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selincro/nalmefene and alcohol

Posted , 71 users are following.

jan12
jan12

I drink between 1 and 2 bottles of wine a night. Took my first selincro tablet yesterday afternoon and genuinely didn't feel like I wanted any booze, not sure whether this is psychological or not but who cares, it seems to work. Unfortunately I took the tablet when picking my daughter up from school as I didn't see anywhere that they cause drowsiness so I drove home feeling really spaced out, not good, in fact probably more dangerous than driving after a couple of glasses of wine. I virtually had no sleep last night also. Is anyone else having similar problems?

12 likes, 404 replies

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  • gerimaus
    gerimaus jan12

    Posted

    I had such palpitations on the first day I used Selincro that my head hurt, but it could also have been because it was a Zumba party and I exercised a lot meanwhile - does this make a difference?

    I did use it a couple of days ago and I slept well though had to sleep through most of the next day too - however I did drink out of the window of opportunity simply because we started earlier than I'd thought.  Is it ok to take the pill 3 hours before you think you might go out, just to be sure that you are well protected before you start to drink? 

    • PaulJTurner1964
      PaulJTurner1964 gerimaus

      Posted

      That is the side effects of Selincro which wear off as your body gets accustomed to it. Having a meal before talking it can help with some of the side effects. It is find to drink three hours after taking the pill but, to make TSM work properly and more quickly, it is absolutely essential that you NEVER drink when not protected by a pill.
    • gerimaus
      gerimaus PaulJTurner1964

      Posted

      I agree with you there, Paul, because I have been prescribed Selincro a couple of months back and there were times when I found myself around drink but without my Selincro handy (i.e. I would not have been aware beforehand that I would find myself in a drinking situation) and the results were disastrous.

      I am finding that obtaining emotional support is a bit tricky in terms of time frames (availability of services are usually during the day and I do work long hours).

      Thank you so much for your advice, yes I will have a meal with the pill and see if that helps.  The night I had tingles all over my body and a very high blood pressure, coupled with flutterings in my chest (not unlike an anxiety attack) and a headache meant I had to take time off work the next day but I guess the effort is worth it so I am trying to get used to it over weekends first.

      I guess the trick is to keep picking up and moving forward...

    • Oka12
      Oka12 PaulJTurner1964

      Posted

      I just joined this site. Today is my second time taking selincro and I am not sure I am doing it correctly. I took one in the evening and got terrible headache and nausea so I went to bed. Didn't drink at all. Felt terrible all day so stayed in bed most of the day. Head spinning so didn't attempt to drive.. I took one this evening about 1 hour ago and feeling queasy.. I don't feel like drinking at all. Is this the affect should I be expecting? Or do is till need to take one drink so that my brain get a message that it's not enjoyable? I don't want to drink at all so it's putting me off from drinking all together but I am not sure if this is the way to use this medication. I am a daily wine drinker. Typical working mum, dinner on a glass of red, then more at the table.. Half a bottle won't satisfy me so would have another glass.. Weekends 1 bottle per night.. I want to shop but mentally relying on the wine o'clock.. Do I need to take this medicine to feel sick so that I don't want to drink? Or there are more to it? Thank you.. My GP didn't really explained to me...

    • Joanna-SMUKLtd
      Joanna-SMUKLtd Oka12

      Posted

      Am sure that Paul will be along to answer soon, Oka12, but here is a link for you to read that will help explain what the medication does and how to take it.  Only one drink is needed but if you can, it is worth taking that drink now that you have taken the tablet.  Please also try ensure you wait 2 hours between taking the tablet and drinking to allow it to be fully absorbed properly.

      https://patient.info/health/sinclair-method-for-alcohol-use-disorder

      You are experiencing the side effects of starting a new medication, as people do with a lot of medications.  With Selincro, the side effects will start lessening from now on each time you take the tablet.

      In the meantime, you can really help ease them along by having a meal about an hour before you take the tablet and drinking lots (and I mean, lots!) of water.  A glass with the tablet, another whilst you are waiting the time and also before you go to bed.

      I know it's not nice.  I've taken them myself but I can promise you that it does get easier from now on and the short term discomfort of the medication is well worth the long term gain that the medication will give you.

    • PaulJTurner1964
      PaulJTurner1964 Oka12

      Posted

      As Joanna said, the side effects do lessen and should disappear after a few days. The purpose of the drug is not to make you feel sick when you drink. It is a real shame that this hasn't been explained to you properly. The best way to find out how it is supposed to work is to follow Joanna's link or Google 'the sinclair method'

      I hope it gets easier for you soon.

  • LondonIan
    LondonIan jan12

    Posted

    Before taking my first Selincro 2 days ago (Wednesday) these forums had me scared this was a horrible idea.  This seems to be the most popular thread on this topics so I thought I should I add a no side effects comment to the conversation. 

    I took my first Selincro exactly as istructed by my doctor and pharmacist, 90 minutes before drinking.  I felt nothing except anticipation of my first ale and annoyance at now having to wait 90 minutes which means I would be drinking later into the night than I'd like midweek.  I had my normal starter of 2 srong ales and didnt go for 2 more or any shots from the liquor cabinet.  So a pretty successful home trial of Selcinro.

    That night I did wake up a few times which would be normal for going to bed boozy.  The next day, yesterday, I was in a much better mood than normal when I woke up (not hungover).  I went to work, had a great day.  After work I went to the gym as I always do on Thursdays and everything was totally normal.  Zero side effects or weirdness.

    So, it is possible to start Selcinro without days of misery.  Don't let the possibility of, and frequent posts about, side effects put you off this medication and TSM.

