sobernick209

Hi community,

My name is Nick. I’m in my mid 30s and I’ve been battling alcohol addiction for many years now.

It's been a grueling battle and I am getting to a point where I need some serious help.

There’s a whole checklist of things that I’ve tried to do to beat this addiction problem. I’ve been to meetings, sought professional help, took some medication, picked up other activities to keep me busy, etc.

But I’m looking for a more permanent solution because I’m sick of letting myself down by relapsing every so many months.

I’ve Googled methods and treatments and stumbled upon a treatment called Naltrexone. I briefly took a look at it and apparently there are some addiction treatment facilities like Sober Medical Solutions in Orange County that offer this medical surgery.

From my understanding, I’ll have a medicinal implant in me and it releases this drug (Naltrexone) that stops the craving for alcohol every so often.

What are your guys' thoughts about taking this surgical approach to beating the addiction?

Have you heard of Naltrexone?

Thanks for your input.

Bostonsportsfan

I was prescribed naltrexone after my last detox and the DR told me it would help with cravings, but I never filled the script. I don't want to take a med that is going to make me not crave alcohol...to me that's just will power and a desire to want to stop. From what I've read from people's personal experiences it can help.

Good luck with whatever direction you take to become and stay sober!

NotTooSmart

I don't know. I started taking welbutrin for depression and found that it completely killed my cig craving. I don't know how well naltrexone works or what side effects it has, but I can imagine for some it plays a supporting role in staying sober. A lot of AAers disapprove though.

Gottalife

The latest medical info, DSM v , refers to alcohol use disorder rather than addiction and has it on a sliding scale from mild to severe. Depending on where you are on that scale, a medication might or might not be effective.

For the likes of me at the severe end of the scale, medication has not been a help. I guess that's because the illness I suffered from had three distinct areas in which it affected me. Physical (malnutrition, lever function) mental ( crazy) and spiritual ( unable to exist happily in the world without alcohol). It would be a pretty amazing pill that could fix all those things, and one has not been developed yet.

On the craving issue, that's not a problem until I get alcohol in my system. My liver processes it differently to normal folks and creates acetone which causes the overpowering craving. As long as I don't drink, there is no craving.

The obsession of the mind and the spiritual malady are the other two parts, and until they were treated, I was always in danger of the first drink. The medical view here is there is no pill to fix this, though they have been trying for years. For alcoholics of my type, a conversion experience is the only known means of bringing about permanent recovery. These can happen randomly in rare cases, but more commonly are brought about through developing the twelve steps of AA as a way of life.

littlefish

I was offered an array of treatments, from campral to antabuse to Naltrexone. The use of Naltrexone was not advised for me however, because I made it clear that my goal was complete and total sobriety. The method of Naltrexone treatment used by my facility was in pill form and the pill was to be used after drinking in order to decrease the urge to drink more. Naltrexone was used as a binge drinking medication.

That was 5 years ago, since then I have seen nothing in any major news outlets describing a wonder cure for alcoholism, with Naltrexone in particular being the wonder drug. Naltrexone is one method, but I have not seen evidence that it is highly successful, or at least anymore successful than other methods like campral or antabuse.

Dee74

Hi Nick

I've never tried Naltrexone, but I wish you well with it.

D

Kitkat331

I think if I were considering a surgical implant of naltrexone, I would first want to try it in oral form and make sure it was effective for me. I've heard/read good things about naltrexone orally, tho--it's not a silver bullet but it can help.

I wonder if you're expecting a single solution when putting together many different pieces (sr & meds & in person support, etc.)

