Just been prescribed this and am a little worried about taking it as the side effects seem a bit hard. Will I be so ill I won't be able to work
That is a possibility, Kathryn. However, the side effects are less each time you take it and, after about 6 or 7 times of taking it, they will be gone altogether. You are actually in a very small minority who can get this on the NHS. Persist through the side effects, the rewards are well worth the initial pain.
Having said that, some people hardly get any side effects. You don't know until you take it. I always advise people to get used to it first and not to use it for the first time before an important event, say, a wedding or something, in case the side effects ruin their day.
Thanks for prompt reply. My doctor has told me to take a tablet only when I think I am going to drink. I don't drink every day so di I need to take them daily .
I am so glad you have a doctor that understands how it works Your doctor is correct. Don't take a pill UNLESS you are going to be drinking. Ensure that you leave it 90 mins to 2 hours after taking the pill before you drink to ensure it has been absorbed. People vary and I know a few who need the full two hours.
If you get unpleasant side effects, persist. They do subside each time you take it and are gone completely after about 6 or 7 times of taking it. The rewards are well worth any initial discomfort. For this reason, don't take it for the first time before an important night out, because you might feel too ill to enjoy it. Having said that, some people get very few side effects. You don't know until you take it.
Thanks, this forum is very helpful.
i have also been reading about baclofen to help with alchol problems and this doesn't seem to have as many side effects. Do you know anything about it..
There are reports of it working, but it is not licenced for use with alcohol addiction and Nalmefene and Naltrexone are the most effective.
Hi. I had a really bad reaction to baclofen. Took it for a few weeks and drank with it ( a bottle and half of red wine) ended up in hospital for a week. It was horrendous and could tell anyone what happened if they are ever thinking of trying it. You have to take a lot of them and they do have side effects. Def stick with the nalmefene. You are lucky to have a good Dr ..
Hi Kathryn,
'Started taking Nalmefene a week and a half ago and have been lucky enough to experience minimal side effects. As Paul has said, after the first week's intake of nalmefene, the side effects, if any, from the 1st week are no longer an issue.
In previous forums, it was advised to get-over whatever side effects one may have, by taking the pills each day for a week, thereby having no disrupted parties/functions,etc., as might happen if your 6th tablet (for example) happened not to be taken until 3 weeks after first tab. That advice seems to be recommended with good reason and worth trying-out.
In my case it's effect on me was: being particularly groggy, especially the morning after.
I was taking them around 7-7.30pm as recommended by another contributor, so that the 'blocking' effect would last into the early hours. Sleep was very poor the first night and not much better the second but after that became fairly normal/undisrupted.
The other main effect was nausea, not actually getting sick but feeling queasy, especially (i found) between the time of taking the pill and the time that it took for it to kick-in.
On my 4th selincro, this day last week, I took it around 3.30pm, thinking that I would start drinking around 5.30pm (in my case 2 hours probably required). Turned out i didn't get to drink until 3 & a half hours later, by which time I didn't feel great, was quite 'down' and sorry I'd gone out. So probably best not to leave too much of a gap between taking pill and the first drink.
Since then, everything's been okay, but am not sure if it's reducing my drinking, not so much yet anyway, but at least it feels as though there is a bit more control in place, since it requires control to hang-on for the hour & a half or 2 hours before drinking, to decide not to drink without taking tablet to begin with, and to keep up the positive/take-control-of-one's-drinking attitude for as long as required.
Like yourself, I've been extremely fortunate to have encountered an understanding/open-minded/up-to-date GP who is prepared to prescribe this medication without having had another patient as yet on the drug, so I'm also his guinea pig!
i think I'll keep on with it for the 3 months that he's prescribed, and possibly for the future if things go well.
If it doesn't work-out for me, as to my usage being normalised, I might try camprasal, which get's good reviews, is supposed to be for complete abstinence, but, since it's taken 3 times a day (which i at first thought a disadvantage) could possibly enable the occasional deviation from abstinence, presumably without any great issue, will keep you posted.. :-)
Flat9
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Campral is not designed to drink with. It is totally different to Selincro. Campral controls cravings so the number of pills a day is designed to cover a long enough period to ensure you are always getting the relief from cravings that it gives (8 hours per pill).
Any deviation from abstinence is a risk for somebody who has alcohol addiction UNLESS they use Nalmefene or Naltrexone to block the opioid receptors.
Persist with the Selincro Flat9 It can take 2-3 months to achieve it's aim.
Very glad you mentioned that Paul, it has given me Great Hope, I will indeed stick with it so, for the 3 months and will let you know how things are going..
Many thanks for the encouragement!!
flat9
Come to think of it Paul, what would be the likely risk involved, for someone not inclined to get DT's, to not-take camprasal for maybe 2 doses, have a moderate amount of drinks and then return to their dosage as recommended?
Regards,
b9 :-)
By DTs I suspect you mean withdrawal symptoms. DTs are a serious medical condition in which people suffer hallucinations and can die. The vast majority of people suffering shakiness, sweating, agitation and all the other alcohol withdrawal symptoms don't get DTs. There is a tendency for people to think that any shakiness is DTs ::
There is no connection between taking campral and drinking. It has no effect on the level of drinking you do if you DO drink. It doesn't have a reaction with alcohol. All it does is controls cravings for people who want to remain abstinent. You seem to see Campral as similar to Nalmefene. It is not the same at all
I cannot take nalmefene too many side effects !!plus you need to drink alcohol.Once I start on the wine I can't stop.I have to stop drinking-it is killing me and my marriage-but the craving is unbearable-as are the withdrawels.I have had a 3 or 4 week binge and I feel terrible today.No alcohol yet as I have none in the house and dare not go out because I will be locked out. I have 3 prescios Diazapans left Would apprceciat some advice please because my Doctor is not available today. Many Thanks.sue
Hi. Just wanted to say, as Paul may not be available at the mo..you haven't given nalmefene long enough to do its job. It's not what you want to hear, I know, but it's a long long battle. It's so so hard. I've been battling this illness for years and have thankfully gone from a 24/7 drinker to a binge drinker. Only 2 binges this year. So it can be done. Stick with it, don't give up as what's the alternative? Good luck my friend x
Please reply to my last text when you are next available.i have managed not to drink alcohol today only because I too ill to sneak out and buy some. Tempted to take 1 of my Diazapans so imay get some sleep.Many Thanks Sue
The point of Nalmefene is to lower the aount you drink. All people with a drink problem have difficulty stopping when they start. Nalmefene works by stopping the additional reward that problem drinkers get over what controlled drinkers get. By taking a pill before drinking, you will, eventually, only get the same effect as anybody else would from alcohol. That means that, over time, craving stops.
2-3 months is what the research showed to be the average time it took for Nalmefene to reach the point of 'pharmacological extinction' (the point where you have unlearned your addiction. You still have to take a pill before drinking after this point, though, as you could very easily relearn the addiction of you drank unprotected.
Hi Paul have taken my first nalmefene but unfortunately with a glass of wine for Dutch courage 😔 lets hope I won't drink the whole bottle like I usually do . Have you any idea how long it takes to kick in and will the results or side effects be different because I have already had a glass of wine ?
Thanks kathy
That's my problem Susan , once I start on the wine I find it almost impossible to stop , I have every intention to have 1 or 2 to chill out , but before I know it the whole bottle has gone 😔 hoping this is the miracle pill I need
A few glasses of wine and nalmefene . Feeling very drunk . Just like I had a whole bottle of wine and a few vodkas . So maybe it is working