Naltrxone..the latest
Posted , 9 users are following.
Hi. Many of you know me on here already and thanks for all the advice you always give me.
Im in such a dilemma at the mo. Carry on with naltrexone or go down the total abstinence route with campral( like RHGB). Confused, depressed, very unhappy, feel ill all the time etc
Well you kind of know from my past about my horrendous drinking and consequences re many hospital admitions, cells, rehabs etc. Longest sober 5 months last year but was in a relationship. Been on my own now for 6 months( first time since 1989!).
Anyway, I've been taking naltrexone now on and off for several weeks. My drinking is now down to 3/4 to a bottle of white wine when I drink, using naltrexone.
The problem I am facing now is major depression and insomnia when I don't drink. It's horrendous. Major aches and pains, depression like I'm crying all the time, can't face anyone but my parents and kids. I've become a recluse!
Im so happy that I can drink now without more than bottle of white wine but the next day I feel horrendous. I know in the past that if I'd just drink a bottle I would be OK the next day. But now I'm horrendous the next day as though I'd drunk 2-3 bottles.
At the mo my life is not good. As the after effects stink!
Should I keep going or should I try the total abstinence thing? Help!
0 likes, 51 replies
Misssy2 Paper_fairy
Posted
Possibly, these "side effects" will subside..so since you may not feel ready to stop drinking totally...than I would give the "pill" some more time.
For me...I have found the only way I feel totally well and healthy is abstinence. Do I like that solution? Not all the time. But for me I know that drinking either leads to sickness or in my case death. Because I know for me...if the "pill" made me feel crappy...I would simply stop taking the pill.
Don't stop taking it..because it has cut you down on drinking. And I hope you can find what you need. Most of all I hope you find peace and happiness.
I have chosen to be abstinent....its the only way I am going to live. And it is very difficult at times...It is the most difficult when I want to escape...So, I have started to "read"...I get up and go when I am anxious....I'm really trying to take my antidepressent medication as prescribed....and I'm doing ok.
Paper_fairy
Posted
well woke up at midday, feeling rubbish. As always! It's a beautiful sunny day and I just keep thinking about this time last year, when I'd been sober for a few months and how different my weekends were. I can honestly say that I used to wake up exited and happy about the day ahead. Not felt that since last year. Just ill, depressed, useless, can't be bothered to eat etc
sitting in bed wasting my life away. The only way to get through the day after a coffee and feeling rubbish is to continue to drink on the naltrexone. So I took tablet with large glass of water and banana, 1 hour before, as I've done for 3 days now. On second glass of white wine with loads of ice to water it down. Any better..no not yet. I have a few questions I need to ask but will do so in another post. This is because I sometimes write a massive long one but it disappears and it's so frustrating.
So to be continued....
RHGB Paper_fairy
Posted
But how long have you been taking naltrexone, for most people it takes soem time to have the proper effect.
One way you know it will fail, is if you give up. You know you don't want to do that.
Paper_fairy
Posted
I got to a point couple of weeks ago where I thought wow it's working. But I was sober for several days and then was just taking it and drinking at weekends. I hope Joanna or anyone else in the know will advise me to go back to doing that. As I can't cope day after day with drinking . I need a break. The depression and feeling like I can't do anything the next day, re naltrexone or wine hangover, I just can't carry on.
I think maybe it's because I've experienced long term sobriety and I know I can stay sober. But occasionally I relapse and drink, though never like I used to. All I want is to have a drink every now and then, especially if I go on holiday. I can go weeks, love my life, stay sober but no I'm always going to relapse at some point, be days, weeks, months..it happens.
THIS IS IT...CAN I HAVE A BREAK FOR A WEEK OR TWO OR JUST A FEW DAYS? Then try again for a day or two. ? As I've not drank for this long without a break for 4 years, before rehab. I really don't know what to do. HELP 😢
RHGB Paper_fairy
Posted
One question, what happened to make you go from only drinking at weekends, back to daily drinking?
Joanna-SMUKLtd Paper_fairy
Posted
The tablet is to be taken one hour prior to drinking, every drinking session. You don't take a tablet on any days that you don't drink.
So, yes, if you feel you can not drink for a day then try it. If you can, then you can. Don't white knuckle it though. If you start to crave, then take the tablet and have a drink an hour later.
You must NOT drink without taking the tablet and waiting one hour, otherwise your brain will get the endorphin rush and this method will not work for you.
Hope that helps!
Paper_fairy RHGB
Posted
Im not sure if you or anyone understand what I'm trying to say?
Paper_fairy RHGB
Posted
Paper_fairy
Posted
Joanna-SMUKLtd Paper_fairy
Posted
You don't have to drink daily to have the naltrexone work for you!
But you do have to take it one hour prior WHEN you drink, EVERY time you drink. That is it. On days that you don't drink you need to do something to give yourself a good endorphin boost and that will feel good. Your brain will move away from wanting to drink because the naltrexone is blocking the good feeling, and it will move towards wanting the other activities that feel good.
I think part of the issue you are having with this is that you don't really seem to have a full understanding of the method and how it works.
I have your email address so I will email you a copy of the book that not only explains the science of HOW and WHY this works, but also how to do the method to your best advantage. Please take some time to read it. It will help you a huge amount.
At the moment, you have all the pieces to a jigsaw but are trying to force the pieces where they don't fit , and that is making things really difficult for you. Once you understand what you are trying to achieve with the naltrexone, those jigsaw pieces will start to fall into place.
Paper_fairy Joanna-SMUKLtd
Posted
So can I stop now and the naltrexone thing will work for me if I have a relapse ? I have to keep repeating that thankfully I don't need to drink every day or get craving sometimes. Can I now just take naltrexone when I get the need , be days or weeks?
Paper_fairy
Posted
Need a break from feeling rubbish xx
Joanna-SMUKLtd Paper_fairy
Posted
If you don't drink one day, or two days etc, then don't take the tablet but do something that will give you an endorphin rush that you will enjoy - go for a short work, a little exercise, enjoy a spicy meal. Anything that feels good. That will help you lift your mood when you don't take the naltrexone and don't drink.
RHGB Paper_fairy
Posted
RHGB Paper_fairy
Posted
We all cope with different things in different ways. My strenght came from reading what was written here, I can remember my first post, which Paul replied to, and it explained to me some things. Like why I had still gone through cold turkey, even with diazepam, because I had been given too lower dose.
I read here, everywhere on the internet, other forums, I consumed knowledge, until I had begun to understand what alcohol did to people and how there body and mind reacts, particularly over a long period. It helped me to understand why a detox wasn't enough to get me off of alcohol and why I had managed to releapse after a year of drinking.
I managed to find a key to the lock, that was my problem. We all have that ability, it is just finding it and not giving up until we have.
colin30375 RHGB
Posted
You're right, professional de-tox is only just that - getting sober without too much pain then it's usually back to square one.