Just started Selincro today - would anyone like to join me with this journey

Thanks as always, RHGB!

Been busy here - our first YouTube video about The Sinclair Method goes onto YouTube this weekend, so I've been making some last minute editing changes and I've had to learn how to do all this stuff from scratch.

Anyway, always appreciate your input.

je52117 - RHGB is absolutely correct in what he has said here.  Remember that this isn't a magic pill - at all.

But what it is is a medication that will prevent the chemical reaction of reward that happens in your brain when you drink.  This means that now you are no longer being driven to continue drinking, it gives you the opportunity to think about it, and consider if you think you are satisfied with what you have had.  When you get that signal, you need to work with the medication (it's a partnership between you and the tablet), recognise it and start to work on learning ways to put the drink down.

Over time, now that alcohol is no longer providing your brain's reward mechanism with a reward, it will slowly begin to lose it's appeal and your brain will stop thinking about drinking.

Some people are prescribed Selincro for this, others are prescribed naltrexone.  So, I am sure that others will also join the conversation who have successfully used naltrexone.  When he sees your message, ADEfree will comment I am sure.  As might Julie, whose husband has also been successful with naltrexone.  And maybe Nat too, who has used Selincro, I believe.

So, hopefully you will get lots of good hints and tips to follow soon.

Thank you, Robin.  I do enjoy the support for each other on this forum.  It's real, practical help rather than the woe is me attitude that is so prevalent on other forum.

Selincro is taken 2 hours prior to drinking (naltrexone is 1 hour) every single time someone drinks.  So, at first that will likely be quite often.  As the craving extinction process starts to kick in, then drinking becomes less and less so the need for the tablet becomes less and less.

Once Pharmacological Extinction of all cravings had occurred, then someone can either chose to go comfortably abstinent, or they can continue to drink but always with the tablet first.

If drinking resumes at any point without the tablet, then the brain will re-learn the association that alcohol is giving it a chemical reward again.

It isn't as bad as it sounds though, since when the desire to drink is gone, then the need to drink is gone and it really does become a choice.

For me, I drink maybe 15-20 times a year socially (usually when a good wine will compliment a meal) so I only take 15-20 tablets a year.  For example, last month I went away for a weeks holiday in Amsterdam where they do very tasty beers.  So, I was able to take a tablet prior to a drink with a meal in a restuarant and because the reward was blocked, it was no bother and my brain didn't start to associate alcohol with a chemical reward.  It still tasted nice etc, it's just that my brain didn't 'remember' it tasting nice.  Since I've been back home, I've not drank once so not needed any tablets at all. 

I used to throw far more paracetamol down me weekly in an attempt to kill the hangovers!

PS it's not a sill question at all, and is actually quite a common question

As with all medications, there can be some initial side effects but there are steps you can take to keep these to a minimum.  And it's totally individual as to what they are, but usually either tiredness and/or sleeplessness, and some disorientation and/or nausea.  This is true when beginning a number of medications and the short term discomfort (if you feel it) is well worth the long term benefits that these medications can provide.

And yes, these are prescription-only medications.