Nalmefene/Selincro and codeine hell

You basically had an opiate withdrawal, BK522. 

Nalmefene and naltrexone are opioid antagonist medications.  This means that if the occupy the receptors in the brain that opiates normally attach to. 

If you take opiates whilst the medication is in your system, the opiates simply are blocked from attaching to the receptors - it is not dangerous, they simply don't work.  This is why this type of medication is used to help opiates addicts stay clean as they know they will not get high if they take their opiates.

However, if you have opiates in your system and THEN take either of these medications, it expels the opiates already occupying the receptors and replaces them.  Hence, an opiate withdrawal as the opiates are expelled from the receptors in your brain.

It certainly isn't a nice thing to go through and your prescriber should have made it clear that anything with opiates in are a complete no-go whilst you might need to take the medication.  Someone should really be clear of opiates for around 5 to 7 days before they take the medication.  It is also another reason why reading the Patient Information Leaflet that comes with the medication is so important.

I always play it safe and inform anyone that I am supporting through the method to check any medication they may need with either a doctor or a pharmacist, since opiates can be found in low amounts in various over the counter preparations - such as some cough mixtures and diarreah tablets.  It just isn't worth the risk of getting as ill as you have.

Incidently, a slightly different variation of this same medicine is called Naloxone or Narcan and is actually used to bring opiate users out of overdose.  It brings them out of an overdose within a couple of minutes by expelling the opiates from their brain's receptors.  Administered quickly enough, it can literally save an opiate addicts life!!  I read something on the internet the other day (all rumours of course at this point) that suggests that the singer Prince may have received a Narcan shot when he was rushed to hospital the week before he passed away.

I was asked by the people that prescribed me Nalmefene if I was on any codeine products and also told that if I was in an emergency situation that I should tell them I'm on Nalmefene because certain pain killers wouldn't work

What a shame to have suffered that Hell, BK522.

I read about avoiding certain meds., while taking Selincro/Nalmefene.

I have the Co-codamol 30mg/500mg of Codeine and Paracetamol, some have the brand name Kapake. I take them, as required, if in a lot of pain.  I just suffer the pain, since being on Selincro.  Mixing meds. is a minefield.  I also have a Nerve Painkiller called Gabapentin... I am too scared to touch it these days... it was making me "doolally"!  Unfortunately, if the pain goes down a nerve... I am at screaming level. What a carry on !

Isn't it sad how Alcohol gets priority.

Oh stuff it, I'm off to get some wine now.

I hope you are feeling much better.🤕

Alonangel 🎇

This information is one of the first things you read on the warning sheet when you are prescribed Naltrexone in the U.S. I don't know how it is in the UK.Did you not realize what would happen? Did the Dr. who prescribed this explain any of this?

I've drank moderately on Naltrexone, it wasn't really any fun so there wasn't any more point to it. The headaches and hangover were worse than the 18 beers I'd usually do a night.