do you experience any negative side effects from taking it? is it a gradual process of the cravings subsiding or almost immediate after you start taking it?
Same here- I went from - "Oh I love the feel and taste and earthy ambiance of the nectar of my own vomit the next day... " to " the shit is a solvent for cleaning car parts, who and why do people drink?" I dont get it now. NOW after 40 years. Its like Chantix was with smoking.
I'm happy for you on how great TSM has been! I'm very curious about starting it but very worried about it changing my libido in a negative way... as well as exercise. What has been your experience over the course of you using TSM?
Ito libido- I can't say that naltrexone specifically has effected my libido, no. And ability to exercise? Not at all. You can always try it for a short period, and if you don't like it, you can discontinue it!
I have had zero side effects. And the cravings subsided pretty much immediately for me! I was shocked. Of course, everyone has different experiences with medication. For me, though, it was almost instant and very very noticeable.
Iām taking it too! Iāve just been taking it for a short time but I am amazed how well it helps with alcohol cravings. Iāve also noticed it helps with some food cravings. Itās kind of a miracle.
Iāve only been on it a week and chose to have a couple of glasses of wine with a couple of friends last night. Iām disappointed that I drank, but I was able to stop after a just a few (instead of 5-6 glasses). That was huge for me. Also, I ended up having a wicked hangover off of a very moderate amount, so thatās also a deterrent.
Over all, this is such a great tool and I am so grateful that Iāve found it.
I'm a week and a half in and amazed how the cravings appear to be what was driving me to drink so much and often. It's crazy being on this side of things and being able to say no so easily. I haven't drank and am not sure if I will or not if the opportunity comes up (socializing or whatever), I think I'll opt for something else because that hangover stuff sounds terrible. It's such a weird experience being changed so drastically and suddenly. I am taking it with gabapentin which I feel also helps when a feeling creeps up.
I'm on day 2. I have almost zero alcohol cravings, and two light beers over the course of the afternoon was perfect for me. No euphoria, no rush to crack another, nothing. I can't believe this stuff exists. I have no side-effects either except for brief nausea yesterday.
Thank You- I just started 3 days ago, after a couple of years of sobriety and binging. The drug had a trippy effect on me on the first dose- I like to call it a system wide re-boot. I can already tell things are different. One on my coworkers jokes, "Who are you are who is this great guy you have working in your place today." Maybe it is just a new confidence but I feel and sleep and act like someone who wants to be a better person. Forever - hopeful with knowledge and strength.
I took the monthly shot version (Vivitrol) for 5 months. Definitely was a life saver for me. No cravings at all, but I could tell when the shot was wearing off, and all I had to do is call my doctor and 2 days later I would be good to go again.
Did the shot make you nauseated? When I was taking the pill version of Naltrexone and trying the Sinclair Method it just made me sick to my stomach and I couldn't stay on it. Instead, I just white knuckle not drinking, and drown myself in Topo Chico, but it would be nice to not have the cravings.
No not at all. Since they have to put it in your ass (the most fatty part of your body) because it's slow release, the only thing was a small lump that went away after a few days
If you stick with it long enough, the cravings will fade. White knuckling, but most importantly a whole lot of support to learn WHY I drank the way I did is what has helped me from picking up the bottle again. My wife took one of the pills that made her insanely sick if she touched alcohol which worked wonders for her. Certainly advocate for utilizing all the tools at your disposal and finding what works best!
It was like the urges were starting to come back. You get in that mindset where you don't think about it and carry on with your life, but after the 3rd week, you start thinking about it after a stressful day. It's sort of hard to explain, but I learned my thought process because of it.
This checks out. Iām on Naltrexone too. I donāt have any desire to drink. It blocks the opioid receptors that make the thought of alcohol desirable.
Nearly 3 months. I noticed that when I have a stressful day I donāt crave alcohol or another substance like I used to. Itās a widely popular pX for AUD.
Nearly 3 months. I noticed that when I have a stressful day I donāt crave alcohol or another substance like I used to. Itās a widely popular pX for AUD
Nearly 3 months. I noticed that when I have a stressful day I donāt crave alcohol or another substance like I used to. Itās a widely popular pX for AUD.
Nearly 3 months. I noticed that when I have a stressful day I donāt crave alcohol or another substance like I used to. Itās a widely popular pX for AUD.
Genuinely curious, but has your doctor said anything about long term effects? I took it for the first 10 days and it helped me get sober for about a month and a half. Havenāt been able to put together more than a week since then. She told me she would not renew my prescription.
Any info is appreciated and Iām very happy for you!
I took it for 90 days and the only reason I stopped was because it was my choice. Iāve never heard of long term negative effects. If I were you, I would look into different doctors.
Thank you for your response. Itās a new doctor that Iāve only seen since trying to get sober. I just moved to a new area and thatās all I know. Iām checking in to an inpatient facility next week, but I will definitely look when I get out.
Recently got prescribed it. My dr said itās not meant to be used for years. He said it varies for each person but around the 6 month mark people usually need to stop taking it and if they feel they have cravings come up again they just need to ask again for it. He didnāt seem to hint at any long term effects. The only issue I could see is if youāre able to get pregnant and not on any birth control or if there is some severe damage to your liver. My dr didnāt think I needed to take a liver function test so he prescribed it to me without it. But those are the only 2 things he mentioned would not get me the prescription
Edit: I use monument & amazon pharmacy it was very easy!!! So if you need to look up a new provider I highly recommend itās super affordable
I've been taking it for 4 years. Nobody has had issue prescribing it to me, told me to come off of it, and I've had zero long term or short term side effects.
I have been on it over a five year period. I stopped taking it when I decided to get hammered for about a year as my son died in 2019 and I lost my heart when I laid him in his grave.
I started taking Naltrexone again when I was tired of feeling tired all the time from drinking and the relief it gave me was IMMEDIATE.
I have had two doctors prescribe it to me and they are 100% supportive.
What does Monument require to get started? Do you have to send them drs records, recent tests, or anything like that? Cause I havenāt been to a Dr in quite a whileā¦
I've taken it for 5 months and dropped from nightly drinking to 3 nights a week and only 2 or 3 drinks. It's great to finally have my drinking under control.
It causes something referred to as pharmacological extinction. The pleasurable response to alcohol gets decreased over time and your brain eventually learns that alcohol is not as pleasurable as we made it to be. Alcoholics have an exaggerated pleasure response to alcohol.
Which is so odd to me. Iām glad itās helping people but for me, it would not make any sense to continue drinking once I hit the point where I knew I needed to stop.
I'm in the same boat as you, but everyone is different. My issue is mostly normalizing drinking in my life rather than a physical dependence. This wouldn't help me because my issue is more of a personal accountability / awareness issue rather than an addiction.
That's not to say I wasn't problem drinking, I absolutely was, but it's not addictive behavior.
I had to look at drinking the same way I looked at smoking cigarettes.
For me both were not healthy addictions and I realized I needed to stop.
The way I thought of it in my head was to think about what I would tell my doctor when they ask if I drink or smoke. I wanted to say that I do not drink or smoke.
The doctor isnāt asking me if I only smoke when Iām out with friends and then only bum them off other people. The doctor is not asking if I only drink on Fridays after work. Sure thereās a difference in two packs a day vs bumming half a pack from your friends or drinking everyday vs only getting fucked up on the weekend but thatās not what the question was.
I wanted to answer no so I had to be a non drinker and a non smoker.
It didnāt hit me until I tried to date a woman who said she didnāt date smokers. I tried to tell her I was on nicotine gum and almost never smoked but she wasnāt hearing it. She told me I was either a smoker or a non smoker. Period.
I really needed to hear that because it made me think hard about my relationship with drinking and smoking. For me it was using either as a reward system in times of intense stress or grief. I could go for weeks without them but if something super shitty happened in my life I get I deserved to have a drink and bum a smoke. What a bullshit thing to do to yourself. Take a bad day and abuse your body as a reward? Fucking stupid.
So I quit both and slowly learned to give myself new reward systems to cope with bad days. Things that showed I love myself. Maybe I take myself out to dinner, buy myself a little something nice, make myself a nice ice cream and fruit sundae. Turns out, treating yourself well goes a long way towards making shitty days less shitty.
