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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

404 Replies

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  • hope4cure
    hope4cure jan12

    Posted

    Jan, I hope u have stayed with the medication. It's not always pleasant. I am so sorry,... Yet it is worth taking the edge off UR cravings long enough to quit.

    please seek counseling during this time. The more u know the less u will crave alcohol.

    when u have a set back, don't step back, God is preparing you for a come back!

    • linda85269
      linda85269 jan12

      Posted

      Hi Jan happy new year! Have you managed to start again with the tabs? 
  • jan12
    jan12

    Posted

    I've now been taking selencro on and off for the last 2 months. I've not taken any for the past 2 weeks and have just downed a bottle of wine. It looks to me that these may be needed as a long term solution to the drink problem so will start taking them regularly again for a week starting tomorrow. I noticed that some people have found an increased urge to stretch, i thought that i was the only one that had this, so that's reassuring. Hope you all had a good christmas and start the new year with a decreased desire for booze. Take care everyone and don't give up. Jan
    • hope4cure
      hope4cure jan12

      Posted

      Jan,

      It takes longer than a few weeks to remove the cravings from the brain. Be patient get back on UR meds . Stay with them and take them a long as u need to get a good head start away from the brain cravings of the drug alcohol .

      Also please the drug alcohol controls the mind..body & spirit, the new drug hasn't failed u .It helps when u take it. Also find local support from local rehab and other support groups u can get involved with. This takes work and time. No one ever said stopping was as simple as taking a pill. It helps suppress the cravings.

      Give yourself credit u did stop, and I am sorry to hear u relapsed. But you know how to get thru this and start by calling UR doc and telling him u need help and a higher dose may be the way to help u,and stay on the drug as long as u r under doc supervision.

      Be patient it's ok to relapse its part of the addiction. Their is truly a science to addiction / relapse. They go hand in hand. It's when you get past the addiction in UR head once the cravings stop undermining UR success to sobriety. If this drug has failed you it's only the first of many it has the first time. You must not stop taking it until u are free from the nagging cravings. 

      Study online about how alcohol control YOU. u will be amazed how much u will learn to better understand the process of rehab..and to success.

      HOPE4CURE

       

    • jan12
      jan12 hope4cure

      Posted

      Thanks for the encouragement, I'm really going to give the meds another try. New year new start, doubt it'll be that easy but here's hoping.
    • linda85269
      linda85269 jan12

      Posted

      Hi Jan go for it. I'm here with you and starting the meds tomorrow. Keep going you've got this far so got to be the right direction. 
    • Bigbee
      Bigbee linda85269

      Posted

      Im going to start mine again tomorrow.Ive read about the side effects and read a lady who only  took a third of a tablet at time and was fine.Ive taken a third twice and was really ill twice.Im going for a whole tablet now ,let see how it goes

  • gillian_03620
    gillian_03620 jan12

    Posted

    Hi Jan, don't you have to see your doctor first before getting selincro.?
  • Badga61
    Badga61 jan12

    Posted

    I have just been prescribed this by my GP.  Before reading the leaflet, I had already cut up the tablet and taken about a third. So glad I did. It effected me in about 30 mins and made me feel completely stoned!  It did do the trick as well as I only drank half as much as I would normally.  The thing about not cutting it up is based on skin allergy - I wear my washing up gloves to do it.  I am on day three and dare not take a full tablet yet.  They are SOOOOOO strong!  My sleep is dreadful with them. Like I am half asleep/dozing.  Sleeping in the day is not a good idea whe you work!  So, I am thinking about hot having a drink or a tablet (half of one) tonight, just to get some sleep.  Will this stop me getting used to them?
    • linda85269
      linda85269 Badga61

      Posted

      Hi I am no expert because I am on my third week taking them and I agree about the side affects but I have seen on this site the recommendation not to cut them up as they are coated to delay action until in your stomach. I too work but have coped.
    • PaulJTurner1964
      PaulJTurner1964 Badga61

      Posted

      Badga. It is not recommended that you break the tablets as they are coated to protect your stomach as well as your skin.

