Naltrexone/Nalmefene (Selincro)/The Sinclair Method Hints and Tips
Posted , 64 users are following.
Since many of you are now either using, or considering using, naltrexone or nalmefene (Selincro) as per The Sinclair Method, I recently wrote the following short 'hints and tips' article that provide a guide to working with the medication, therefore helping to ensure the method is as smooth as possible for you.
http://www.sinclairmethoduk.com/getting-started-with-the-sinclair-method/
A second link is also included at the end of the article, specifically for those in the UK. Hopefully, this will help you navigate requesting a consultation and assessment from the NHS, to see if this medication might be suitable for you.
Many thanks, as always, to Paul Turner for fact-checking this article with me, and also to our moderator for pre-approving the link!
Joanna
Sinclair Method UK
20 likes, 140 replies
john019 Joanna-SMUKLtd
Posted
Joanna-SMUKLtd john019
Posted
Only a doctor can confirm if there will be an counterindications with prescription-only medications and/or cannabis.
I know of people who have successfully used naltrexone for The Sinclair Method and smoked cannabis, but I am unable to say whether this would be the case for you as I am not a physician.
Chesca27 Joanna-SMUKLtd
Posted
Dear Joanna, I have read plenty of the messages in this forum and I find it comforting to know I am not alone. I am a binge drinker, I can go weeks even months without drinking and I do not miss it. When I do drink and I have around 2 drinks and have that buzz, it is impossible for me to stop, and I have gone into 3 day or 5 day benders just to avoid the horrible physical withdrawal symptoms. I have been to the hospital from being so sick with withdrawals. I don't want to even get into the topic of black outs because I can't remember hardly anything I do when I have binge drinked and become a monster. To sum things up, I decided to try Selincro as I know for a fact I can't do this without medicine, and psychological help won't stop me from binge drinking. I tried Selincro yesterday for the first time at my house, so I could see what side effects I would get as I was a bit scared from everything I have read. I have a big trip tomorrow where there will be alcohol and some situations that give me anxiety, so I figured I better have Selincro with me for this trip. Problem is the side effects I got with Selincro yesterday/part of today where not good. I have to organize events and socialize with the guests, yesterday while on Selincro I couldn't even get the thoughts processed into words with my sister. I kept mumbling my words and couldn't even form a sentence that made sense sometimes. It was as if my thought and communication pattern was paralyzed. I was supposed to go shopping for a few things as well, which is an enjoyable activity for me, and I ended up staying home. Felt no pleasure whatsoever in even thinking about going out, lost my appetite, then I couldn't fall asleep so I had a Valium of 5mg (around 7 hours after I took Selincro). I slept but it was a very strange sleep, I kept waking up, it felt like I was somewhere else. Also i felt completely detached from myself, it was as if someone had smacked me on the head with a stick! Up to like 3 hours ago I felt like a zombie (24 hours since I had taken Selincro). So here is my question, or what I am wondering, if I am in a situation where I am at risk to drink in a work event once a month or once every month and half, will I get these weird side effects until I have tried 8 Selincro pills spaced a month apart?! I hate feelings like a zombie, and detached and even kind of depressed with the Selincro, and I can't communicate while I am on it, so how am I supposed to speak with work colleagues and clients? I don't know what to do! and I don't know if I should take one tomorrow in this huge work party. I even feel as of right now that I rather not touch a drop of alcohol than have to take a Selincro pill. Anyone who could please advice me what to do, for me it is all or nothing!
Joanna-SMUKLtd Chesca27
Posted
Hi, glad this forum has helped you.
Your side effects are not uncommon, and they do gradually reduce as you have read.
It's probably best to try get the first 6-8 tablets out the way as quickly as you can, as this will then get you through the side effect issue. The first tablet is the worse, and from then on it should get gradually easier and easier. Having a good meal about 30 minutes before the tablet and then drinking lots and lots of water throughout your wait, the drinking, and before you go to bed should help thing be more manageable for you. Once you are used to the tablets, then you do not need to eat first.
You only need one drink to move a step forward on this treatment, so it doesn't mean you have to drink lots whilst you are getting used to the medication.
Some people do report that if they leave it too long between drinking sessions then the side effects can flare up a bit next time they do take the tablet, but this is individual and you won't know if this will happen to you until you get into that situation.
For tomorrow, I would suggest that you do NOT take a Selincro but also DO NOT drink either. Give yourself a little break of a day before resuming on the tablets and a drink the day after. As I say, the quicker you can get yourself through these first few tablets and the side effects, the quicker it will be over.... This short term discomfort is very much worth the long-term gain that this medication can give.
Loobug Joanna-SMUKLtd
Posted
Hello Joanna.
I appreciate finding you here. This may be the wrong thread to ask this question and if so I apologize.
What if i take naltrexone in anticipation of drinking but then don't drink? Is that problematic? If I'm going to a situation where there may or may not be alcohol I'd prefer to take it as a protective measure if I could.
Thank you for your advice.
Joanna-SMUKLtd Loobug
Posted
Bangleina Joanna-SMUKLtd
Posted
Is there any help on the Gold Coast Australia? I have spoken to so many doctors that look at me blankly and have to google TSM then I have no trust in them guiding me correctly 😥
Joanna-SMUKLtd Bangleina
Posted
Under the rules of this forum, I cannot list specific doctors on the website publically, so I will Personal Message you the name of a doctor who fully understands and prescribes naltrexone (if medically suitable for you) as per The Sinclair Method protocol.