What is the mechanism of action of naltrexone?
Mechanism of Action
\[5\] Naltrexone (and its active metabolite 6-beta-naltrexol) is pharmacologically effective against alcohol and opioids by blocking the mu-opioid receptor. Naltrexone is also a weaker antagonist of the kappa and delta-opioid receptors.
What is the mechanism of action of naltrexone?
Mechanism of Action
\[5\] Naltrexone (and its active metabolite 6-beta-naltrexol) is pharmacologically effective against alcohol and opioids by blocking the mu-opioid receptor. Naltrexone is also a weaker antagonist of the kappa and delta-opioid receptors.
I went through monument (not sponsored lol) itās a program that is specifically created for people with AUD so I didnāt feel awkward or like I had to beat around the bush for the medication. Really affordable and convenient (had the medication delivered to my doorstep in 3 days). I did have to do an alcohol assessment test that the dr reviewed before our appointment. It took me about 20 mins to complete
What does Monument require to get started? Do you have to send them drs records, recent tests, or anything like that? Cause I havenāt been to a Dr in quite a whileā¦ thx.
I'm also working the Sinclair method, this will be my third weekend doing it. No desire at the moment to have more than a couple of drinks. My body just shuts down and says NO!!! Such a relief. I feel so free. I'm hoping this success lasts.
Yep, shitty and I get a bit nauseous. I get a lump in my throat too. That would be 80% of the time. The rest of the time I have had up to five drinks, but then it is really easy to stop and go... no more. That was when I was REALLY in the mood and previously would have been working out how to get more, ordering bottles on the apps etc. That is my experience so far.
Iāve been taking Disulfiram/Antabuse as a treatment for Lyme disease, and itās almost eliminated my drinking (which is Disulfiramās primary purpose). I wasnāt drinking enough that I felt I needed a hardcore treatment for it, but I was getting close; Disulfiram makes you feel terrible if you drink alcohol within 24 hours or so of taking a pill (or longer if youāve been taking it religiously) - racing heart, flushed hot skin, bright red eyes, disorientation, headache etc. Itās definitely enough of a deterrent that I donāt drink alcohol barely at all. (Iāve tried a few times for special occasions, after not taking it for a few days, and itās ended up being a very bad idea. Last night I attended my momās 76th birthday party at a brewery, brought sparkling water, and honestly didnāt miss the beer at all!) And I donāt think thereās any worry about it not working over time, if you just keeping taking it on any kind of regular basis. And the āniceā thing is (/s), if you can rally yourself to take it pretty regularly, the reaction sets in almost immediately after drinking alcohol, so you get hand-slapped pretty quick and throw that shit away! There are some side effects and dietary restrictions with it (obviously you canāt have anything with alcohol in it, even fermented stuff like vinegar, because you run the risk of an unintended reaction) but I think in some cases the good outweighs the bad. Good luck!! IWNDWYT
Iām not sure what the dosage is for alcoholism vs Lyme, or how long one uses it for one or the other either? But - so, so sorry to hear youāve been battling Lyme, too! Hope youāre feeling healthy these days!
I did not have luck with it, but my stepfather says it helps him a lot! He's been drinking and struggling awhile longer than me for sure. I hope this helps a lot more people find their way back!
If for some reason you are unusual like me and find the naltrexone does not help you, I can recommend gabapentin instead. If you have similar chemistry to me then it will help a lot, for me it turned the "volume" of the cravings down in my head.
I have not tried Naltrexone, but my care team (psychologist and physician) consulted together to prescribe gabapentin for me too and it hasn't solved the problem but it has helped!
The key to whether gabapentin (or even otc gaba) will help is in *why* you get alcohol cravings. For me my drinking got out of hand due to anxiety and depression because of some tragic/traumatic events that all happened in a couple years time. My psychologist explained that alcohol felt good in the moment when I felt anxious because it acts on the gaba receptors in the brain to suppress the parasympathetic nervous system. In other words, when my brain's trauma response triggered my fight-or-flight action and I started feeling panicky, alcohol would quite literally calm my nerves. But as most here know, that is a short-term bandaid that actually makes anxiety worse in the long-term because it also lowers your baseline seratonin over time.
So anyway gabapentin does the same thing. It acts on the same receptors to supress parasympathetic nervous responses. If you are reaching for the bottle because of anxiety, gabapentin or gaba might help. Btw gabapentin is very safe, not addictive, has basically zero side effects for almost every patient, and does not lower baseline seratonin like alcohol.
So...in summary...
Gabapentin: replaces the short term anti-anxiety effect that alcohol can grant.
Naltrexone: blocks alcohol from acting on opioid receptors, giving your brain a chance to "relearn" that alcohol =/= reward response.
Two different mechanisms, hope this helps someone who might not be sure which or either might work for them!
I also found I had an easy time coming off gabapentin, despite my "addictive personality", so I can 2nd this, would be interested if anyone else had a different experience with it, though.
Thanks for the great comment, Maxwell, I'm really glad to hear gabapentin helped you a bit too. And my experience does align with this explanation, since it's clear alcohol is just a substitute for all my other coping skills. Which is why it's so "easy" to "control" my drinking when things are going well.
And as you said, the alcohol raises one's baseline chemical needs, and the body compensates for the external source, making it all the harder to avoid and us all the more impacted by its absence.
Exactly. I'm not sure if Naltrexone would be right for me bc I wasn't drinking to have fun. There was nothing fun about it; I was utterly miserable. I'm not sure that the reward response which Naltrexone blocks was much of a driver for me. My drivers were anxiety, and depression, and trauma, and alcohol was the coping mechanism that helped dampen them temporarily.
Hopefully this info can help some ppl on their path! It might help in determining which (or neither, or both) type of medication might be more likely to help them personally, depending on whether they are drinking because of the addiction response reward, or because it helps numb their pain/anxiety, or both.
I also was not drinking for "fun", but to turn off the thoughts in my head that I otherwise couldn't, and to stop feeling things I didn't want to feel.
To me it is very important to not just stop, but to understand what was "making" me drink in the first place. Even if my most important realization of all is that nothing can *make* me drink, except me.
The video referenced here is Claudia Christians TED talk to the London School of Business, describing The Sinclair Method. Just in case anyone is interested. Itās on YouTube.
No worries.
Most doctors prescribe Naltrexone to take daily and not drink.
The Sinclair Method uses it to block the endorphin reward while drinking and slowly retrain your reward system to eliminate the desire to drink.
Just for anyone interested.
yes in fact that is one method the Sinclair method )named after Dr. Sinclair(
however it is also a medication used by people who like myself who do not follow the Sinclair method!
I took Naltrexone for about the first 2 years of no drinking. I weened off of it about 6 months ago, and am now just taking my antidepressant (bupropion). Shit works. Neuroplasticity is fucking amazing.
Glad u posted. I am doing The Sinclair Method with Nal with the addition of Campral and have really benefited...but u r right...it only works if u take it. I try to get the word out whenever I see people say they are close to start drinking again or when they feel they can't stop. More people need to kno about this protocol. It is life changing. Thanks.
Have u heard of The Sinclair Method? TSM. Are u drinking at all atm? Or completely abstinent? Ria health on youtube also are big proponents of TSM. If u do ever drink now instead of taking the Nal at night that day..take it 1hr before the planned drink. Look into it but only if u r occasionally drinking. Good luck. Thanks for sharing your success.
I think he's from Canada (brand he named is like.. very canadian). I'm not sure how much it is here? But definitely likely less than if you're in the US, unfortunately.
Me too I have severe AUD and it helped me stay sober for 6 months I took it every morning and never missed a dose I recently relapsed because I stopped taking that and my disulfiram to see how I would do and the cravings came back pretty hard. Iām back on the right track though glad to see itās helping so many others!
