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Naltrexone and Campral

Posted , 11 users are following.

Paper_fairy
Paper_fairy

Hi all! What a beautiful day, the sun is shining and "the normals"(not us) are enjoying being outside..bbqs, drinking outside pubs, etc.just enjoying a few glasses of wine, beer or whatever, and it's so annoying. Well that has been me for 4 years, hating the fact that I couldn't do that anymore..

Good news I think I can now due to naltrexone. I just can't believe how amazing this drug is. The last few days I've been on the drink with naltrexone taken correctly and I can honestly say that I haven't been able to drink more than 3/4 bottle of white wine. Today I took tablet at 1.00, it's now 5.45 and I've only had half bottle..I am so glad I found this forum as I'm beginning to think I might be able to go out socialising and holidays, which I haven't been able to do for years..2 be cont...

2 likes, 44 replies

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  • Paper_fairy
    Paper_fairy

    Posted

    cont..so yes I should be grateful as I'm doing ok, apart from insomnia and a bit of a hangover the next day but maybe I want the impossible..now I'm taking naltrexone for a few months now, it's working but I'm wanting to drink everyday now(cravings) and I have had long periods of sobriety in the past. But it was so hard for me on days like this. But I was living with a guy for 3 1/2 years who was 20 plus years sober so didn't crave as was content.

    So I'm going to be really selfish here(but you have to have some empathy as I've been to hell and back, no joke) so can I take campral along side naltrexone as I don't want to drink every evening plus I've zero will power? Please don't judge me and think me selfish and I'm sorry if I've offended anyone. I just want to be able to drink at weekends, holidays but abstain during the week which I'm not able to do at the mo. So can I take both campral and naltrexone ? Best wishes to everyone xx

    • nicole36330
      nicole36330 Paper_fairy

      Posted

      I can't answer your question but am interested in the answers.

      I've been in Nalmefene for about a month now and no real reductions in cravings but I'm just pushing in

    • ADEfree
      ADEfree Paper_fairy

      Posted

      No, I don't think you're selfish at all! Can't say I know about Campral and Naltrexone either, maybe Paul would have some input there, or perhaps RHGB has some leads? 

      How long have you been using Naltrexone, Paper? 

    • ADEfree
      ADEfree nicole36330

      Posted

      Did you notice any reduction in your drinking when you first started Naltrexone, Nicole? 
    • nicole36330
      nicole36330 ADEfree

      Posted

      Yes,initially it was amazing but I know that's just the honeymoon period
    • Joanna-SMUKLtd
      Joanna-SMUKLtd nicole36330

      Posted

      That fact that you have had a honeymoon period, is a brilliant indicator that it will work for you long term as long as you remain compliant. biggrin

      Always please wait 2 hours before drinking and aim for the mindful drinking as often as you can.  You are only human, and won't always manage mindful drinking, but if you try for it then most times you will.

    • RHGB
      RHGB Paper_fairy

      Posted

      Yes, there have been a number of tests and studies that show the combination of the two are safe and can be effective. They both work effectively as a tag team. Naltrexone reduces the positive reinforcing properties (the kick/buzz from alcohol) and Campral reduces the negative reinforcing properties (craving).

      However, Campral is designed to help people who want to give up and that isn't what you want to do, so I don't think it is right for you. Campral wants to stop you drinking, by stopping the craving and resetting your system during PAWS. By carrying on drinking, you are going to be fighting against that.

      For anyone that was looking to give up and wanted to take both, then I would say yes, they would help together, compliment each other. As it is, they are likely to work against each other.

    • nicole36330
      nicole36330 RHGB

      Posted

      When I was using baclofen I gave up alcohol,it was great and I'd love to have that feeling again.Is campral like that.I literally had no interest in alcohol whatsoever
    • Joanna-SMUKLtd
      Joanna-SMUKLtd RHGB

      Posted

      Not sure that taking both if someone wanted to give up would be that effective as naltrexone is shown not to work too well with abstinence.

      The research, as I understand it, seems to suggest to try one or the other and then if that doesn't work try combine them both.

      Taking both during TSM might not work too well, because sometimes you can wake not wanting to drink that day, so take the campral.

      If, then, at some point during the day you do end up craving to drink then you would need to do TSM to take a step towards extinction of cravings that appear out the blue - therefore, rendering the campral ineffective.  TSM cannot be worked properly if someone were to try whiteknuckle the cravings because they were also taking campral.

      This is something that I haven't any direct experience of, either in myself or others, so have nothing to use as practical experience but the theory to me seems to suggest that campral and naltrexone as per TSM, wouldn't work too well.  Any thoughts?

    • Kelly2727
      Kelly2727 nicole36330

      Posted

      I also used baclofen.  It was easier "not" to drink but I was afraid of trading one addiction for another so I stopped.  That was when I relapsed after 2 weeks sober.  I'm going to give the "non addictive" naltrexone a try.  At this point I am willing to try anything.  Good luck!!  
    • terra70469
      terra70469 nicole36330

      Posted

      Hi Nicole

      Did you start drinking again after your Baclofen "switch"?

    • RHGB
      RHGB nicole36330

      Posted

      I'm working on what you and a handful of others have said WRT Baclofen.

      It sounds like Baclofen completely tramples on any craving for alcohol. That is its positive benefit. The negative is that it requires such serious high dosages, that it has side effects for virtually everybody and that is why it is not commonly used, because it gets in the way of leading a normal life.

      Campral on the other hand just makes you not think about alcohol, or at least not craving for it. You can have a bad day and your thoughts won't immediately turn to alcohol to deal with it. Positively, it has no side effects, no addiction, or withdrawals and does not intefere with medications that people who have become alcohol depedent must take Important for me, because I take many..

      So, out of the two, Baclofen is probably the stronger, but Campral is far easier to fit in with a lifestyle and if you relapse whilst on it, there are no side effects.

    • nicole36330
      nicole36330 RHGB

      Posted

      Yes

      If I didn't work I would definetly try it again.After you have reached your switch and been on it a while most of the SE's go away apparently but I just couldn't function properly in the meantime

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