He is not particularly near you, but he uses Telehealth to be able to offer the treatment to anyone in Australia.
In a few moments, please check your message inbox on this forum.
Joanna.
serenamay Joanna-SMUKLtd
Posted
Bangleina serenamay
Posted
gerimaus Joanna-SMUKLtd
Posted
I'd stopped using Selincro, and recently took it again and, despite not drinking more than one glass of wine, I was terribly nauseated and unable to eat anything. It could be that I was already mildly unwell or it could be withdrawals, I am not sure. Leaflet said that restarting selincro should not entail such symptoms but I wonder if any of you had this experience ?
Joanna-SMUKLtd gerimaus
Posted
If it took a little while to get through the side effects the first time around you took it, then our experience shows that re-starting after a period of time tends to entail the same symptoms as you had the first time around as your brain and body adusts to the medication again.
Remember to ALWAYS eat a good, solid meal before taking the tablet as this helps prevent the worst of any nausea, and drink lots ot water too.
Once you have adjusted again, then you will be ok to take the tablet just with water without eating first.
If you can't adjust to it, then explain this to your prescriber and ask to be prescribed naltrexone instead. It does the same thing, gives the same results, is much less expensive to the NHS and is usually (by most) easier to tolerate.
HB9 Joanna-SMUKLtd
Posted
Hi Joanna,
After 30 years of drinking every night and the amount I drank gradually increasing, to well over a bottle of wine every evening (I am 48 female) I somehow have managed to stop drinking as part of a weight loss and general health goal (well almost..) For the last 6 weeks I have managed to abstain for 6 nights out of 7 every week. The trouble is on the 7th night when I do have a drink, I cannot seem to stop myself. I recognise that this may be genetic (my father is recovering alcoholic) and I desperately want to be able to have just 2 small glasses of wine for example, instead of 8/9/10!!!
I bought some selincro online a while ago and after reading all your great advice and the Sinclair Method, decided to try it out last night.
Unfortunately despite having eaten a solid meal, drinking loads of water and taking the tablet exactly as you state approx 2 hours before a drink I have suffered the most unbearable side effects. Vertigo and balance issues were first. Feeling as if I had drunk a whole load of strong coffee during the night (no sleep) along with an overwhelming urge to stretch my legs every few minutes in bed as they seemed to be curling up and cramping. Today I have dreadful nausea, a headache and dizziness which hasn't subsided at all and it is now over 24 hours since I took the tablet. I feel as if I have the most awful hangover, yet I only drank 4 small glasses of wine before going to bed.
I really couldn't risk taking this drug again as usually I have to drive (which would be out of the question) or play competitive sports the following day, which today would have been impossible. I have to function on alert tomorrow and I am very nervous I may still be suffering the effects.
I decided to try to obtain naltrexone online to see if that would be easier on me - I could start with a very small dosage first...however after an online consultation (with pharmacy 2U) I have been refused the prescription.
I now don't know what to do. I cannot carry on with selincro as the side effects are just too bad to cope with. I would rather drink to excess and have the worst hangover sadly. Unfortunately I don't want to tell my own doctor of my problem with alcohol so I am stuck.
Can you suggest any other way of trying to find naltrexone or someone who would prescribe it for me? I am based in the UK.
Joanna-SMUKLtd HB9
Posted
Selincro does sometimes have some initial side effect issues, in line with a lot of medications. There is often a bedding in period for many medications. But the first time is the worst and then it gets progressively easier over the following few tablets. The short term discomfort is well worth the long term gain that it offers. Perhaps schedule a time to get used to it when you can have two or three days with little planned? Eating a good meal prior to the tablet, and drinking plenty of water before, during and after can certainly help ease you into it somewhat.
There are no online pharmacies in the Uk that will provide the alternative (naltrexone) using an online doctor service. Naltrexone is a very old medication and is generally only prescribed to help cravings and prevent a relapse in someone who has already got abstinent. This means that a doctor has to prescribe it off-label to those who are still drinking and so it is not suitable for online doctors to provide as part of their online doctor services. They have to see a doctors prescription for it. This means that you would need to see a doctor face to face for naltrexone. This is usually not your GP, but rather a doctor who specialises in alcohol dependency at your local alcohol recovery service.
In terms of a private doctor, I don't know where you are in the UK, but there is certainly a very private provider who fully understands and supports the prescribing of naltrexone in the West Midlands. I can't put the link here, but you can find him by googling 'Paul Turner Alcohol Home Treatment'.
HB9 Joanna-SMUKLtd
Posted
Thank you so much for your prompt reply Joanna and for clarifying the reasons that naltrexone is not available to buy online privately.
Selincro is completely out of the question for me now as I would only be using the tablet once a week maximum rather than bedding in...and I simply couldn't go through similar side effects each time I decided to take it. (I read that the longer you leave in between taking the tablets, the effects are similar to the first time - it could be 2/3 weeks before I next try a drink). I am still suffering side effects today with bouts of nausea and it has now been 48 hours since taking the tablet.
Thank you for your google suggestion as this may be the route I need to go.