  • mandy92524
    mandy92524 jan12

    Posted

    i took my first selincro tablet yesterday midday. Within a short period of time i was feeling so dizzy and spaced out. I felt like id had a drink!!! I was unsteady and slurring my words and needed to have a lie down. It did not wear off all day. I can get why you wouldnt want to drink on these tablets because they just make you feel so disorientated and i dread to think what would happen if you did have a drink.I wanted to take them as i seem to have no will power of my own to cut down. Even though i wish i could stop i just cant stop at one or two drinks like most people, seem to have to drink myself into oblivion. The side effects were difficult and it completely interfered with my nights sleep. Even though i felt completely exhausted i was kept awake by a banging headache all night and felt bit hyper. Just as alcohol intereferes with sleep process so do these tablets. I dont know exactly how i should be taking them. Im wary to take another one now...seems theres a price to pay. I didnt have a drink but i still woke up feeling like i have hangover from hell.. 
    • Joanna-SMUKLtd
      Joanna-SMUKLtd mandy92524

      Posted

      Mandy,

      The first tablet is always the worse and it gets easier and easier each time from now on, until the side effects disappear completely.

      You can make it easier on yourself by eating a good, solid meal about an hour before the tablet, and drinking lots and lots of water - with the meal, with the tablet, during the wait before drinking alcohol and then before you go to bed.

      This short term discomfort is well worth the long term gain that these tablets provide.

      If you read back through this entire thread, you will see some links and good advice to help you get over this bump with the medication.

    • Nat666
      Nat666 mandy92524

      Posted

      Hi Mandy , please don't be put off by your first experience of Selincro .Take Joanna's advice as I did when I began the tablets.I was lucky with side effects only feeling a bit spaced out and buzzy initially but they do pretty much dissappear after a few days and best of all the medication works !

      I have been taking Selincro since early December ,I tended to be a binge drinker two or three times a week and always planning my next drinky sesh.Everything has dramatically changed and I now have a couple of small glasses of wine Sat and Sun nights .I am already beginning to feel I don't have much desire to even do that but I know the importance to keep on and I mustn't be complacent and feel the job is already done ! ...It's a journey.

      In the beginning I took the Selincro daily (followed by 2 hrs wait and a drink ) for the first couple of weeks but I now only take the tablets on the days I intend to drink (2hrs before first drink) or if I am going to be in a situation where there may be a risk of drinking. Never drink without taking a tablet 2 hrs before that first one

      Wishing you the best of luck and let us know how you are doing.There is lots of support on here 👍😊

    • mandy92524
      mandy92524 Nat666

      Posted

      i decided i would take a tablet saturday evening as i knew i would be drinking. i took it 2 hours beforehand but i found it had no effect on the amount i drank. I tend to binge drink. I cant stop at one or two glasses like normal people.I ended up drinking two bottles of white and half of red and a beer.The tablet did not make me feel i needed to stop. i just think im best not touching a drop. I was always able to  have a couple and that be enough but as  ive got older my drinking is out of control. I wished i could just have a couple. I find these tablets dupe you into feel a little drunk so maybe then you dont carry on drinking so much. I find im slurring and dizzy when i take them and the next day the hangover was the worst ever.id like to know what they contain and how they are supposed to work. i think need to know more about them. im also on antidepressants and taking hrt so maybe they arent working well with my other medication..

       

  • Brits81
    Brits81 jan12

    Posted

    It's not suprising that this drug illeviates alcohohol withdrawal because you are too busy off your face on it...............I used to spend a month in Ibiza and tried most things.........this stuff is 100 times worse. The high/spaced out feeling lasts for 30 minutes then the come down is 24 hours like you hav taken a cocktail of Class A! It's the worst feeling I have ever had and only taken 1 tablet, no sleep, sweats, hallucinations the list goes on. each to their own and everyone responds differently but I would not recommend anyone taking this. Get a craving then go to the gym and drink iced water...........for somne reason our brains process the fulfilment like alcohol. Don't know why but studied psychology.

    • gwen45436
      gwen45436 Brits81

      Posted

      Oh boy - that is scary reading.  That is what has put me off trying it and I am going it alone.  I have a pack of Diazepam for panic attacks, had it for a few  years but not taken any yet.  Emergency only but nervous to take one anyway.  Same with sleeping tabs - got a pack but too scared to take one.  Think I will continue on my own.  

      I cannot imagine being "off my face on this drug" I am too scared.

      But then we are all different - there are so many good posts from people who this has helped and probably saved their lives.

      Really sorry this has not worked out for you. 

      G.

    • PaulJTurner1964
      PaulJTurner1964 Brits81

      Posted

      I have heard a lot of people say this about nalmefene (Selincro). However, if the side effects are that severe, it is worth asking your doctor to prescribe naltrexone, which has far less severe side effects. It is not the severity of side effects that is supposed to stop you drinking, those are an unwanted complication.
    • gary00944
      gary00944 PaulJTurner1964

      Posted

      I would love to try Naltrexone but my GP will not prescibe without a letter from Turning point and they will not send a letter unless i have abstained from drink for some time.
    • PaulJTurner1964
      PaulJTurner1964 gary00944

      Posted

      Crazy! The reason for that is that naltrexone is licenced for use with people who are abstinent. You need a doctor willing to stick his/her neck out and prescribe 'off-licence' which is perfectly legal and acceptable but has to be justifiable and many doctors don't consider themselves as experts who could easily justify doing that.

    • belena41
      belena41 gary00944

      Posted

      I got my prescription from the GP, who had no idea what seleincro was until i told her, i had all the research done, papers that were published printed off and I brought them with me, at least she could then have a qucik read herself. I was able to tell her what the side effects were and that this was approved by the FDA. There was nothing much she could say as i wanted this med and had a right to get it.
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