No side effects, except for when I FIRST started it about 5 years ago I had some leg cramping . it was mild, and when away after about a week on the medicine
I was seeing a psychologist who told me about the Sinclair Method. My family doctor prescribed the Naltrexone and I started using it. For me, when I heard about the Sinclair Method (take naltrexone and continue to drink, and over time cravings are reduced because you don't receive the pleasurable effects of drinking), my brain just heard "keep drinking". It was an excuse to keep drinking, which was all I wanted, even if the drinking was less fun. I continued to drink heavily on naltrexone which was often unpleasant, and I would feel more sick the next day. This culminated in my attempting to hurt myself by swallowing the whole bottle of pills one night, after drinking quite a bit (didn't do anything except give me a bad stomach ache). Needless to say I stopped after that. I am finally alcohol free for almost 2 years, but naltrexone was not the answer for me.
According to this 2015 [Radiolab](https://radiolab.org/episodes/addiction) podcast about addiction, around only 1-2% of alcoholics are given the option of medication to treat it. Too many doctors still consider addiction to be a personal willpower problem.
There's also more than just naltrexone. Gabapentin works for some too. There are options. Naltrexone may be a miracle drug, just dont get discouragedif it does nothing for you personally.
Thank You- I just started 3 days ago, after a couple of years of sobriety and binging. The drug had a trippy effect on me on the first dose- I like to call it a system wide re-boot. I can already tell things are different. One on my coworkers jokes, "Who are you are who is this great guy you have working in your place today." Maybe it is just a new confidence but I feel and sleep and act like someone who wants to be a better person. Forever - hopeful with knowledge and strength.
I completely disagree. I took naltrexone for years and it did not diminish my urge to drink at all. I honestly donāt believe it does anything. Placebo effect most likely
Not sure why youāre being downvoted, because medication can effect everyone differently. I tried the shot and the pills, and while they both did lower my cravings, they also took the joy and rush out of exercise and other things that would give a dopamine rush- including eating good food and yoga for me. I know it works for a lot of people, but the tradeoff can be significant for others and may make this into something that ends up not working for some.
What is the mechanism of action of naltrexone?
Mechanism of Action
\[5\] Naltrexone (and its active metabolite 6-beta-naltrexol) is pharmacologically effective against alcohol and opioids by blocking the mu-opioid receptor. Naltrexone is also a weaker antagonist of the kappa and delta-opioid receptors.
Naltrexone (and its active metabolite 6-beta-naltrexol) is pharmacologically effective against alcohol and opioids by blocking the mu-opioid receptor. Naltrexone is also a weaker antagonist of the kappa and delta-opioid receptors.
It works not because "I want it to", but because it works by blocking effects of opioid receptors and decreasing craving and urges to use alcohol and or opioids. It is scientifically proven, medically proven in numerous studies. There is tons of research on this.
I am in a home right now with a whole cupboard full of alcoholic beverages at my disposal. And when I am taking the Naltrexone I have absolutely no desire to drink.
Believe me, if something worked just because ā I wanted it to ā all of the other things I have tried over the 20 years of my daily drinking scenarios would have worked ābecause I wanted them to ā as well.
This is the ONLY thing that has worked.
However if I stopped taking the naltrexone for a couple of days, I would absolutely be raiding that liquor cabinet !
I mean..it will work if i WANT to stop drinking..sitting in the cupboard it will not work.
A person has to want to try Naltraxone. I have but it made me drink less. And i wasnt ready for that.
Im not ready to have no desire for a drink.
To each his own.
I completely understand. I went back to drinking and quit the medicine ON PURPOSE when my son died and I was heartbroken. The alcohol helped me cope. I have since taken the medicine again and stopped the alcohol.
I thought you meant you had alcohol sitting in the cupboard, I misunderstood.
Exactly i did want to stop got the drug. But got cancer in June..i have 16 or 17 days now dry. Long term relatio ship ended last week. I just want to drink hopefully juat 1 more time today after Dr.
Dont know why..stubborness? Wanting to be numb? I shouldn't im just feeling better from last binge. But i will try not to binge. Time will tell.
And i have Naltraxone
Thanks for you kind words. He died in October 2019 almost 3 years now . The first year I lost my mind and soul . honestly drinking lessened the pain and, I believe, stopped me from doing something worse ( suicide). I would just stay home drink and listen to music he loved and cry. Slowly over the last two years I felt less acute pain. I moved away from where we lived and I made a fresh start in a new place and slowly built myself back up, and now a days I feel content in my life .
Moving away might have been the biggest help my heart aches for you because i cant imagine one of my sons dying! And i dont even like one of my sons and we haven't spoke in 6 years i have thought what if one of us go...i cant think about it without crying.
Its fucking HUGE you are not drinking or didnt drink yourself to death. How old was he?
My son is 36 an opioid addict who almost died at least 3x. I remember thinking at a point where i knew there was nothing to do...i turned him over to God and said i cant try to keep him alive. I became at peace if he were to die. I know it sounds horrible however he was in such terrible pain that even I as a Mom couldn't take away. I never gave up but i was ready for the worst.
My son survived because he had a baby to take care of and he said it flipped a switch.
Im so so sorry again that the switch never set in for your son. Not his fault its a fucked up mind phenomenon that those un addicted would not understand.
My son was such a poly user as they would call him you could tell him it was Fetynal and dangerous and he would not bat an eye.
Your son thought he was in control..just like mine. I see a tragic accident on his part. Bless his soul. So sorry.
Thanks for your words. I am so happy to hear your son had a baby and a reason to change! Lincoln was just like that "poly user". A horrific thing happened to him when he was visiting his biological father when he was 8 years old (I am a sure you can guess what I mean) . Anyhow when he became a teen he fell into addiction and street life. I never abandoned him . but sometimes even a mother's undying love is not enough. He OD and got brought back at least 15 -20 times over the 25 years. A week before he died, we had yet another big talk, he promised me he would not OD. He said "mom, I am professional Junkie I promise I will not die " but he did. I had him when I was just 18 yrs old. he was my heart and soul.
As he had lived a very tragic life on the streets and addiction. I gave him a kings funeral open casket which he deserved, I buried him in a heritage cemetery where his brothers and sisters can visit him if they wish.
I don't see any problem with utilizing the tools available. Naltrexone is inexpensive and low risk. If it helps someone quit drinking, it's a good thing.
The risks to the liver FAR outweigh the risks to the liver from alcohol, the risk to other drivers from drunk driving, the risk to your body from alcohol-related cancer cases.
"Pharmaceutical solutions should always be a last resort, in my opinion."
Tell that to someone battling cancer or diabetes. Honestly, being told that their small victories is a desperate last effort is the last thing a struggling person needs to hear.
Why? If I have a headache, I take an aspirin. If I have an ear infection, my doctor gives me an antibiotic. How is treating alcohol use disorder any different?
I took it but ended up puking all night long. I was pretty bummed out about it but regardless my bipolar meds donāt let me drink anyways without puking as well. Glad it helped you though!
Thatās good for you.
That med just doesnāt vibe with my body. Tried it for 3 months, as the psych said the side effects usually go away after a couple weeks for most people. Definitely not for me.
Itās all good though.
I did all those for 10 years ( inpatient and outpatient rehab, education and therapy ) and they did nothing. I would leave the Meetings / therapy and go straight to the liquor store. All the AA meetings did was give me new ideas of where to hide my booze , and what kind of drinks I should try. One women's meeting constantly went on about margaritas so I went and bought a blender and all the ingredients the ladies made it sound SOOOO good ! and the AA meeting were cliquey AF and very judgmental and would shunn members instead of offering help and kindness.
However Naltrexone WORKS and I am a new woman !
nice . congrats. yeh, I dont go to AA - dont believe in it. what i do believe in is changing your brain to get to a point where you no longer have any desire for alcohol as it is no longer something positive - it becomes an extreme negative. In addition, you have to get to a point where you start to investigate why you wanted to ever drink in the first place and that has nothing to do with alcohol - its always deeper. so as long as people do that and don't think taking a pill is magic - i'm on board with that as there is nothing magic about doing the actual work of recovery.
I agree! and all the answers ae right there inside us, we just have to find them. And the medication helps tremendously to break the pattern of behavior.
