Feeling tired and insomnia

I am so sorry it was too trippy for you. However, extremely happy that you are feeling good after detoxing in hospital.

You are welcome.

My recovery using naltrexone can be found by googleing C3 Foundation Europe and then once on the website, clicking the From The Trustees button. It then has links to my full recovery under Joanna's Journey.

Like your doctor mentioned to you, naltrexone is far more effective when taken only when drinking. Many docs know this (like yours did) but won't officially prescribe it in this way because they are using guidelines from the mid 1990s telling patients to take it every day, and they afraid that if they prescribe it in the new way, it may cause questions at a later date.

Think about how well it is working when you do drink - it stops that chemical reaction that previously compelled you to keep going. In time, your brain is going to learn this and it will stop craving.

But in the meantime, you can help this process along by allowing your brain to understand that when it doesn't drink, it gets a great blast of chemicals from every day activities - those feel good endorphins that are released from taking a walk, or spicy food, or whatever..... By taking the tablet every day, even when you are not drinking, you are not allowing your brain to get any good chemical reactions from any activities.

Block the chemical reaction when you drink by taking the naltrexone, and allow your brain to get a good chemical reaction on those days you don't drink by not taking the naltrexone, and it's really going to help your brain recognise that alcohol is no longer rewarding much quicker, and much easier.

This process is all about your brain unlearning that alcohol is rewarding. It will learn that faster if you help it along by allowing it to simultaneously learn what IS rewarding.

Hi Joanna

Yes that does make sense and I have wondered should I do this because my prescriber wouldn't know any different. My main worry about doing this is the side effects. Now my body is getting "used " to Naltrexone they aren't as bad plus I had quite bad stomach ache at first which has eased. If I don't take it every day and just when I drink will I be back to square one with the side effects?

I wouldn't expect so. Once someone gets used to it, then there will a time limit on how long they can go before any side effect issues. For me, that about 3 months, and after that time I still don't get any mega side effects again, just some tiredness.

You will find whatever your limit is naturally as over the coming months you drink less and less, but just a few days gap between taking tablets really shouldn't cause you any issues at all.

I am pleased that your GP prescribed. Many will not even entertain the idea and want to leave it to alcohol specialist doctors only. But your GP is far more open-minded than many, and that is great. It's just that because there is no profit in naltrexone, no pharma company is going to spend the millions it would take to have the prescribing instructions officially changed, so we are sort of stuck with doctors having to prescribe the old way, but then sort of giving you the unsaid go-ahead to do as you wish because they know it works better this way.

Interestingly, any doctor can prescribe any approved medication for any condition that they think it may help for. This is perfectly legal for them to do so, and is called prescribing 'off-licence'. So, they can do it if they wish, but I understand their concerns about doing so. It's much easier for them to simply prescribe as the guidelines state, and not go step outside the box.

And yes, the leaflet does say to take on an empty stomach, but again, it is old prescribing instructions. We've since learned that to begin with, taking it after food prevents virtually all the side effects for most, except for maybe a few initial days of not quite feeling 100%.

Hi Daisyjo,

Thank you for your reply. That is empowering you are on day 13th, well done. Unfortunately, my Doctor had little idea or no idea of Naltrexon, therefore I have been doing my own research. No I didn't get a leaflet with the tablets. So had no instructions, however my research indicated I take it with a meal.

I gave up alcohol for 18months, however have started to drink again the last 3 months, 3/4 days a week and like you I don't have a stop button. My brain doesn't register to stop. Therefore, I thought Naltrexon was a good option for me.

That is a great idea to have a tablet in your bag. Really appreciate that tip. It is so comforting to know that the side effects reduce over time. It is pretty hard to function feeling so spaced out and tired. However, it is worth it to be able to control my drinking habit.

I so look forward to hearing more about your journey Daisyjo, it is wonderful to have you share this experience with me.

Cheers

Hi Joanna,

That is great information and will help me to understand the process of why it is going to be effective. My Doctor, really didn't worry about explaining how to take the Naltrexon, I felt he trusted me to do my research. It seems to be a medication in Australia, that Doctors do not like to prescribe without the client having professional psychological support. It took me two Doctors, before one would prescribe it to me.

It is good to know that I do not take the medication everyday that I don't drink. It is nice to have time away from the side effects.

Thanks Joanna.

Hi Joanna it wasn't my GP that prescribed it but a specialist alcohol and addiction centre. I wasn't referred by my GP. MY prescriber works there and is authorised to prescribe these meds but probably isn't a doctor (could be wrong and stereotyping though).

I have counselling there with a different person and she gave me a list of meds to consider (IF I WANTED). As I have no willpower so I thought I'd give it a go. It wasn't looking as if I would be prescribed anything initially as the drugs are Campral or Naltrexone and he (my prescriber) said they don't work for binge drinkers. He said the only suitable med was Nalmafene and he's not allowed to prescribe that one.

In the end he said he would speak to other people about getting Nalmafene. Well the next time I saw him he said NO WAY could he prescribe Nalmafene but Naltrexone could be effective.

I've been on Naltrexone for 2 weeks. It does nothing for the drink cravings but the amount consumed once I start has halved r I told him this because I think it's good but he seemed very nervous and said he's prescribing "off label" and I should be abstinent. He did mention he has heard anecdotal accounts the same as me. Confused!

Prescribing on label is to prescribe as per the conditions that were agreed from when the naltrexone was approved - that is to be taken every day and to remain abstinent.

Prescribing off label is when a physician prescribes medication to be taken in a different way to when it was approved - so prescribing naltrexone to someone still drinking so that they can take it only when they drink would be prescribing it 'off-label'.

Hey Daisy,

So happy for you that you consumption has halved. Hoping you are feeling great too, at the same time. I am doing well too. For the first time in my life, I have been able to stop drinking after the 3rd alcoholic drink. I am so impressed!