dabears34

Just started on it today. The only info I gleaned off the 'net is that they have no idea how it works, but they have evidence that shows it might work... and then they rattle off the keywords "brain chemistry" and "neurotransmitters". WOW! Sign me up! I have trouble distinguishing between the mental obsession and an actual physical craving. I was walking back to my car after lunch, got a warm feeling in my gut and a thought "mmm, I could go for a cold beer." Where craving and obsession blend is confusing. Anyhoots, anyone ever try this stuff? How is there any way to tell it helps, cause if you drink, it doesn't, and if you dont drink, then it does work... but you can't go back in time and do-over the exact scenario with the Campral removed from the equation. Baffling, but I conceded myself to their care and will do whatever they ask of me...

suki44883

When I was released from my six day detox program, I was prescribed Campral. Now, I'm not sure how much it was the Campral, or how much it was my determination not to drink, but I did well on it. I don't believe there is a magic pill that will keep us from drinking or wanting to drink. I feel like it basically comes down to our own determination. I stayed on the Campral for about three months and then I was able to continue with sobriety without it. Last month I celebrated one year of sobriety. So, I don't know if anything I've said means anything, but there it is.

dabears34

Yeah, I agree, there is no "magic bullet" for alcoholism... thanks for sharing your experience... I'm just hoping to hear some peoples opinions/experiences with it. It just seems impossible to quantify any kind of efficacy... and there are only so many pills you can throw at a problem, it seems a bit ridiculous.

Dee74

I have no experience Mike, but I wish you well

D

CarolD

I found my sobriety before Campral was discovered.
So I have no experience with it either.

I can absolutely say I did not need drugs to get off alcohol.
However...some people do use it for cravings.
Did your doctor perscribe Campral?

Hope you find whatever you need..Recovery rocks!

OZboy

..i have experience..
..gotta want to stop drinking..first..

..otherwise....(((((((((((((((((( ???)))))))))))))))))))

socialismislost

Campral works on the physical craving, as I understand the drug.

bananagrrrl

I have been taking it for almost a month. My doctor told me to abstain from alcohol for one week and then start the campral. I take it three times a day.

In my opinion, it does work. I did and do have a strong determination to stay sober this time though, in addition to working on my recovery.

I think it helps with cravings, settles your nerves and helps you have a restful sleep.

I don't crave alcohol at all. I have to think that that is the campral at work since I only have 24 days as of today. My husband drinks beer around me often and that doesn't bother me. (although vodka and wine were my DOCs)

Good luck to you!

Tazman53

What I bolded in the directions for use of Campral is also the same in the directions for use of Revia & Antabuse.

All of these meds state they are meant to be used in conjunction with a treatment program that includes counseling and support.

So many people relapse even using it because they DO NOT follow directions!!!!

READ THE LABEL!!!!!!!!

Use the Antabuse/Revia/Campral AND get counseling and get into a PROGRAM!!!!!!!

The medicine and your own will power alone is setting ones self up for failure!!!!

Yes some people stay sober using just the meds and thier own will power, but OBVIOUSLY there is a REAL VALID RESEARCHED REASON for the directions on ALL of these products.

Could it be that the researchers found out that the odds of a relapse are EXTREMELY HIGH for people who do not go to counseling and also use a program and a support group?

Any one ever read my sig? Part of it is "Follow Directions".

I always keep in my little brain the fact that doing things my way and NOT following directions I kept drinking for many years when I no longer wanted to drink.

BTW I was prescribed Revia, I followed directions, I did not take Revia long at all, thanks to the Program & Support of AA I did not need it.

Could it be that the makers of Revia knew that the key to long term sobrity was not in thier meds, but instead in a program of recovery and a support group?

Could it be that they know that their meds alone are not enough alone to achieve long term sobriety in most cases?

Wolfchild

While certain medications (as prescribed by a physician) may be helpful, they do not provide a spiritual solution to our problem. The emotional, mental, & spiritual, damage many of us have suffered at the hands of active addiction/alcoholism cannot be cured. It often takes a daily concerted effort, on our part, to make progress with a process of recovery for inner healing to begin.

i hope that you will find what works for you & learn to become all you can be while staying clean and sober.

Anna

I suppose it might be a tool, though I have no experience.

For me, I needed to go through the struggle and do the work - spiritually, mentally and physically. There are no easy answers to recovery.

smacked

Ditto!!!

tkdan

Amen to that! I can tell you from experience that if you think the med by itself will keep you sober you will be disappointed. The first time I was on it, it did help with cravings. I relied totally on it for sobriety and after eleven months of abstaining I relapsed. When I accepted that I needed the help of others I found hope in the rooms of AA. I did use campral in conjunction with the AA program for the first three months and I believe it did help with the cravings. But helping with cravings and being about to have a quality sober life are two different things. When I went eleven months without drinking on campral all I did was not drink, I did nothing to address the disease I only took away a symptom. I cannot stress enough the importance of using it in conjunction with a good recovery program. And that comes from learning it the hard way.

joedris

I was on Campral and can honestly say that I have no idea if it worked or not. It supposedly dulls the impulsiveness associated with drinking while Revia supposedly dulls the high associated with alcohol consumption. But as Taz said, drugs are far more effective if used in conjunction with a recovery program. I stopped taking Campral on my own and again didn't notice any changes. But I was going to AA and working the steps and I honestly feel that it was AA more than any medication that made the difference. But if you're on Campral, go ahead and stay on it. It certainly won't hurt you. But I suggest that you try AA also - sort of an insurance plan if the drug doesn't work.

dabears34

Thanks for the input everyone! I am only a few days into true "recovery" so still feeling things out. I am currently in an outpatient rehab program. It's from 9am-3pm every day for 3 weeks, combined with AA, which we are to continue after discharge. So the Campral is definitely in conjunction with a recovery program. But I know there is no magic bullet, and the only hope for survival is to participate in my recovery every day and learn new skills to cope with and manage stress, plus some psychotherapy too!