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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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  • bunter492
    bunter492 jan12

    Posted

    Bigbee - you shouldn't really bite a bit off. They are film coated because the drug itself caused some inflammation to areas in clinical trials. Are you sure they are genuine? Did you have to provide a 2 week drinking diary?  For me it was important to take a tablet a few hours before the drinking situation / threat.  Then I would maybe drink one beer and just not feel like drinking more (unheard of)  At first I thought it was just because the side effects were making me feel so sh*tty, but as the side effects reduced I found they were stopping the craving to start or carry on. It is no miracle drug imho, but it is helping me. I am nothing like as miserable as I used to be on a no drinking evening and feel I have broken the cycle.
    • Bigbee
      Bigbee bunter492

      Posted

      Hi Bunter

      Do you really think biting off a part is the problem maybe? I read on another forum that a lady was having problems with side effects on a full tablet and was going to give up,but then she tried a third and it was ok.Surely the protective film is going to come off in the stomach any way .I went to my doctor this Monday ,he wouldnt prescribe and said I should go to an abuse group.I bought the tablets on Tuesday from Medical Specialists on line.They seem a legit company ,but who knows. I was cutting down to around four cans of Foster anight befoe these tabs,maybe I'll carry on without them and keep trying to reduce.Trouble is Christmas is almost here, champers at Noon and drinking all day and I'm a dribbling baffoon asleep in a chair even before tea and games ! I hped the tablets would help to stop this.,I can cope with all the side effects Ive read about ,but this diarrhea is alwful ,still havent stoped yet .Plus I felt absolutley crap with a jet white tongue,beginning to feel better now and have ventured out into the cold to play with the dog and get some air

  • Bigbee
    Bigbee jan12

    Posted

    I took around a third of a tablet again around 6pm last night.About an hour later I started to get stomach cramps but not as bad as the other night.Around an hour later I had a bottle of lager.By then I had started to go to the loo ,at first it wasnt bad then it was again and again.Being persistant I carried on drinking and got to four cans of lager but felt really c rap.Sevral visits later and I felt too ill to talk to anyone so I went to bed at 10.30. Its 4.52 and I just got up because my daughter wants picking up as some things has gone wrong on her works night Xmas do mini bus home.Ive been to the loo twice again since getting up,i feel like Ive been kicked in the stomach.I cant take these pills again
    • PaulJTurner1964
      PaulJTurner1964 Bigbee

      Posted

      It's as Bunter said, though, Bigbee. They are coated for a reason. If you break a tablet, you lose the protection that is designed to prevent some of the side effects.
    • Bigbee
      Bigbee PaulJTurner1964

      Posted

      Do you think that could be the reason Paul? I dont have any of the side effects warned on the pamphlet or read on line.Terrible terrible runs with cramps and feel like death.Im just starting to feel better from the 6 o'clock third of a tablet last night
    • PaulJTurner1964
      PaulJTurner1964 Bigbee

      Posted

      I can't say for certain, but tablets which cause stomach irritation are often coated to minimise this effect higher up in the digestive system. They shouldn't be broken. Are you taking any other medication?

      I am asending you a link in a private message about coated tablets. (sending it here as it would need to be approved by the moderators if I send it publicly which would delay it getting to you)

    • Bigbee
      Bigbee PaulJTurner1964

      Posted

      Thanks for the link Paul ,youve been very helpful.I was thinking that I maybe be allergic to what ever is in them. I have a sort of IBS that is intolerant to some wheat products and other stuff ,in short ,I spend quite a lot of my time in loos any way ! -) Im worried that if I take a whole tablet it will be three times worse than taking a third,I could cope with that ,not could my bodya nd I cant see me surviving it.Maybe I should wait until Monday and speak to Lundbeck ,the makers again
    • Bigbee
      Bigbee

      Posted

      sorry ,bad fingers,i meant I couldnt cope ,nor could my body
    • PaulJTurner1964
      PaulJTurner1964 Bigbee

      Posted

      I think that you would probably get a better idea of how it worked by taking the recommended dose in the recommended way. The clinical trials resulted in Nalmefine being given a coating and, if the tablet is breaking down too early, in the stomach, rather than further down the digestive tract, stomach side effects will occur that the manufacturer has taken measures to prevent.

      It is always worth finding out information from the manufacturer if you are consider that you are a special case, with IBS potentially complicating things. Although they have done clinical trials to the point that this medication is considered safe to prescribe for people, they continue to collect data and all side effects have to be listed in drug publications like the British National Formulary (BNF). Also 'concra-indications' are listed which are conditions which a person may suffer from which means that they shouldn't be given this drug. I'm sure taht they would welcome your feedback, although it may be more useful to them when the medication is taken as recommended (i.e. tablets not broken).

      I think your fear about the actual dose may be unfounded because the drug is not supposed to break down and get into the blood stream from the stomach, itself.

    • Bigbee
      Bigbee PaulJTurner1964

      Posted

      Hi Paul

      Thanks for you help again! I'll speak to the manufacturers tomorrow.Are you a doctor? You seem very informed!

      regards

    • PaulJTurner1964
      PaulJTurner1964 Bigbee

      Posted

      I am not a doctor Bigbee. I am a qualified mental health nurse and an independent alcohol treatment practitioner.
  • bunter492
    bunter492 jan12

    Posted

    Hi Bigbee 

    I would speak to the manufacturer. Your reaction seems extreme for such a small dose.  Have you never taken a complete tablet? 

