Hi. Haven't had a drink for 10 days but really depressed today. And know I need a drink. This is why acamprosate would have been useful, essential really, as I've no willpower when the addictive head comes again.
So I took my 1st tablet at 1. Going to let you all know how I get on with it. I've tried it twice before. The first while I was at Cygnet Hospital Harrogate, 15 months ago. It was prescribed to take everyday for a year to prevent cravings and relapse. I stopped taking it after 3 months as I felt like a zombie. Since then I've learned from Paul that, I wasn't taking it correctly.
The 2nd time I tried it was last June but it made me so ill( worse than a hangover, if that's possible!!) . Stopped taking it after a week as couldn't cope with the side effects.
So here goes, fingers crossed..
You can get acamprosate, but generally you have to get it from abroad and it will set you back £116 for a month's supply.
Good luck with naltrexone.
Hi good to hear from you.
let us know who you get on this afternoon and if you still get the side effects. It's a shame you couldn't get acamprosate as I found it worked really well.
good luck and take care xx
Good luck with you're ongoing saga with addaction. You gave me a few chuckles in your post about taking cider and acamprosate to your meeting lol!
You can do it Paper fairy!!! I will keep my fingers crossed.
Pat xxxx
Hope all goes well for you x
If you wish to chat or need some support generally, please just get in touch and we can talk on the phone or skype. If I can help you in any way, I would love to do so.
I've never used acamprosate, is it to stop cravings? You have to quit entirely to take it? What are side effects like?
X
Yes Emma it's used to stop cravings and no, you don't drink whilst taking it.
i had liver tests done and no alcohol for 5 days before starting it it's also known as campral, acamprosate is the generic name. I took two tablets three times a day and had no side effects.
if you follow the posts from RHGB you will see how difficult it is to get a prescription for it. He ended up having to buy it online.
For some reason, my GP prescribed it easily for me, although he had never heard of the Sinclair method and I was unable to get that.
I found it excellent and after a few weeks it was amazing how I never thought about alcohol at all.
There are not meant to be any real side effects, it is one of those drugs that doesn't have much impact. Having said that, there are always medications out there that won't agree with someone or other.
The idea is that you take it when you come off alcohol, and it stops you wanting a drink, you know, you've been really good, you're sitting at home in the evening and that bottle of wine in the kitchen starts calling you. It's meant to stop the calling.
Drugs like naltrexone and nalmefine are for people who want to carry on drinking, but want something to put the brakes on and stop them having more than two or three. The only downside, is, that although it allows you to carry on drinking in safe amounts, it does dull the senses to everything else as well. But you only have to take it on the days you know your're going for a drink.
Acamprosate is taken for three to twelve months and allows your body to adjust to life without alcohol. Just because you detox and come off alcohol, it doesn't mean your body or mind has forgotten it that easily.
Thanks for all your posts. Well I took tab at 1, started a glass of wine at 2. Then felt really poorly like beginning of flu..dry mouth, headache and aching body. I've hardly slept these last 10 days so was very tired. So at 2.45 went to bed as felt rubbish. Woken up at 7. Ok now and finishing my 2nd glass of wine.
To Paul or Joanne. Is it 8 hours from 1.00 that I can drink in to stay safe or is it different with naltrexone?
Plus should I drink every night for 7 nights to conquer the side effects or spread it out?
Naltrexone has a slightly shorter half life than Nalmefene. You should be ok drinking up to 8 hours after taking it. I wouldn't attempt to drink after that period has passed without taking a second pill.
You could if you wanted to, but it is not necessary. Your body should become accustomed to it after a few doses, as long as you don't leave it too long between doses.
Thanks Paul, Joanna and everyone. Unfortunately it's 11.39 and haven't stopped when I was supposed to. It's 12.30 pm and need to finish bottle. So it's 10 1/2 hours since took first tablet. After my long sleep I'm feeling alright. Let you know about the hangover tomorrow
Usual binge I'd carry on so see what tomorrow holds.
Thanks for being there for me all of you xx
Will you sleep now? Hope you feel better if you can xx
Meant 11.30! Re sleep..will let you know xx
Hope you can. I'm not sleeping well at all. Five hours is a good night for me!
Do also be aware that the reduction in drinking from using either naltrexone or nalmefene can be reduced to whatever level of drinking you wish.
Some will reduce to below safe limits, others will reduce to zero except for the odd occasional social drink or two.... and yet others will reduce to zero and remain completely abstinent.
Agree with Paul.
Remember to always take the first drink after the pill slowly and allow yourself to recognise that something is missing from the experience.
Then, as you drink ask yourself if you really want another. If you do then fine, begin another drink. But at some point, you will hear the signal that you are satisfied and decide not to drink any more. At that point, get up and do something different.
We call that drinking mindfully and it makes a big difference to the majority of people. This isn't a magic pill and if someone decides to keep drinking when they really don't want to, then it won't stop them downing the drink even though it is no longer rewarding.
The pill is a tool to aid you in making better decisions about your drinking.