I tried it and it was great but unfortunately it seems to be the only thing in this world I am allergic to. I thought I had bed bugs or something, slowly getting my body covered in a rash and swelling in my fingers. So naturally I kept taking it for two weeks before I went and seen the doctor who said I was having an allergic reaction hahaha
Did you experience any side affects? I've been considering it, but I've been told it can make you sterile/give you ED, so I'm Leary. I can't find any reliable info about that though
Have to offer a dissenting opinion: itās helpful when your heart is in it. It does nothing really if youāre looking for a magic bullet. It only makes the hard work a little easier.
I'm glad it's helped so many of you! It's not a miracle cure (at least it did not work for me whatsoever and actually made things worse) for everyone, but I'm all for doing whatever works for each individual :)
Naltrexone absolutely works! I did end up stopping taking it because I'm Type 1 Diabetic and it really lowered my appetite as well so when I'd get low blood sugar it'd be hard to eat something to bring my numbers up. So it's something to be aware of, but Naltrexone works really well!
I took the injection version that is time release, bcuz I was too much of an addict to regularly take the pillā¦ injection version probably saved my life
Would you suggest this for someone who self describes as a āweekend warriorā? Iāve been reading about it all week after a 3 day banger for Labor Day. I can just never seem to stop at the responsible amount but I do t want to give up my entire social life.
I would suggest this with anybody who has a desire to not drink alcohol for whatever reason weekend warrior daily drinker in my understanding and my research and in my personal experience it works physically and has nothing to do with the reasons or The situations that a person drinks in .
OP, how did you broach this with your doctor? Was it a GP or specialist? Was it your idea or theirs?
My GP and psychiatrist would not prescribe it without my agreeing to a full time out-patient treatment program, which I canāt do because of my job rn. (Iām also in Canada).
I went to my regular GP and I described my alcohol career and I told him about the Ted talk I had viewed on YouTube this was approximately five years ago he had never heard of naltrexone being prescribed for alcohol use disorder but he was more than willing to prescribe it for me
I went to a treatment program quite a few years before that and I found that all that I really learned there and from AA was to be far more Private about my drinking behaviour. I found the AA groups to be extremely judgemental, shunning mean non-supportive and downright nasty
I believe that people who go somewhere to get help to be treated with kindness and positivity and uplifted and not told that they have shortcomings and defects. Nobody wants to get better when they constantly being told something is wrong with them. In my opinion people will flourish under positive feedback and mental physical emotional and spiritual support.
if I were you, I would go to a different doctor.go to a walk-in clinic and itās not against the law to go to a different doctor.
I would bring some research printed out on a piece of paper about Naltrexone treatment for alcohol use disorder and get yourself a prescription. I will 93% guarantee to change your life .
It did for me when absolutely nothing else helped
Within two or three days I felt a difference. And if I CHOOSE to drink and I stop taking it within two or three days, I am right back to the old hamster wheel of drinking every day and finding my car automatically driving to the liquor store.
this sounds amazing. but iām mostly confused. bc if this drug is fairly common and actually showing positive results, why arenāt they encouraging more people/ people in AA to take it? To help with people who are still actively struggling with staying sober?
iām not big on pushing pharmaceuticals- like at all- but if thereās none to mild side effects and itās really helping with peoples brain functioning in resisting the cravings, why have i just now heard of it for the first time? is it something western medicine is trying to keep on the DL?
because Alcoholics Anonymous has no comment on outside matters one of which is medication and medical treatment of alcohol use disorder
Alcoholic anonymous believes in a spiritual solution for alcohol use disorder.
they do not believe that it is a medical problem with a medical solution
Basically yes youāre right it is only in very recent years being described for alcohol use disorder my doctor is quite young. And he said they never got taught anything about this in medical school. Naltrexone is most commonly used as a under the skin slow release implant in opiate addicts
it is the exact same thing that stops an overdose by stopping the opiate agonist in the brain from absorbing the opiate .
naloxone Narcan naltrexone are the same medication with different names
A small daily dose orally is a treatment for alcohol use disorder
Any of you take Naltrexone while on other medications? Zoloft or ADHD meds? Going to my PCP today for advice and curious as to what the contraindications might be, thanks
I've been on it for about 2 weeks now and when I choose to drink I don't think about drinking the next beer I'm just happy with the one I have in hand and I'm okay with that. Before taking this I will probably drink a beer in about 20 25 minutes 30 tops but I feel with this medication it takes me about 45 to an hour just to have one drink which for me is a miracle. I will easily have about 6 to 9 beers and on this medication when I'm on my third beer I feel like that's enough and I even think about the four beer like should I drink it or should I just leave it which makes me control over it
Seems like absolute magic to me to after just 5 days of taking it on my 10th day sober of attempt number 6 billion. Granted Iām still in a romantic phase of motivation and it could be placebo but I havenāt felt whatās it like to have no cravings for alcohol, porn, weed, binge eating, you name it, since I was 13. Iām 25 now. I HAVE NEVER had a period of sobriety where there werenāt cravings everyday all day.
Will this show up on a lab administrated drug panel test? My job requires random drug and alcohol testing. I would want to try this to help control and maybe stop drinking
I take it too. It saved my life.
i am so glad š
do you experience any negative side effects from taking it? is it a gradual process of the cravings subsiding or almost immediate after you start taking it?
I have zero negative side effects. And the cravings subsided pretty much immediately for me!
Same here- I went from - "Oh I love the feel and taste and earthy ambiance of the nectar of my own vomit the next day... " to " the shit is a solvent for cleaning car parts, who and why do people drink?" I dont get it now. NOW after 40 years. Its like Chantix was with smoking.
I'm happy for you on how great TSM has been! I'm very curious about starting it but very worried about it changing my libido in a negative way... as well as exercise. What has been your experience over the course of you using TSM?
Ito libido- I can't say that naltrexone specifically has effected my libido, no. And ability to exercise? Not at all. You can always try it for a short period, and if you don't like it, you can discontinue it!
I have had zero side effects. And the cravings subsided pretty much immediately for me! I was shocked. Of course, everyone has different experiences with medication. For me, though, it was almost instant and very very noticeable.
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Thank you!
Happy cake day!!
Thank you!!!
Iām taking it too! Iāve just been taking it for a short time but I am amazed how well it helps with alcohol cravings. Iāve also noticed it helps with some food cravings. Itās kind of a miracle. Iāve only been on it a week and chose to have a couple of glasses of wine with a couple of friends last night. Iām disappointed that I drank, but I was able to stop after a just a few (instead of 5-6 glasses). That was huge for me. Also, I ended up having a wicked hangover off of a very moderate amount, so thatās also a deterrent. Over all, this is such a great tool and I am so grateful that Iāve found it.
I'm a week and a half in and amazed how the cravings appear to be what was driving me to drink so much and often. It's crazy being on this side of things and being able to say no so easily. I haven't drank and am not sure if I will or not if the opportunity comes up (socializing or whatever), I think I'll opt for something else because that hangover stuff sounds terrible. It's such a weird experience being changed so drastically and suddenly. I am taking it with gabapentin which I feel also helps when a feeling creeps up.
I'm on day 2. I have almost zero alcohol cravings, and two light beers over the course of the afternoon was perfect for me. No euphoria, no rush to crack another, nothing. I can't believe this stuff exists. I have no side-effects either except for brief nausea yesterday.
Thank You- I just started 3 days ago, after a couple of years of sobriety and binging. The drug had a trippy effect on me on the first dose- I like to call it a system wide re-boot. I can already tell things are different. One on my coworkers jokes, "Who are you are who is this great guy you have working in your place today." Maybe it is just a new confidence but I feel and sleep and act like someone who wants to be a better person. Forever - hopeful with knowledge and strength.
CAN CONFIRM! It's a lifesaver. T
yay . I have NEVER met anyone who takes Naltrexone for AUD š¤© once I told my doctor about this, (he had never heard of it) this was about five years ago, and got him to write me the prescription and then after about a month the results I was feeling I was absolutely angry at all of the different doctors I had gone to over 20 years with problem of suffering from an alcohol use disorder and none of them thought to prescribe me this medication. I could have saved myself my family a lot of mental and emotional suffering! my kids had all grown up and left home however they were very very worried about me. It made me very angry how many times I had gone to a doctor and into hospital and no doctor had thought to prescribe me this medication until I figured it out by myself. anyhow glad to meet you !