    I had had a big party family celebration last night. Lots of drink around. I could see my partner watching me (when will he make a fool of himself?). I took a tablet around an hour before and over the course of the evening had 2 cans of beer and 2 glasses of wine. OK I necked one of them as I felt I needed a hit at one point but overall an excellent result. Side effects much better - just a bit of a headache and the 'conscious of heartbeat' feeling. And no hangover. 

     

    • Bigbee
      Bigbee bunter492

      Posted

      Thanks Bunter

      I'll speak to the manufacturer tomorrow.

  • Vanderbilt
    Vanderbilt jan12

    Posted

    I feel lucky to have found a thread on this as I was getting creeped out about the side effects. I just "woke up" after having taken my first pill last night.. needless to say, my mind was in so many different places (bad high) that I couldn't care less about drinking anything. Now I just have an urge to constantly strech, I feel/felt tired, yet I couldn't get any sleep. Luckily it's Sunday.. I'll try to ware myself out physically, with the hope that it will help me get a good night sleep.

    As for alcohol? I'd rather find my own willpower than to get high on this pill..

    Hope you had better progress since posting the thread.

    • Bigbee
      Bigbee Vanderbilt

      Posted

      Hi

      Seems quite a dramatic side effect,Ive read this type is rare.If you dont mind could you expand on what you felt like please?Ive yet to take a whole tablet and this is not incouraging me !

      thanks

       

    • Bigbee
      Bigbee

      Posted

      sorry encourage ,I may drink too much but I did go to skool once!
    • Vanderbilt
      Vanderbilt Bigbee

      Posted

      Hey there,

      Sure - I was still in bed, annoyed when I posted my first thread; now typing from PC (much easier), plus my brain is in day mode.

      First I oughta metion these first few things about myself:

      I'm not exactly such a heavy drinker, and I like to think that I can control myself (though given that I live in London, it's difficult to find people whom you can call friend that don't enjoy several pints/bottles a day).

      I was having anxiety issues, with which I went to my doctor back in May - he prescribed Cipralex and Clonazepam (low dosage) - I have been taking these daily since without having had any issues, and I find them to be my miracle chill pills.

      It's highly recommended that one does not drink while on Clonazepam (as it enhances the effect), hence the doctor prescribed my Selincro as well.. "just in case" I get an urge to get wasted with friends.

      Well I have been drinking every now and then, sometimes not as heavy as on a general Saturday night, though I've increased my intake during the week. I decided to cut down on it, and as I didn't have any plans last night, I thought I should try my first Selincro pill, as they've been laying in my medcabinet for half a year.

      I've taken the pill before dinner (didn't think about dosage, as my aged/experienced doctor said I should just pop a pill a couple of hours before 'meeting my friends'; thenagain I weigh 220 lbs).

      The first thing I noticed (which I don't whether they were from the pills or not) were sweaty palms and feet, followed by a slight headache (slight as in.. I could feel my head). I did feel dizziness as well with a high dose of clumsiness (e.g. knocked over a few items here and there).

      As it was the evening and I was just watching shows on tv, I got very sleepy, with an urge of stretching (something which I don't do very often); I then decided to go ot bed.

      In bed, the palm/feet sweating was still present, along with the constant stretching, feeling tired - though I couldn't go to sleep.

      The little sleep that I got was not exactly sleep.. it was the type of lucid sleeping where I was aware of everything going on around me (I could tell as I had some relaxing music going on in the background).

      I had this until the morning when I decided to open my eyes, and face the fact that the next day has started, although it still felt as if it was the night before..

      So far, this is as detailed as I can go on the subject - in any case, i will try yo avoid the pills completly. Next time I will have the urge to drink, I should just think about these side effects of the pill, and the urge should go away; maybe that's the whole idea smile

      Evidently for people with heavier problems (I've seen in some threads where there have been cases of getting jailed and other problems) I WOULD recommend it - as it did do its primary job.

      Hope the info helps!

      All the best,

      N.V.

    • Bigbee
      Bigbee Vanderbilt

      Posted

      Ok thanks,not so bad as I first thought.Sounded like you could fly or some thing from your earlier post! Halucinations are one of the possible side effects apparently but do wear after a few days I think.It doesnt sound like you need Nalmefene to me??? You aint an old drunk like most of us on here !
    • PaulJTurner1964
      PaulJTurner1964 Vanderbilt

      Posted

      I am amazed that so many people who are in the group who would benefit from Nalmefene can't get it prescribed and your doctor has prescribed it simply because you are on another drug with which you shouldn't drink too much!! Typical of our postcode lottery NHS smile I can't tell you what to do about a drug that your doctor prescribed, but it seems you already worked that out smile
    • bunter492
      bunter492 Vanderbilt

      Posted

      Hi Vanderbilt. This forum is good.  Couple of times over the last few days I have had long stretches. They just slightly registered somewhere in my head as nice, ok, but unusual for me. We all stretch, but why notice it? I would never have associated such a random thing with the nalmefene - until I read your post. 
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