I'm so tired and demoralised by being a drunk

I live in Australia and the only drugs available are really just too heavy for what I consider an appropriate risk.  We cannot get Selincro.  We can get naltrexone which is not worth the risk in my opinion.  It is very hard to get things prescribed in Australia. Maybe that's why our country has such large problems with Alcohol abuse.  I need to quit and soon. I can go approx. 3-4 days and then binge... 

Does alcoholism run in your family?

 I know you don't want to use meds, but if you've tried and crashed and crashed and crashed, you might want to reconsider. 

Naltrexone actually works pretty well, if you follow The Sinclair Method, but taking it every day while abstinent doesn't work any better than placebo. I'm a daily drinker, but I've read the stories of many bingers that have used it as well. Works for them too, has a success rate of about 80% across various types of drinkers. I've cut my drinking by 75% with it. Uses the oral form of Naltrexone, not the injectable/implant form. From my POV, if you care to be free of alch, you'll take care to erase the craving that drives your habit, or you'll just be back at it. 

https://patient.info/health/sinclair-method-for-alcohol-use-disorder

It's not a magic pill, it takes a number of months to get to the point where you no longer crave, but people do get a good reduction in their drinking in the meantime. 

I understand that Acamprosate is available in Oz, RHGB (a regular here) wrote that it can even be used during the detox process, then you take it a few times a day to kill the cravings. If you don't need to detox, then you stay dry for a week and start the medication. I don't know if Baclofen is available there or if it could be prescribed for AUD, but that's another that some have good luck with. 

That being said, there's AA and SmartRecovery over there, you could plug into that. The latter is secular, more based in science and CBT, with online forums and face to face meetings as well. 

Yes, alcholism runs in my family.  My father is an active alcohlic, his brothers (2 out of 3) were alcoholics - the only one left alive ijs the non alcoholic, my grandfather(my dads dad) was an alcoholic, my sister is a methodone addict, my brother stays in the middle ofnowhere and binges everytime he comes to town, my other sister is addicted to food and is morbidly obese - sheis probably an alcoholic too. They all drink alcohol - by brother is the only one who sucessfully stays away from it.  I

I have decided to ask for a prescription from my doctor for Naltrexone and if that doesn't work - try adding Baclofene.  I don't think I have the time to waste trying AA or willpower - I already know they won't work. I can't do this. If you don't mind what dosage naltrexone did you try? And how much has your drinking decreased?  I would like to stop binging - this is literally ruining my life and I'm going to lose everything if I continue.

I am seeing a psycologist and at the moment and in a online forum.  It;s not working - the minute I am alone - I want to drink.  Thanks so much for your reply.

Yeah, sounds like you're a prime candidate for this, works especially well when it runs in the family like that. 

50mg is the standard dose for this, but don't start there. Check the link I posted, talks about how people should start.

I'd been at it 30+ years before I started this. Gotten to the point where I was throwing back 84 12 ounce bottles a week. I'm down to about 20 per week now, still further to go, but I feel tons better.

One of the first things I hear from bingers using this method is that the blackouts stop. 

I'll PM you with some other info. 

very strong and heart felt reply!! I have nothing to add since I was not as far out of control and so much more admiration to you!! Robin

Thanks Deirdre,

Yes, I'm embarassed by taking the bottles down to the bins.. I'm also embarrased walking past pubs I may have gone to and seeing the bouncers maybe remembering me being totally smashed out of my brain.  Luckily I'm not usually a nasty drunk but still I am a professional and getting blotto in public is only going to ruin anything I have worked hard for. I know what I want to be but I am going to fail fast if I can't stop drinking like this.  I am going to get some medication (hopefully) on Tuesday.  I need to stop.  Thanks so much for your lovely reply.  It did make me feel less ashamed - I know a lot of people are going through this but this is torture. It is no way to live. It is a slow death.

Well done, Deirdre! How did you manage to get rid of the cravings?

I'm relieved that you're going to get some medication. I didn't know it was difficult to get in Oz.