I wish you the best!

scintillady

I was prescribed naltrexone and can't say it did anything for me. I took it in oral form. For me, it was a psychological craving more than a physical craving, and the medication did nothing for that. I had no luck with any method of quitting until I was prescribed antabuse. Ever since the first day I took it, I knew there was no option at all for me to drink unless I wanted to suffer severe physical consequences. This took all the ambivalence out of the equation. Will I drink or will I not? No, I can't, end of story! The one time I mistakenly applied a facial moisturizing lotion containing alcohol and it caused a severe stinging and burning on my face made me realize that the small amount of alcohol and the reaction it caused makes it impossible for me to drink alcohol now. I know this is not a solution, but I can honestly say that this is the longest in my adult life lately that I've gone without alcohol, and I know I would have caved last weekend if I could have. Maybe you can try antabuse? it's getting me on track to try to learn what it's like to live sober. I have no idea how to do that and am learning as I go.

Weaver

Personally I feel no medication will "cure" alcoholism or rather, our mindless, obsession with alcohol and all the negative consequences it brings. It is am entire psyche change that needs to occur. It has to come from within. Mind body and spirit so to speak (cliche I know)

Other tools are much more beneficial in my opinion such as a constant working /bettering yourself. The meds will one day run out...what then?

This is entirely my opinion though and everyone has to make their own way. I only replied because I had thought the same thing at one point. I realized this maddening, selfish, ridiculous addictive mindset needed to be squashed and I needed an entirely different outlook on life.

deeker

Recovery is learning how to live sober. Learning new ways to cope.

If old behaviors and thought patterns are not addressed I believe addiction
will just take another form. Gambling, sex, food, internet etc.

scintillady

I know I have to work on the whole mind body and spirit connection. My problem is that I couldn't get used to living sober because I didn't have any experience with it. At this point the medication is giving me a break from drinking so that I can try to learn how to live sober and make the choices that I need to make, sober, instead of relying on the self medication of drink whenever things go wrong, or right, or even somewhere in the middle. I didn't need much of an excuse one way or the other. Once I learn how to cope when I'm sober I hope eventually not to have to take the meds any more. But if I need to take them for a long time, so be it. If I had a disease that I had to take meds for in order to live the rest of my life, such as high blood pressure or diabetes, I would continue taking them for the rest of my life.

robgt350

i sort of think that there is no medical cure for alcoholism. only a deep desire to stop can do it at lest for me. as for your med, well i would ask alots of questions to your doctor. good luck

Ranger83

Naltrexone (or Campral) works for some people and not others. Did not work for me, but it apparently does work for something like 10% of people who use it. I would try it in oral form first.

LBrain

I was given the pill form of naltrexone. I had an unpleasant reaction to it. Didn't get as far as the injection - don't need it.

Desire to not drink is the only answer for me.

And as was discussed already, stopping alcohol intake is just a part of getting better.

scintillady

Desire to not drink is all well and good. Have been battling that for 40 years. And that wasn't working for me, so had to pull out all the stops and find something to give me the boost I needed. Whatever it takes.

grubby

I think internet addiction is good for the brain (in terms of intelligence), but that's just me

Compared to all these "other" addictions like alcohol, smoking, pills, over-eating, etc it seems pretty harmless. Just a big waste of hours at times, but thats all.

................. I would not be the person i am today without the internet, the internet makes my life better

2muchpain

I've just started taking naltrexone, so don't know if it will help yet or not. I'm not really into taking pills, but I'm desperate enough to try anything. I know some people are against any kinds of medication, and I can understand that, but I don't feel I have the time to for any spiritual connection to make enough of a difference at this point. What I have been doing to myself lately is pretty scary and just getting worse. But I also know just taking a pill is not the answer in the long-term. I also see an addiction specialist and go to a few AA meetings a week. For me, that's a pretty good package. Time will tell.

PhaseTwo

It's not a solution but I think naltrexone was helpful for me

Tiptree

I don't crave alcohol anymore like I did when I first quit but I do think about drinking every day? I don't think a pill can take that away. If it can, where do I sign up? Seriously, if there's was a way to wipe my brain of this, (surgery, shock therapy, pills, sledge hammer, etc. ) I would do it in a heartbeat.

Kaneda8888

I took naltrexone and campral orally. Had no impact upon my drinking. I needed a spiritual change. That is working so far! Having said that, it may work for you (naltrexone). However, as the wise folks above have said, try it orally first. I hope you have success !