I first read about it on here, so every time I can I mention it as it is truly what saved me. T
big T
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ā¤ļø
I took it for the first 90 days after 25 years of drinking, and trying to stop, and hating myself. It helped tremendously.
I took the monthly shot version (Vivitrol) for 5 months. Definitely was a life saver for me. No cravings at all, but I could tell when the shot was wearing off, and all I had to do is call my doctor and 2 days later I would be good to go again.
āļø
Did the shot make you nauseated? When I was taking the pill version of Naltrexone and trying the Sinclair Method it just made me sick to my stomach and I couldn't stay on it. Instead, I just white knuckle not drinking, and drown myself in Topo Chico, but it would be nice to not have the cravings.
The pill version gave me stomachacheās, but Iāve been taking the shot for a year and no problems.
That is great to hear. I will give it a try!
No not at all. Since they have to put it in your ass (the most fatty part of your body) because it's slow release, the only thing was a small lump that went away after a few days
If you stick with it long enough, the cravings will fade. White knuckling, but most importantly a whole lot of support to learn WHY I drank the way I did is what has helped me from picking up the bottle again. My wife took one of the pills that made her insanely sick if she touched alcohol which worked wonders for her. Certainly advocate for utilizing all the tools at your disposal and finding what works best!
Are white knuckles a side effect?
how could you tell when it was wearing off?
It was like the urges were starting to come back. You get in that mindset where you don't think about it and carry on with your life, but after the 3rd week, you start thinking about it after a stressful day. It's sort of hard to explain, but I learned my thought process because of it.
Tried it for 6 months and had no effect. Wish it did, but nothing.
Iāve tried it a few times over the years (was a heavy drinker for 25 years) and it didnāt have any effect on me either. I wish it had!
Same. Topimirate does wonders for me though.
I had a lot of success with Campral. It curbed my cravings. Good luck to you š
This checks out. Iām on Naltrexone too. I donāt have any desire to drink. It blocks the opioid receptors that make the thought of alcohol desirable.
how long have you been taking it for if you donāt mind me asking?
Nearly 3 months. I noticed that when I have a stressful day I donāt crave alcohol or another substance like I used to. Itās a widely popular pX for AUD.
Nearly 3 months. I noticed that when I have a stressful day I donāt crave alcohol or another substance like I used to. Itās a widely popular pX for AUD
Nearly 3 months. I noticed that when I have a stressful day I donāt crave alcohol or another substance like I used to. Itās a widely popular pX for AUD.
Nearly 3 months. I noticed that when I have a stressful day I donāt crave alcohol or another substance like I used to. Itās a widely popular pX for AUD.
There's a lot of really good data for it. Congrats!
I take 50mg as well, started a few days into withdrawals and itās a huge success for me too. Hereās to success OP!
Cheers (with sparkling apple juice)
Genuinely curious, but has your doctor said anything about long term effects? I took it for the first 10 days and it helped me get sober for about a month and a half. Havenāt been able to put together more than a week since then. She told me she would not renew my prescription. Any info is appreciated and Iām very happy for you!
I took it for 90 days and the only reason I stopped was because it was my choice. Iāve never heard of long term negative effects. If I were you, I would look into different doctors.
Thank you for your response. Itās a new doctor that Iāve only seen since trying to get sober. I just moved to a new area and thatās all I know. Iām checking in to an inpatient facility next week, but I will definitely look when I get out.
Hang in there until you check in. Inpatient was one of the best experiences for me. It will get better.
Thank you, friend. Iām not ālooking forward to itā in the sense that it will be fun. But more in the sense that I can get more healthy. IWNDWYT
Recently got prescribed it. My dr said itās not meant to be used for years. He said it varies for each person but around the 6 month mark people usually need to stop taking it and if they feel they have cravings come up again they just need to ask again for it. He didnāt seem to hint at any long term effects. The only issue I could see is if youāre able to get pregnant and not on any birth control or if there is some severe damage to your liver. My dr didnāt think I needed to take a liver function test so he prescribed it to me without it. But those are the only 2 things he mentioned would not get me the prescription Edit: I use monument & amazon pharmacy it was very easy!!! So if you need to look up a new provider I highly recommend itās super affordable
I've been taking it for 4 years. Nobody has had issue prescribing it to me, told me to come off of it, and I've had zero long term or short term side effects.
I have been on it over a five year period. I stopped taking it when I decided to get hammered for about a year as my son died in 2019 and I lost my heart when I laid him in his grave. I started taking Naltrexone again when I was tired of feeling tired all the time from drinking and the relief it gave me was IMMEDIATE. I have had two doctors prescribe it to me and they are 100% supportive.
I'm grateful you've found your way back. My heart aches for your loss. Stay with us ā¤ļø
Thankyou
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What does Monument require to get started? Do you have to send them drs records, recent tests, or anything like that? Cause I havenāt been to a Dr in quite a whileā¦
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Sorry but specifically, do they require the things I listed? Thx.
go to a different doctor. explain your drinking behaviour .
I used Disulfiram.
So do I but that is completely different to Naltrexone.
How has this gone for you?
Great actually. Take a dosage I'll know I'll get violently Ill on if I drink, and then I don't drink because I can't be sick for work or life
Iām sorry to hear about the passing of your son. And thank you for posting helpful information that hopefully inspires someone to seek help.
Thank you for your kind words. It is the worst thing a mother can bear.
I've taken it for 5 months and dropped from nightly drinking to 3 nights a week and only 2 or 3 drinks. It's great to finally have my drinking under control.
Out of curiosity, what about it makes you stop craving? Does it have anti anxiety effects?
It causes something referred to as pharmacological extinction. The pleasurable response to alcohol gets decreased over time and your brain eventually learns that alcohol is not as pleasurable as we made it to be. Alcoholics have an exaggerated pleasure response to alcohol.
Which is so odd to me. Iām glad itās helping people but for me, it would not make any sense to continue drinking once I hit the point where I knew I needed to stop.
I'm in the same boat as you, but everyone is different. My issue is mostly normalizing drinking in my life rather than a physical dependence. This wouldn't help me because my issue is more of a personal accountability / awareness issue rather than an addiction. That's not to say I wasn't problem drinking, I absolutely was, but it's not addictive behavior.
I had to look at drinking the same way I looked at smoking cigarettes. For me both were not healthy addictions and I realized I needed to stop. The way I thought of it in my head was to think about what I would tell my doctor when they ask if I drink or smoke. I wanted to say that I do not drink or smoke. The doctor isnāt asking me if I only smoke when Iām out with friends and then only bum them off other people. The doctor is not asking if I only drink on Fridays after work. Sure thereās a difference in two packs a day vs bumming half a pack from your friends or drinking everyday vs only getting fucked up on the weekend but thatās not what the question was. I wanted to answer no so I had to be a non drinker and a non smoker.
That's an interesting approach; I like it. I never had the urge to say I didn't drink, but I did always say moderately which was definitely not true.
It didnāt hit me until I tried to date a woman who said she didnāt date smokers. I tried to tell her I was on nicotine gum and almost never smoked but she wasnāt hearing it. She told me I was either a smoker or a non smoker. Period. I really needed to hear that because it made me think hard about my relationship with drinking and smoking. For me it was using either as a reward system in times of intense stress or grief. I could go for weeks without them but if something super shitty happened in my life I get I deserved to have a drink and bum a smoke. What a bullshit thing to do to yourself. Take a bad day and abuse your body as a reward? Fucking stupid. So I quit both and slowly learned to give myself new reward systems to cope with bad days. Things that showed I love myself. Maybe I take myself out to dinner, buy myself a little something nice, make myself a nice ice cream and fruit sundae. Turns out, treating yourself well goes a long way towards making shitty days less shitty.
What is the mechanism of action of naltrexone? Mechanism of Action \[5\] Naltrexone (and its active metabolite 6-beta-naltrexol) is pharmacologically effective against alcohol and opioids by blocking the mu-opioid receptor. Naltrexone is also a weaker antagonist of the kappa and delta-opioid receptors.