      However, I have read of cases where Naltrexone, a similar drug, has been given in smaller doses initially (first two days), to allow the body to get accustomed to it. I can't say that you should do that with Nalmefene as it goes against the advice given with the tablets.

      I think that the Nalmefene, in your case, is being broken down higher up the digestive tract than it is designed for and that could well be the reason you are experiencing more extreme side effects.

    • Badga61
      Badga61 PaulJTurner1964

      Posted

      I think my question is more around, if I do not take one tonight (as sleep is higher on my priority list) will that affect me getting used to them and being able to take them without any side effects long term?  I have been dreadful since taking them due to the sleep deprivation.
    • PaulJTurner1964
      PaulJTurner1964 Badga61

      Posted

      Your body will get accustomed to Nalmefene as you take more doses. There is no reason why you shouldn't miss days and you should ONLY take the Nalmefene if you plan to drink. I would suggest that, if you can have a night without drinking, don't take the Nalmefene and get yourself a decent night's sleep to catch up.
    • linda85269
      linda85269 PaulJTurner1964

      Posted

      Hi Paul I get conflicting advice from my support worker who is telling me to take everyday whether I plan to drink or not. I have given him a copy of the instructions so I follow your advice. My doctor wants a 6 month plan from support before he will prescribe more so I am being careful about how many I take.
    • PaulJTurner1964
      PaulJTurner1964 linda85269

      Posted

      Linda, I am not sure where that advice is based on. Nalmefene works by blocking the endorphins from attaching to the receptors to give pleasure from drinking. There is no point in taking Nalmefene and then not drinking (unless you are trying to get your body accustomed to them in the first few days.)

      All research into the use of Nalmefene + abstinence have shown that there is no benefit to using it in this way.

      It's a little like sitting in your car and putting your seatbelt on without starting the car and moving anywhere.

    • Badga61
      Badga61 PaulJTurner1964

      Posted

      Decided to take some last night (half a tab) as I wanted a drink, and things are now improving on the sleep front.  They definitely work, as my drinking amount has halved.  I understand how they work, however, can only find clinical efficacy from two 24-month RCTs (ESENSE 1 and 2).  Is there any evidence for what happens after stopping treatment at 6-months, as seems to be the suggestion of guidelines.  What happens then?  Is the effect on the brain permanent, or do you continue to have to take hepatotoxic medication for the rest of your life, otherwise you will revert to previous form?  Not happy, if that is the case.
    • PaulJTurner1964
      PaulJTurner1964 Badga61

      Posted

      Badga. Nalmefene does not do harm to your liver in normal usage. Taking Nalmefene, you are basically retraining your body to not need a drink. If you drink without it, you will find your drinking will begin to increase again. You don't have to take a tablet if you don't drink. In fact you shouldn't take one if you don't then drink.

       

    • linda85269
      linda85269 Badga61

      Posted

      Hi I am wondering how long your Gp is happy to prescribe these to you but you have answered that already, my Gp will only prescribe 6 months so I too am wondering what happen then. My support worker wants me to be sober by then but my plan was to cut down drastically by taking the tabs.
    • PaulJTurner1964
      PaulJTurner1964 linda85269

      Posted

      I will be honest, here. Clearly, neither of those people should have anything to do with Nalmefene if that is how they think it works. It takes a few minutes for them to read about how the drug works. I am stunned by the incompetence of so-called specialists but that is nothing new where alcohol is concerned.
    • linda85269
      linda85269 PaulJTurner1964

      Posted

      I will follow your advice regarding taking the tablets when I plan to drink but if my Gp doesn't get the plan from my support that I will be sober in 6 months he won't prescribe any more. I have 2 weeks left and my appointment with GP is 4th Feb.
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