Naltrexone

[ArtichokeSurprise]

Is anybody else using naltrexone for alcohol support? I'm surprised that there's only two references to it across the entire history of Mumsnet, when for me (and thousands of others), it was an instant transformation and easily got me to cut my alcohol consumption by two thirds. I can still have a drink socially, but once I've had one or two, that's enough. I feel so sad reading all the AIBU "My husband is an alcoholic, should I leave?" threads, where the answers given are almost always "yes, leave, it will never change" when for me taking this pill changed things so much!

I used it to stop TEN years ago!
amazing!

How do you get it? Just ask your Dr?

Not sure how it is in the UK, but here in Australia it's the recommended drug for alcohol use disorder, so no difficulty getting it from the Dr (although they only prescribe two months at a time).

@nzeire how did you find it? Did you take it daily or just when drinking? Did you stop taking it after a while?

I had been in my “journey” for some time, counselling, group therapy etc. it was suggested to me by my counsellor and I had to have an appointment with the doctor at the drug/alcohol clinic I was attending.

I took it for about a month, didn’t drink during that time, and had no cravings whatsoever. It was a miracle drug for me.

in Nz

And have not drunk a drop since :)

Is that the Sinclair method? I looked into it before I stopped drinking but sounded more faff than just stopping drinking altogether. Great it’s worked well for you though. Me cutting my consumption by 2/3 would still have meant me drinking over recommended safe limits mind you.

I think in the UK, there is more of an emphasis on behavioural and 12 step recovery focussed methods rather than medical methods (beyond medically assisted detox). I know when I lived in the US 15+ years ago, naltrexone was certainly a thing and people were using it. Why that isn't the case is likely down a bit to NICE guidelines (what is most effective for the cost of providing it given the evidence we have), but I think it's also cultural too. We tend not to medicalise things as readily in the UK as in more privatised health care systems.

All that being said, I think within circles of people I am in, I think there would be a weariness about using a pill to allow yourself to continue to drink even if in moderation. There is a really point of pride with being sober and not having had a drink for however many days/months/years. I think naltrexone can be a useful tool to get to the point of stopping, but I suspect people who want to use it long-term as a way to moderate, would find it more tricky to find their communities of support. I say that not as a judgement, but simply because it's so important to find a support community if you are trying to deal with problem drinking.

That said, I do have to laugh too at the usual MN response that an alcoholic will never change or can never be trusted or can never be a good partner or good parent. Because thinking about the alcoholics I know (who are now sober), they are literally the most together, responsible people who are great partner and great parents. Actually, between dh and I, dh still drinks moderately and I'm an alcoholic who is now sober. I am by far the more responsible, present parent of the two of us. The kids come to me when they need support or reassurance or to talk about something that makes them uncomfortable or worried. Because despite having a drinking problem in the past, I'm really together and on the ball and available and engaged. As are nearly all the sober people I know. Much more so than all the 'normal drinkers' I know, if we're looking at the groups as a whole. But this obviously all comes down to the stigma around addiction and what people 'think' addicts are like - perhaps based off very limited experience of people in active addiction.

Thanks for the thoughtful reply @mindutopia (and congrats @nzeire & @TooOldForThisNonsense on your sobriety). I understand what you're saying about the pride in being sober and not having had a drink for x days/weeks/months. It's interesting that you highlight that naltrexone can be a useful tool to get to the point of stopping - I didn't want to stop drinking when I started taking it (from fear and not wanting to give up something pleasurable), but I'm about six weeks in and the experience of being able to control my drinking and not drink without much in the way of cravings is starting to show me that this it's possible for me to stop, that it won't be too bad, and even that it might be better!

My friend is using this drug and is on day 2 - it seems to be a horrible experience. They have been given it to help reduce their consumption before they can start a home detox.

Has anyone had awful side effects or is this more likely to be withdrawal?

I was told to take it last thing at night and to take a half dose for five days to minimise any side effects, but apart from a slight loss in libido, I haven't noticed any side effects at all. The product leaflet does mention common side effects like nausea, anxiety and insomnia though; I think it would be difficult to say whether any effects are due to the drug or alcohol withdrawal. Has your friend suddenly stopped drinking?

They were told to use it while cutting down, but they are dependent and Dr Google says they shouldn't be taking it until they have stopped. They are calling the real doctor today....

I’ve tried namelfene which is similar - but I had to take it 1 -2 hours before drinking. I felt quite numb /got no buzz from the drink then felt ill so I didn’t want to drink anymore so in that respect it did work. I did however relapse massively as I drank without taking it and am now 80 plus days AF.

I plan to try it again after 6 months AF to hopefully rid me of the desire to drink as I do feel a bit like a “dry drunk” just now because I still want to drink (although I have no desire to drink vodka until I pass out which was my problem - I could actually just have one or two then stop - it was the black out binges that were my problem).

I'm not a medical professional so this isn't advice, but you don't need to stop drinking to start cutting down with naltrexone. That's kind of the point - you can start without making changes and drink while you're taking it, but you don't get the positive effects from the alcohol, so your body breaks the association between alcohol and pleasure, and you drink less. Won't do any harm to call the real doctor though..

The issue is that they are not just drinking too much - they are alcohol dependent and could die if they stop too quickly. I was with them when they took the pill on both days and they had a horrible reaction.

I've just read this article on it:
www.thetimes.com/article/5ed9f31b-820b-43e2-91bd-ad44958e09b9?shareToken=49417901292dad35bf36c495a397a9af

Hopefully you can read it as it's behind a pay wall. The woman's life sounded just like my own and I've read a similar thing so many times on MN. I've just signed up to try it. I really hope it helps as my relationship with alcohol drives me nuts!
Posting the article in case anyone else hasn't heard of it. Their website says they're experiencing a high volume of visits since the article was published.

There’s a good recent podcast about it called Reflector. A woman called Katie who stopped drinking using it talks about how she did it. She was definitely still drinking at the beginning. I find the idea that it stops you enjoying alcohol fascinating. I’m on wegovy which has had a similar effect on me, unintentionally. I haven’t had a drink since November, and have just lost the taste for it completely.

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/reflector/id1743666262?i=1000653826427

That’s really interesting @milski. Just read the article.

@ApoodlecalledPenny - I’m on Wegovy too but sadly it hasn’t put me off wine. I really wish it had.

I‘m going to call them , for me and ask my son to also. Thank you for this thread 🙏

Wow I read that article. Thank you for sharing. That's amazing. I'm actually really sad it isn't prescribed more. I am 6 months AF, so unless I relapse it's not for me - I'd definitely look into it if I were to though. But my mum died of liver disease 15 years ago, aged just 49. This is just the sort of drug that could have saved her life.
Good for you @SilverBranchGoldenPears I hope it helps you. Id love to hear how you get on if you feel like coming back and sharing your experience after a while.

I read Esther's article from The Times this morning. I am amazed this drug is not talked about more and will definitely speak to the GP, after a trip to Dublin next weekend . What I wish she had spoken about is life after the compulsion is gone - do people replace alcohol with sugar or crafting or something else? Would love to hear how other people have filled that void.

That's a good point. I was hoping that it might dampen my craving for crisps as well as alcohol but then that would be nirvana.
I think she said that the voice inside her head got quieter as time went on. I'm guessing that to move on to something else would require making a habit out of that other thing and strengthening that neural pathway instead?