TroubledNC

Let me start off by saying that I am not trying to "control" or medicate my AH. But, after seeing the HBO special on Addiction -- and Oprah's show on the same HBO series -- I was wondering about successes of using these drugs. Do you have an alcoholic in your life who has used one of these drugs with success? I'm certainly NOT suggesting medication is all that is needed.

My Dad suffers from depression and he certainly cannot just "talk it though". It is very much a chemical imbalance that he can get back in check with the right meds, combined with counseling.

So, if we look at alcoholism as a brain disease (ala the HBO program), I'm just curious what impact medications can have.

Thanks in advance!
TroubledNC

WhatAboutME

My AH husband has been on every available drug used to treat addiction at some time or another. The drugs are only a piece of the puzzle in recovery. Ultimately it comes down to their committment to being sober. My AH has maintained somewhat long-term sobriety while on the varying drugs and he has also continued his binge drinking and manipulative behavior while taking the drugs.

loristreily

Hi,My husband has been taking Suboxone for 2 years for his addiction to Oxycontin. But he is still an addict to this medicine. It is like going from the kettle into the fire, from one extreme to the next. He is now doing his drug, but now it is legal if you know what I mean. He still acts the same and counts them to make sure he has enough, when he gets low he panics(will I have enough?) . He , IMHO is just like a dry drunk, He has this holier than thou attitude because his higher power helped him he thinks he is better than us people whose higher power kept me from being stupid enough to get addicted. That is just not right. Everything is Gods will let's just sit back and watch in wonder what his hands can do and hope it is for the better.

Tess L

The doctor gave my husband a prescription 2 months ago. He still hasn't filled it. Guess I knew he wouldn't.

criss-cross

stbxAH felt all this stuff (campral, antabuse, treatment, court orders) was a way of controlling him. And he didn't want to be controlled. Even I was trying to control him with my boundaries.
So one way to not be controlled was to not take his medications - or drink while he took them (yes - even antabuse). In the end nothing has worked. The only medication he takes is blood pressure medicine - but not like he should - he takes it when he feels bad. (He quits drinking his normal amount for awhile - his blood pressure goes up, he starts feeling bad, takes a pill. I wonder if he wasn't drinking if he'd even need his blood pressure med?)

Sunflower

well antabuse is a med that makes you sick if you drink -camprol on the other hand works as a blocker to the cravings--my AS took it for 5 months I think and it worked for him--he obviously had to still work at staying sober--but the camprol gave him the time he needed to start thinking clearly again so he was able to further his recovery....it is not something you can compare with oxycontin and its treatment--you do not get addicted to it--it is a short time you are on it--I believe its a year for some. Then he was able to go to counceling and after a few months he learned--after 3 psychiartists evaluated him--that
he was bi polar--and they put him on a new med for that---then is when the recovery really started--he is like a new man That is why I am so strong on examining all the options out there.what works for one may not work for another.