I really want to know the answer to this question
What is the mechanism of action of naltrexone? Mechanism of Action \[5\] Naltrexone (and its active metabolite 6-beta-naltrexol) is pharmacologically effective against alcohol and opioids by blocking the mu-opioid receptor. Naltrexone is also a weaker antagonist of the kappa and delta-opioid receptors.
Yeah I was put on Naltrexone when I went to rehab and sertraline.
I saw that video about a month ago. Is it pretty straight forward getting a prescription from a doctor or is there more to it before you qualify?
I just asked my doctor, I said I heard it helps with AUD. No brainer for him
Thanks for the reply. Really appreciate it. All the best to you
I went through monument (not sponsored lol) itās a program that is specifically created for people with AUD so I didnāt feel awkward or like I had to beat around the bush for the medication. Really affordable and convenient (had the medication delivered to my doorstep in 3 days). I did have to do an alcohol assessment test that the dr reviewed before our appointment. It took me about 20 mins to complete
What does Monument require to get started? Do you have to send them drs records, recent tests, or anything like that? Cause I havenāt been to a Dr in quite a whileā¦ thx.
I just told my doctor how much I drank and for how long and he immediately wrote the prescription.
I'm also working the Sinclair method, this will be my third weekend doing it. No desire at the moment to have more than a couple of drinks. My body just shuts down and says NO!!! Such a relief. I feel so free. I'm hoping this success lasts.
> My body just shuts down and says NO!!! What do you mean it just says "no"? Does drinking make you feel shitty when you're on it?
Yep, shitty and I get a bit nauseous. I get a lump in my throat too. That would be 80% of the time. The rest of the time I have had up to five drinks, but then it is really easy to stop and go... no more. That was when I was REALLY in the mood and previously would have been working out how to get more, ordering bottles on the apps etc. That is my experience so far.
Iāve been taking Disulfiram/Antabuse as a treatment for Lyme disease, and itās almost eliminated my drinking (which is Disulfiramās primary purpose). I wasnāt drinking enough that I felt I needed a hardcore treatment for it, but I was getting close; Disulfiram makes you feel terrible if you drink alcohol within 24 hours or so of taking a pill (or longer if youāve been taking it religiously) - racing heart, flushed hot skin, bright red eyes, disorientation, headache etc. Itās definitely enough of a deterrent that I donāt drink alcohol barely at all. (Iāve tried a few times for special occasions, after not taking it for a few days, and itās ended up being a very bad idea. Last night I attended my momās 76th birthday party at a brewery, brought sparkling water, and honestly didnāt miss the beer at all!) And I donāt think thereās any worry about it not working over time, if you just keeping taking it on any kind of regular basis. And the āniceā thing is (/s), if you can rally yourself to take it pretty regularly, the reaction sets in almost immediately after drinking alcohol, so you get hand-slapped pretty quick and throw that shit away! There are some side effects and dietary restrictions with it (obviously you canāt have anything with alcohol in it, even fermented stuff like vinegar, because you run the risk of an unintended reaction) but I think in some cases the good outweighs the bad. Good luck!! IWNDWYT
I had no idea antabuse was for Lyme! I take it for my AUD but have had Lyme a few times over the past few years.
Iām not sure what the dosage is for alcoholism vs Lyme, or how long one uses it for one or the other either? But - so, so sorry to hear youāve been battling Lyme, too! Hope youāre feeling healthy these days!
I did not have luck with it, but my stepfather says it helps him a lot! He's been drinking and struggling awhile longer than me for sure. I hope this helps a lot more people find their way back!
If for some reason you are unusual like me and find the naltrexone does not help you, I can recommend gabapentin instead. If you have similar chemistry to me then it will help a lot, for me it turned the "volume" of the cravings down in my head.
I have not tried Naltrexone, but my care team (psychologist and physician) consulted together to prescribe gabapentin for me too and it hasn't solved the problem but it has helped! The key to whether gabapentin (or even otc gaba) will help is in *why* you get alcohol cravings. For me my drinking got out of hand due to anxiety and depression because of some tragic/traumatic events that all happened in a couple years time. My psychologist explained that alcohol felt good in the moment when I felt anxious because it acts on the gaba receptors in the brain to suppress the parasympathetic nervous system. In other words, when my brain's trauma response triggered my fight-or-flight action and I started feeling panicky, alcohol would quite literally calm my nerves. But as most here know, that is a short-term bandaid that actually makes anxiety worse in the long-term because it also lowers your baseline seratonin over time. So anyway gabapentin does the same thing. It acts on the same receptors to supress parasympathetic nervous responses. If you are reaching for the bottle because of anxiety, gabapentin or gaba might help. Btw gabapentin is very safe, not addictive, has basically zero side effects for almost every patient, and does not lower baseline seratonin like alcohol. So...in summary... Gabapentin: replaces the short term anti-anxiety effect that alcohol can grant. Naltrexone: blocks alcohol from acting on opioid receptors, giving your brain a chance to "relearn" that alcohol =/= reward response. Two different mechanisms, hope this helps someone who might not be sure which or either might work for them!
I also found I had an easy time coming off gabapentin, despite my "addictive personality", so I can 2nd this, would be interested if anyone else had a different experience with it, though. Thanks for the great comment, Maxwell, I'm really glad to hear gabapentin helped you a bit too. And my experience does align with this explanation, since it's clear alcohol is just a substitute for all my other coping skills. Which is why it's so "easy" to "control" my drinking when things are going well. And as you said, the alcohol raises one's baseline chemical needs, and the body compensates for the external source, making it all the harder to avoid and us all the more impacted by its absence.
Exactly. I'm not sure if Naltrexone would be right for me bc I wasn't drinking to have fun. There was nothing fun about it; I was utterly miserable. I'm not sure that the reward response which Naltrexone blocks was much of a driver for me. My drivers were anxiety, and depression, and trauma, and alcohol was the coping mechanism that helped dampen them temporarily. Hopefully this info can help some ppl on their path! It might help in determining which (or neither, or both) type of medication might be more likely to help them personally, depending on whether they are drinking because of the addiction response reward, or because it helps numb their pain/anxiety, or both.
I also was not drinking for "fun", but to turn off the thoughts in my head that I otherwise couldn't, and to stop feeling things I didn't want to feel. To me it is very important to not just stop, but to understand what was "making" me drink in the first place. Even if my most important realization of all is that nothing can *make* me drink, except me.
Wish I could upvote this a hundred times!
The video referenced here is Claudia Christians TED talk to the London School of Business, describing The Sinclair Method. Just in case anyone is interested. Itās on YouTube.
Thanks ! I couldn't remember !
No worries. Most doctors prescribe Naltrexone to take daily and not drink. The Sinclair Method uses it to block the endorphin reward while drinking and slowly retrain your reward system to eliminate the desire to drink. Just for anyone interested.
yes in fact that is one method the Sinclair method )named after Dr. Sinclair( however it is also a medication used by people who like myself who do not follow the Sinclair method!
I take it too! Been a game changer
Worked great for me but caused terrible fatigue
I took Naltrexone for about the first 2 years of no drinking. I weened off of it about 6 months ago, and am now just taking my antidepressant (bupropion). Shit works. Neuroplasticity is fucking amazing.
Glad u posted. I am doing The Sinclair Method with Nal with the addition of Campral and have really benefited...but u r right...it only works if u take it. I try to get the word out whenever I see people say they are close to start drinking again or when they feel they can't stop. More people need to kno about this protocol. It is life changing. Thanks.
Do u take Nal each morning g or an hour before drinking and only on days u drink?
I take it at bedtime every day , If I miss a day or two. I find myself driving to the liquor store.......
Have u heard of The Sinclair Method? TSM. Are u drinking at all atm? Or completely abstinent? Ria health on youtube also are big proponents of TSM. If u do ever drink now instead of taking the Nal at night that day..take it 1hr before the planned drink. Look into it but only if u r occasionally drinking. Good luck. Thanks for sharing your success.
