My query crosses a few threads. I started on Nalmefene on wednesday. I had done a lot of research on the Sinclair Method. I looked at evrything from pop-media reports to some of the clinical trial papers and have been convinced by the argument. There's something elegant in the counterintuative logic (ahem, sorry)!
Anyway, based on what people have been saying here, it sounds like it's been hard to get Nalmefene prescribed. I think I have been lucky. I had spoken to my GP a while back about my alcohol use as it was seriously effecting my work and my relationships, not to mention my ongoing concerns about my physical health. I had already been in counselling for a few weeks and took the NICE guidelines along to the appointment. He hadn't prescribed it before but read up a bit while I was there and prescribed straight after. He was very much, 'yeah, lets try it!'
I took one pill and and bought a bottle of wine an hour or so later. I wasn't really aware of any changes in my overall state when I first took the tablet, up until the point where I started drinking. When I drank the wine I didn't really like the taste (but to be honest it was cheap wine) but usually when I've had a cuople of glasses, it tastes 'just fine'. But this time I was drinking it as if I was searching for something; that old familiar good feeling but it just wasn't there. I felt like I was searching through the bottle for it. I finished the bottle quite quickly in the quest for my old "friend" but to no avail.
An hour or so after, I felt tired, nauseous, exhausted and as if I had flu. I couldn't eat and just wanted to sleep. I definitely didn't want to drink any more alcohol, but I had a restless night, going in and out of sleep. The next day I felt pretty bad, with a headache and nausea like travel sickness. I'd never ordinarily feel like that after one bottle of 11% white.
The following day I didn't drink at all as I'd made a conscious descision not to... and I also felt crap. (I was, a few months ago drinking 3 bottles of wine a day throughout the day, every day, or a 35cl bottle of vodka and 2 bottles of wine... but have now tailed off to one or two bottles of wine every other day - and the occasional bing where I have even more). I was still recovering from the side ffects though they were wearing off. The next day I took Nalmefene again as I thought I'd probably drink. I bought a bottle of red which I like to see how I got on. I finished it but didn't really enjoy it that much but somehow felt compelled to finish it. And then I nipped out for more but bought two mini bottles because I knew I'd finish the second bottles otherwise 'since it was there'. I did eventually finish the two mini bottles (18.5cl each) but felt shattered. As no-one was home that day, I might easily have ordinarily gone out again and bought at least another bottle but didn't... cos of Nalmefene or just tiresness, I don't know.
Yesterday I didn't drink any alcohol and didn't take Nalmefene. Not wanting the side effects of Nalmefene was a significant factor in prompting me not to drink that day but also family were coming round that day. (I've found it easier to not drink at all for a day than drink less over 2 days)
Today, I took Nalmefene at around 1pm and bought a 35cl bottle of vodka around 3pm and started drinking it quite quickly. This time, on the plus side I haven't had hardly any side effects from the Nalmefene but I did get a buzz from the vodka, and did feel like drinking more and have now finished that half bottle. That worries me. There was something reassuring about the lack of pleasure in the bottle of wine. I thought understood... 'ah this does nothing for me, drink enough of this on Nal and of course I'll go off it' but today, hardly any side effects and a nice warm glow from the vodka, as if I hadn't taken the tablet. Then again, a nice warm glow from vodka? usually it's a feisty f***er!
Just wondered if anyone else has experienced similar? No buzz from alcohol then some buzz a few days later while on Nalmefene. And bad side effects coinciding with no buzz and mild-none side effects with buzz?
But also just wanted to share my experience as it feels like we're pioneers, us TSM people and this will be helpful in building a real world evidence base for this approach.
Cheers everyone. I've already got a lot of advice and support and felt a lot of warmth come across here!