Meds for Alcohol

[jester]

Hey all....I'm new here but old to alcoholism. Drank heavy for about 9 years and then have been try to kick it off anf on for the past 2.

It seems like everytime I feel weeks go by I slip up and hit a bender. I have tried meetings and counseling but keep slipping.

Was reading a lot of your posts here and then stuff on this site. I know some of you u all seem against meds. I haven;t gone to see a doc yet but maybe its time.

Should I mention Campral? vivtrol? Anyone know more about these things? I saw a post on prometa as well here.

Dunno.

[montcalm_gurl]

Hi I am glad you are putting forth some effort to get rid of the drink problem. I am not sure about meds for your help, however all of us have to do what we have to do individually so I am not saying you shouldnt try it. But we all will stop when we have became miserable enough. I do not know your history so I will not judge you. Alot of those meds will make you sick if u drink with them, and most alcholics will drink regardless of if they have to be somewhere important, if they know there will be consequences to the drinking, and if they know that medicines will make them deathly ill if they drink with it. So I guess it is a decision you have to make on your own along with your higher power. I am a believer in the AA & NA meetings so maybe you can try meetings with the meds. You can never do too much!!!!!!!!! I hope you find something that works for you, regardless of the package it comes in!!!!

[TomInKan]

I agree. I have known a couple of people close to me that have trying taking medications to help stop drinking. The problem was they just stopped taking them and kept drinking. Now I am not saying that every person does that. You need to do what works best for you and only a doctor can also suggest if medications are right for you. But there is no substitute for AA. I can't say that enough. Please keep us up to date.

[1234Greg]

Nothing will ever replace AA. Been there for 2 and half years. I can't recommend it enough.

[sunnyday]

I am a recovering alcoholic and have never taken medications. I have only been to AA and that was what helped me on my way. I do have a good friend who had a really tough time quitting drinking. Even with my support and AA he would sometime relapse. He went to see a doctor and the doc recommended Prometa with the addition of Campral. I think he was ready to do anything. He did Prometa about three months ago and is still on Campral. More inporatnatly he now goes to AA with me every single time. I asked what about it made a difference and he said that his cravings went down but not fully away. But it helped. Now with the support of all of us and the support of meetings he has been doing fine. I was against him doing any medications because I always believe that strength through meetings is the way to go and I still firmly believe that and that is why we go and we will keep going but I guess for some it could be a way to help.

[statueguy]

Not sure about medications but AA is a staple in a positive recovery

[eddieddx]

Contact the Association for addiction professionals (NAADAC) at 1-800-377-1136 and request the following publication: Pharmacotherapy: Integrating New Tools into Practice (Participant's Reference Guide and Workbook. You can also contact them at there web site which I can't place here due to MyAddiction policy. This workbook provides information on acamprosate (campral), extended-relaease naltrexone (vivitrol), naltrexone (ReVia/Depade) and disulfiram (antabuse). Get the info and then talk it over with your doctor. I know most people in AA don't agree with people taking mediation for alcoholism, but I say, do what you have to do to stay clean and sober. most doctors who are familiar with the medication recommend on-going attendance to recovery support groups along with the medication. good luck

[jester]

Thx everyone for your replies.

Went to see a doc a little while ago. I am going to start on vivitrol once a month. This doc was a huge proponent of AA as well. He said vivitrol will help give me a jumpstart into recovery but is not the solution.

Just like you mentioned eddieddx, he said that I need to keep attending AA to make my recovery strong.

[BassFan]

Hope things are going well with you

[DogGirl]

... and Ativan because I was experiencing withdraw.

Stay away from Antabuse. The doctor told me I'd be miserable AND smell like formaldehyde. Campral did seem to quell the cravings until Thanksgiving came, I'd stopped taking them every day and we all know where that ended. Campral doesn't make you sick if you drink with it but you can't still be drinking when you start or it won't work.

I'm actually going back tomorrow to try this again. I'm out of Ativan and having major withdraw at this very moment.

I'm going to combine this with the Rational Recovery as I know AA is not for me.

[mary]

I tried to get my boyfriend to try anything for a year. I even went to see a doctor to learn more about vivitrol and campral. I never had any luck getting him to go. I guess someone has to want to get help and sometimes we feel helpless oursleves.

[clubJWP]

congratulations! if you are letting weeks go by till you hit the bender, then i must say you are not addict anymore. try and very soon you will be able to get out of it.

JWP
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