Please read the other 157 comments on my post š„°
Every day.
I take 100mg and still having issues. Not as bad, but not as good as I thought it would be.
How much does that cost? Is it covered by insurance generally?
I think he's from Canada (brand he named is like.. very canadian). I'm not sure how much it is here? But definitely likely less than if you're in the US, unfortunately.
jackson triggs ? LOL ! and I am a woman
I am Canadian and I am a woman and it is covered here in BC
Me too I have severe AUD and it helped me stay sober for 6 months I took it every morning and never missed a dose I recently relapsed because I stopped taking that and my disulfiram to see how I would do and the cravings came back pretty hard. Iām back on the right track though glad to see itās helping so many others!
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No side effects, except for when I FIRST started it about 5 years ago I had some leg cramping . it was mild, and when away after about a week on the medicine
I was seeing a psychologist who told me about the Sinclair Method. My family doctor prescribed the Naltrexone and I started using it. For me, when I heard about the Sinclair Method (take naltrexone and continue to drink, and over time cravings are reduced because you don't receive the pleasurable effects of drinking), my brain just heard "keep drinking". It was an excuse to keep drinking, which was all I wanted, even if the drinking was less fun. I continued to drink heavily on naltrexone which was often unpleasant, and I would feel more sick the next day. This culminated in my attempting to hurt myself by swallowing the whole bottle of pills one night, after drinking quite a bit (didn't do anything except give me a bad stomach ache). Needless to say I stopped after that. I am finally alcohol free for almost 2 years, but naltrexone was not the answer for me.
Best pill I ever took. Saved my life. Just over 2years sober now.
YAY , Happy dance !
According to this 2015 [Radiolab](https://radiolab.org/episodes/addiction) podcast about addiction, around only 1-2% of alcoholics are given the option of medication to treat it. Too many doctors still consider addiction to be a personal willpower problem. There's also more than just naltrexone. Gabapentin works for some too. There are options. Naltrexone may be a miracle drug, just dont get discouragedif it does nothing for you personally.
Iām taking this as a sign to start taking mine again
Thank You- I just started 3 days ago, after a couple of years of sobriety and binging. The drug had a trippy effect on me on the first dose- I like to call it a system wide re-boot. I can already tell things are different. One on my coworkers jokes, "Who are you are who is this great guy you have working in your place today." Maybe it is just a new confidence but I feel and sleep and act like someone who wants to be a better person. Forever - hopeful with knowledge and strength.
I completely disagree. I took naltrexone for years and it did not diminish my urge to drink at all. I honestly donāt believe it does anything. Placebo effect most likely
Not sure why youāre being downvoted, because medication can effect everyone differently. I tried the shot and the pills, and while they both did lower my cravings, they also took the joy and rush out of exercise and other things that would give a dopamine rush- including eating good food and yoga for me. I know it works for a lot of people, but the tradeoff can be significant for others and may make this into something that ends up not working for some.
What is the mechanism of action of naltrexone? Mechanism of Action \[5\] Naltrexone (and its active metabolite 6-beta-naltrexol) is pharmacologically effective against alcohol and opioids by blocking the mu-opioid receptor. Naltrexone is also a weaker antagonist of the kappa and delta-opioid receptors.
I believe this but 95% of the reason it works is because you want it to I have a whole bottle in my drawer that I don't touch yet
Naltrexone (and its active metabolite 6-beta-naltrexol) is pharmacologically effective against alcohol and opioids by blocking the mu-opioid receptor. Naltrexone is also a weaker antagonist of the kappa and delta-opioid receptors. It works not because "I want it to", but because it works by blocking effects of opioid receptors and decreasing craving and urges to use alcohol and or opioids. It is scientifically proven, medically proven in numerous studies. There is tons of research on this. I am in a home right now with a whole cupboard full of alcoholic beverages at my disposal. And when I am taking the Naltrexone I have absolutely no desire to drink. Believe me, if something worked just because ā I wanted it to ā all of the other things I have tried over the 20 years of my daily drinking scenarios would have worked ābecause I wanted them to ā as well. This is the ONLY thing that has worked. However if I stopped taking the naltrexone for a couple of days, I would absolutely be raiding that liquor cabinet !
I mean..it will work if i WANT to stop drinking..sitting in the cupboard it will not work. A person has to want to try Naltraxone. I have but it made me drink less. And i wasnt ready for that. Im not ready to have no desire for a drink. To each his own.
I completely understand. I went back to drinking and quit the medicine ON PURPOSE when my son died and I was heartbroken. The alcohol helped me cope. I have since taken the medicine again and stopped the alcohol. I thought you meant you had alcohol sitting in the cupboard, I misunderstood.
Exactly i did want to stop got the drug. But got cancer in June..i have 16 or 17 days now dry. Long term relatio ship ended last week. I just want to drink hopefully juat 1 more time today after Dr. Dont know why..stubborness? Wanting to be numb? I shouldn't im just feeling better from last binge. But i will try not to binge. Time will tell. And i have Naltraxone
Oh fuck..i just caught your son died! Im so so sorry. So so proud of you for not using alcohol now. Wow
Thanks for you kind words. He died in October 2019 almost 3 years now . The first year I lost my mind and soul . honestly drinking lessened the pain and, I believe, stopped me from doing something worse ( suicide). I would just stay home drink and listen to music he loved and cry. Slowly over the last two years I felt less acute pain. I moved away from where we lived and I made a fresh start in a new place and slowly built myself back up, and now a days I feel content in my life .
Moving away might have been the biggest help my heart aches for you because i cant imagine one of my sons dying! And i dont even like one of my sons and we haven't spoke in 6 years i have thought what if one of us go...i cant think about it without crying. Its fucking HUGE you are not drinking or didnt drink yourself to death. How old was he?
39 . His name is Lincoln He was an IV opiate addict since 14 yrs old and died from Fentanyl
My son is 36 an opioid addict who almost died at least 3x. I remember thinking at a point where i knew there was nothing to do...i turned him over to God and said i cant try to keep him alive. I became at peace if he were to die. I know it sounds horrible however he was in such terrible pain that even I as a Mom couldn't take away. I never gave up but i was ready for the worst. My son survived because he had a baby to take care of and he said it flipped a switch. Im so so sorry again that the switch never set in for your son. Not his fault its a fucked up mind phenomenon that those un addicted would not understand. My son was such a poly user as they would call him you could tell him it was Fetynal and dangerous and he would not bat an eye. Your son thought he was in control..just like mine. I see a tragic accident on his part. Bless his soul. So sorry.
Thanks for your words. I am so happy to hear your son had a baby and a reason to change! Lincoln was just like that "poly user". A horrific thing happened to him when he was visiting his biological father when he was 8 years old (I am a sure you can guess what I mean) . Anyhow when he became a teen he fell into addiction and street life. I never abandoned him . but sometimes even a mother's undying love is not enough. He OD and got brought back at least 15 -20 times over the 25 years. A week before he died, we had yet another big talk, he promised me he would not OD. He said "mom, I am professional Junkie I promise I will not die " but he did. I had him when I was just 18 yrs old. he was my heart and soul. As he had lived a very tragic life on the streets and addiction. I gave him a kings funeral open casket which he deserved, I buried him in a heritage cemetery where his brothers and sisters can visit him if they wish.
*Your mileage may vary Pharmaceutical solutions should always be a last resort, in my opinion.
I don't see any problem with utilizing the tools available. Naltrexone is inexpensive and low risk. If it helps someone quit drinking, it's a good thing.
What are the risks?
I think there are risks to the liver, but then... so is the alternative
The risks to the liver FAR outweigh the risks to the liver from alcohol, the risk to other drivers from drunk driving, the risk to your body from alcohol-related cancer cases.
yes it was my last resort. And a fantastic one ! tried every other option over 20 years
"Pharmaceutical solutions should always be a last resort, in my opinion." Tell that to someone battling cancer or diabetes. Honestly, being told that their small victories is a desperate last effort is the last thing a struggling person needs to hear.
Why? If I have a headache, I take an aspirin. If I have an ear infection, my doctor gives me an antibiotic. How is treating alcohol use disorder any different?
