I will ask her about nalmefeme and see if she says the same as my GP. I will let you know the outcome. It will be interesting to compare a drs view with a specialists view!
I asked my key worker about nalmefeme and she said there was a new drug still in trial stage. She didn't know what it was called but thought it wasn't available yet! She said I knew more about it than she did and asked her boss to find out more, which he did. It costs about £10 per tablet and is down to individual gp practices as to whether or not they would prescribe it. There are not many people who meet the criteria needed to take it and there is no hard evidence that it is worth the cost involved. As previously stated, there must be strict monitoring and support available to those who could be given it and unfortunately very few places are able to provide the level of support needed without additional funding. I was also told you couldn't buy it yourself. That's what I was told today at substance abuse clinic.
Hi Vicky well I never. I have been told by my support worker that they cost around £3.70 each and you can buy them through Nhs Direct? My surgery has made contact with me to say they have now received a letter from my support and can I make appointment to see GP. The next one is next Tuesday so another wait and I don't even know what he I going to decide. I so hoped to have help over Christmas. Don't want to be Auntie slumped in corner