Being a health professional doesn't stop anyone from becomiing an addict - I am also one and have been addicted to benzos for many, many years. Am only just taking stock and started treatment and tapering off four months ago.

I think you're a lot younger than I am (you have a young child) so believe me, get this sorted now, before you get much older. Who cares what bouncers think of you, anyway? I bet they don't take as much notice as you think they do - being all in a night's work, so to speak.

You know that you need professional help and I do hope you'll be able to get it. Goos luck.

Thanks Robin,

Yes I managed to stop while pregnant and slow down when they were little.  Now they are older and I only have one left at home that same conditions are not applying.  This last year has made me go out of control and I can't seem to get it back under control at all.  I don't want to ruin my life.  Thanks again for replying.

Thanks for the reply.  I have spent the last few hours researching and have decided to try and get a prescription for naltrexone on Tuesday from the local GP.  If I can't get it from the GP I have found a link to an online Dr in Aus who will prescribe.

I am willing to jump through any hoops to get naltrexone.  I already know I can't cut down on my own. I have been an alcoholic since I was 15.  I stopped when pregnant and that is the only time I have abstained.  I managed to control it when they were little but this last two years has seen my control become non-existant.  You're right about knowing why, how etc etc and then still drinking anyway.  It's so tiring.

Australia has a huge alcohol problem and not just the indigenous population.  It is part of our culture in a big way.  I've never been to an event that doesn't have copious amounts of booze flowing.  I'm usually one of the drunkest, though.  When that switch flips (about third drink) I just can't stop.  It's dreadful.  I've only ever been able to control it by putting in ridiculous checks and measure that no longer work in my situation.  I LIVE across the road from a pub.  

So I will keep posting.  Hopefully I can make it till Tuesday until I at least see the Dr and hopefully I can get a prescription before my next drink!

Thanks for your reply.

 I take something different to naltrexone/Selincro, but there are plenty oh here who do and will give you tips and share their experience of it.

I'd still say Aus is nothing like as bad as the UK. People who live in warmer climates usually drink less, and tend to drink lighter beers. It's almost like fuel in cold climates. I drove from Sydney to Cairns (I try to stay out of cities and go to local bars) and I remember once I got north of Brisbane, them all drinking halves (midis. schooners and all manner of names depending on which State and area) and having polystyrene cup holders to keep the beer cool.

They (bar staff) kept apologising that they didn't have any pint size holders, I just said, don't worry, I'll drink it before it has a chance to get warm. But I definitely remember a large number of Aboriginals do not much other than drink, especially the further north you got, down around NSW it was apparent, mainly in Queensland.

On a side note, it makes me smile that the PC word is now indigenous, it was always Aboriginal, which was a step up from Abbos. In North America, the indigenous are referred to as First Nation. I do sometimes lose track of the phrase du jour.

But then I grew up in the Monty Python age, and sketches like 'Bruce'. Although I lived in NZ for a couple of years back in the early '70s and I don't remember the same thing with the Maoris.

Didn't the Maoris have a remedy for that sort of thing? 

Was the Doctor in Australia a doctor by the name of George O'Neil?

What a lot of travelling you have done! Quite right that warmer climates make you drink less. Whilst in Singapore and Malaysia on holiday I hardly drank since it was 40 to 41 Celcius and humidity of 90% plus and a heat wave...I was normally a HARD drinker back in 1998 and the heat stops you...anyway, back in the UK and other countries I have lived in people simply drink more and anything at all..bit of a sidetrack to the discussion and I do hope that Bronzie can slow down and drink less..yes, try and live longer by not drinking which is what I did since I would have become seriously ill for certain...best of luck!! Robin

'decided to try and get a prescription for naltrexone on Tuesday from the local GP.  If I can't get it from the GP I have found a link to an online Dr in Aus who will prescribe.'

How did you get on?

RHGB always has sound advice - he certainly helped me - and a lot of experience. I would back his opinion without a thought.

Bronize, this is not going to be easy, but remember we're all here to try to help you - and one another. Good luck. x