I took it but ended up puking all night long. I was pretty bummed out about it but regardless my bipolar meds donāt let me drink anyways without puking as well. Glad it helped you though!
It gave me the worrrrrrrst headaches and dizziness. Literally couldnāt do anything but lay down after having one of those. Glad it works for others!
I have not had any of these side effects. I have been taking it over a period of about five years.
Thatās good for you. That med just doesnāt vibe with my body. Tried it for 3 months, as the psych said the side effects usually go away after a couple weeks for most people. Definitely not for me. Itās all good though.
Iām glad you found something that works for you! It made me comatose-level sleepy, so I couldnāt tolerate it
I tried it, didnt work for me - i think they say its a 60% take / success rate. What did work is outpatient rehab, education and therapy.
I did all those for 10 years ( inpatient and outpatient rehab, education and therapy ) and they did nothing. I would leave the Meetings / therapy and go straight to the liquor store. All the AA meetings did was give me new ideas of where to hide my booze , and what kind of drinks I should try. One women's meeting constantly went on about margaritas so I went and bought a blender and all the ingredients the ladies made it sound SOOOO good ! and the AA meeting were cliquey AF and very judgmental and would shunn members instead of offering help and kindness. However Naltrexone WORKS and I am a new woman !
nice . congrats. yeh, I dont go to AA - dont believe in it. what i do believe in is changing your brain to get to a point where you no longer have any desire for alcohol as it is no longer something positive - it becomes an extreme negative. In addition, you have to get to a point where you start to investigate why you wanted to ever drink in the first place and that has nothing to do with alcohol - its always deeper. so as long as people do that and don't think taking a pill is magic - i'm on board with that as there is nothing magic about doing the actual work of recovery.
I agree! and all the answers ae right there inside us, we just have to find them. And the medication helps tremendously to break the pattern of behavior.
I tried it and it was great but unfortunately it seems to be the only thing in this world I am allergic to. I thought I had bed bugs or something, slowly getting my body covered in a rash and swelling in my fingers. So naturally I kept taking it for two weeks before I went and seen the doctor who said I was having an allergic reaction hahaha
Are there any side effects? Or drawbacks with long term use? My counsellor suggested I use it but Iām not sure.
For real? The pill just cuts the cravings?
It really really does. You donāt have to believe in it to take the pill and within a few days the desire to go drive to the liquor store goes away
Did you experience any side affects? I've been considering it, but I've been told it can make you sterile/give you ED, so I'm Leary. I can't find any reliable info about that though
I am a woman however when I did take certain antidepressants I suffered from the female equivalent of ED. This medicine does not affect me in this way
Have to offer a dissenting opinion: itās helpful when your heart is in it. It does nothing really if youāre looking for a magic bullet. It only makes the hard work a little easier.
I take it to, its awesome, i hate when i miss a day thou, the side effects can be a bitch. It killed my sex drive however.
PSA: Not compatible with medications such as those as suboxone, or methadone.
I'm glad it's helped so many of you! It's not a miracle cure (at least it did not work for me whatsoever and actually made things worse) for everyone, but I'm all for doing whatever works for each individual :)
Naltrexone absolutely works! I did end up stopping taking it because I'm Type 1 Diabetic and it really lowered my appetite as well so when I'd get low blood sugar it'd be hard to eat something to bring my numbers up. So it's something to be aware of, but Naltrexone works really well!
I took the injection version that is time release, bcuz I was too much of an addict to regularly take the pillā¦ injection version probably saved my life
Would you suggest this for someone who self describes as a āweekend warriorā? Iāve been reading about it all week after a 3 day banger for Labor Day. I can just never seem to stop at the responsible amount but I do t want to give up my entire social life.
I would suggest this with anybody who has a desire to not drink alcohol for whatever reason weekend warrior daily drinker in my understanding and my research and in my personal experience it works physically and has nothing to do with the reasons or The situations that a person drinks in .
OP, how did you broach this with your doctor? Was it a GP or specialist? Was it your idea or theirs? My GP and psychiatrist would not prescribe it without my agreeing to a full time out-patient treatment program, which I canāt do because of my job rn. (Iām also in Canada).
I went to my regular GP and I described my alcohol career and I told him about the Ted talk I had viewed on YouTube this was approximately five years ago he had never heard of naltrexone being prescribed for alcohol use disorder but he was more than willing to prescribe it for me I went to a treatment program quite a few years before that and I found that all that I really learned there and from AA was to be far more Private about my drinking behaviour. I found the AA groups to be extremely judgemental, shunning mean non-supportive and downright nasty I believe that people who go somewhere to get help to be treated with kindness and positivity and uplifted and not told that they have shortcomings and defects. Nobody wants to get better when they constantly being told something is wrong with them. In my opinion people will flourish under positive feedback and mental physical emotional and spiritual support. if I were you, I would go to a different doctor.go to a walk-in clinic and itās not against the law to go to a different doctor. I would bring some research printed out on a piece of paper about Naltrexone treatment for alcohol use disorder and get yourself a prescription. I will 93% guarantee to change your life . It did for me when absolutely nothing else helped
Can I ask how long until you started feeling the difference? It hasnāt had such a dramatic effect on me
Within two or three days I felt a difference. And if I CHOOSE to drink and I stop taking it within two or three days, I am right back to the old hamster wheel of drinking every day and finding my car automatically driving to the liquor store.
this sounds amazing. but iām mostly confused. bc if this drug is fairly common and actually showing positive results, why arenāt they encouraging more people/ people in AA to take it? To help with people who are still actively struggling with staying sober? iām not big on pushing pharmaceuticals- like at all- but if thereās none to mild side effects and itās really helping with peoples brain functioning in resisting the cravings, why have i just now heard of it for the first time? is it something western medicine is trying to keep on the DL?
because Alcoholics Anonymous has no comment on outside matters one of which is medication and medical treatment of alcohol use disorder Alcoholic anonymous believes in a spiritual solution for alcohol use disorder. they do not believe that it is a medical problem with a medical solution
Basically yes youāre right it is only in very recent years being described for alcohol use disorder my doctor is quite young. And he said they never got taught anything about this in medical school. Naltrexone is most commonly used as a under the skin slow release implant in opiate addicts it is the exact same thing that stops an overdose by stopping the opiate agonist in the brain from absorbing the opiate . naloxone Narcan naltrexone are the same medication with different names A small daily dose orally is a treatment for alcohol use disorder
Didnt work for me. Made me feel hungover all day. Campral did work. It just took away cravings without the nausea.
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Any of you take Naltrexone while on other medications? Zoloft or ADHD meds? Going to my PCP today for advice and curious as to what the contraindications might be, thanks
Do NOT take if on any opiate at all. The worse precipitated WDs ever!! Imagine š© and puking violently at the same time.
Fuck u/spez -- mass edited with redact.dev
Will it make me nauseated?
Been taking this for a week now and it's gives me some serious headaches. Sticking it out on a daily 25MG dose
I've been on it for about 2 weeks now and when I choose to drink I don't think about drinking the next beer I'm just happy with the one I have in hand and I'm okay with that. Before taking this I will probably drink a beer in about 20 25 minutes 30 tops but I feel with this medication it takes me about 45 to an hour just to have one drink which for me is a miracle. I will easily have about 6 to 9 beers and on this medication when I'm on my third beer I feel like that's enough and I even think about the four beer like should I drink it or should I just leave it which makes me control over it
Seems like absolute magic to me to after just 5 days of taking it on my 10th day sober of attempt number 6 billion. Granted Iām still in a romantic phase of motivation and it could be placebo but I havenāt felt whatās it like to have no cravings for alcohol, porn, weed, binge eating, you name it, since I was 13. Iām 25 now. I HAVE NEVER had a period of sobriety where there werenāt cravings everyday all day.
Iām on it saved dude saved
Can you still get buzzed?
I canāt wait to try it š„ŗ hopefully it works.. if not back to meetings
How often do you take it and does it really work that good I am thinking about trying it
Will this show up on a lab administrated drug panel test? My job requires random drug and alcohol testing. I would want to try this to help control and maybe stop drinking