My GP was not impressed by the idea of trying a drugs route to reduce my drinking. So I did as I was told and tried counselling instead (yeh, like dragging up my past is going to help; was actually drinking more by the end of that 6 month stint!!) I have tried will power, herbs, exercise, books, and a support group (we now drink together!) I have also been turned down by Pharmacy2u 3 times now, and can't find any on line pharmacies that sell without a prescription, Im going in circles!! Since there are people on this forum who have managed to get it I am clearly doing something very wrong! Can anyone advise? I am on anti-depressants so maybe that rules me out for some reason? Many thanks for any advice.
If Pharmcy2U referred your online consultation back to your doctor (declined the order) then there will be a reason. That could be many things, but primarily:
The numbers you put into your drink diary. For a man, the criteria is around 7.5 units a day for a man, and 5 units a day for a woman. If you are drinking more than that, then they refer you back to your doctor for a face to face consultation because you may be at risk of alcohol withdrawals if you take the tablet and it works a little too while, drastically cutting your drinking.
Other medication. Normally antidepressents are not counterindicative with this medication but of course if they feel there is an issue then again they will refer you back to your own doctor.
General health: How at risk are you generally?
Your need to remember that an online consultation has limits, and doctors are careful not to put you at risk. If in doubt they will decline and refer you back to their own doctor.
In terms of ordering online, yes some people do. But this forum/website has to stick to UK rules, which mean that it is not permitted to discuss online ordering from abroad when the medicine is a prescription-only medication.
If you PM me which town/county you live in, I will research some options for you to consider.
1 Like
That criteria is for nalmefene, Selincro, by the way. This is the approved medication to help reduce your drinking. If you requested naltrexone from them, then they simply will not prescribe naltrexone using an online consultation, because they would have to presribe it 'off-license' and nalmefene is the approved 'on-licence' medication.
Pharmacy2U have a fairly good system for detecting people who try to reapply. I believe they even monitor IP addresses, so if you have a static IP (as many do) rather than dynamic, they will pick that up straight away.
I have had the bounce, from GP to ARC to trying P2U and bounced back to my GP and it is a tad frsutrating to say the least. The options are (if your GP & ARC won't help); Private doctor with private prescription, buying from abroad or if you PM Joanna she may be able to check of there are any other options in your part of the country.
1 Like
Hi,
A lot people on here are very helpful, if you contact JoannaC3Europe she will be able to advise you best, as yes you may find that your antidepressants are contraindicated.
Ah thanks, I am in Bristol, and nalmefene would be fine! My anti-depressants are sertraline should that be a factor.
1 Like
I did wonder if that was the case! My refusals are so fast now that I think they know it's me (again!)
When you say private doctor, do you mean as in a BUPA doctor..??Im not sure how to find one that would prescribe what I am after. I woulnd't want to pay for a private consulatation just to be told to talk to my own GP.
1 Like
Bupa doesn't have the monolpoly on private doctors, but in essence, yes, that sort of doctor. Put 'Bristol private doctors' into Google and you'll see plenty. Because you are a paying customer, they are a lot less likely to refer you back to your GP.
The alternative is to buy from abroad, which is what I did (different medication, but same thing). Wait and see if Joanna comes up with anything helpful.
Hi, sorry for the delay in replying JustNow, it takes me a couple of hours to do the research.
Firstly, some good news for you. Naltrexone (which is pretty much every bodies prefered choice to nalmefene) is approved in the Avon and Wiltshire area for those abstinent to help with cravings AND for those still drinking to control/reduce use. This is very rare!
I am going to send you a PM with a link to the pathway (instruction) for the Avon & Wiltshire area. It's basically a flow chart. Read it, then print it out and take it to any appointments with you. I cannot give you the link in this post as it would get moderated, so I will PM it.
Basically, naltrexone is an 'amber' care drug in your area. This means that your doctor should have referred you onto your local alcohol specialist team for them to assess you for the treatment. Sometimes you can refer yourself to them and miss out the doctor. It might be worth ringing your doctor and asking the receptionist to confirm which alcohol recovery team are appointed to do this. I think it could be the specialist physician at Bristol Roads but I am not 100% sure, so best to check and that will know.
When you know, if you an self-refer yourself to them, then do so. Your first appointment with them will be to see someone to gather all the information. This is where a print out of this link will help you, as you need to tell them that you want to see the specialist physician to be assessed to see if naltrexone is a suitable medication for you.
Hope that all helps, and if there is anything else you need, please just ask.
1 Like
I'm looking too? Anyone out there?
1 Like
Hello Diane. Looking for advice, doctor or medication? Rgds Robin
1 Like
I need help, please help me find naltrexone for my boyfriend to take!!!!!
I need help finding naltrexone for my boyfriend to take. We aren’t finding much luck in our area and we need help!
1 Like
Sorry, but I cannot but Joanna C3 Foundation and rhgb did very long and precise replies. Did that not help? Regards Claus
Where does your boyfriend live, Amy? PM me and I will do some research on the availability in your are. Joanna.
I replied to you a bit further down this thread. No problem doing a not of research for you but I need to know where you live so please PM me. Thanks.
1 Like
Hello, I wonder if anyone on here can help me. I live in Bristol I have been sober a while but don’t feel like it’s possible forever and I want to try Naltrexone. I have read on other forums GP’s won’t give it to you if you aren’t currently drinking. Can you buy it from another country? Many thanks
Hi HayleyPM
Please go to the C3 Foundation Europe website (you'll need to google it as I cannot put the website link on here), then services, then local NHS guidelines. When you are on that page, scroll down to Bristol and you will find your local NHS guidelines for both naltrexone and nalmefene. Print these off, of take photos of them, and take them to any appointments you attend.
Of the two medications, nalmefene is the one that is prescribed to help someone reduce their consumption, so that is the one that cannot be prescribed if someone is not already drinking. In the Bristol area, naltrexone can be prescribed to either help maintain abstinence or control use.
Talk to your GP but do not be surprised if your GP prefers to refer you on to a physician who specialises in treating patients with alcohol issues. The medications are classed as 'amber' drugs, which basically means that your local health authority feel that specialist doctors are the most appropriate to assess you to see if it is suitable, and then if it is, they initially prescribe and then ask your doctor to continue the prescription.
1 Like
I am trying to get a prescription for Naltrexone. I love in a small, and apparently not very with it, community in Montana USA. My doc is unwilling to prescribe for me. Help!
Am sorry to hear of your GPs refusal. It's crazy to think that it was approved by the FDA in 1994 to help with treating alcohol use disorder. That fact that your GP has never heard of it is not a reason for refusal to prescribe. They usually have a computer sat on their desk, and the list of FDA-approved medications available at their fingertips. So sad that your GP clearly could not be bothered to do their job correctly and look it up. We don't expect doctors to know everything about every medication, but it is misconduct for them to not even look it up. Ironically, it says more about how 'good' your GP is! I wonder how many people have passed through their surgery with alcohol problems and never been offered even a discussion about whether naltrexone might help them.
Anyway, if you wish for a discussion with some more open-minded doctors about whether naltrexone might be suitable for you, then you could try these doctors who not only know about, and understand naltrexone, but also treat their patients with it using The Sinclair Method:
The first is Dr Sharon Mulvehill, MD based at Riverstone Health, 123 South 27th Street, Billings, MT 59101. Telephone 406.247.3200
If that doctor is within travelling distance, then there is also a telemedicine doctor covering Montana which is Dr Narendra Garg MD, who is based at MD Proactive. To find their website you will need to google MD Proactive as I cannot put the link on here.
1 Like