NothingToLose

Hello all.

I need to find something to help with cravings.

I recently tried naltrexone/revia, which did help reduce craving, but it makes me really nervous / anxious. I tried reducing the dosage which helped, but then the cravings return.

Also, antabuse/disulfuram is a no go. I need something that won't kill me if I fall off the wagon.

I read something about Campral in another thread, is that any good?

What options do I have? What worked best for you and why? Thanks in advance for any help.

barb dwyer

I used Campral along with a program of recovery with great results.
It's prescription you might want to tlak with your doc.

I don't remember exactly - but I think it was eight months?

welcome to SR!

NothingToLose

Thanks. I did the research on it and I'm going to give it a try.

lostmdboy

how about going to a meeting, getting a sponcer, and working the steps.

tellus

I've been on Campral for a couple months now. Personally, I don't feel that it's having any effect.

I've heard a lot of good things about it from others, though.

problemchild

Campral seems to have helped me alot, altough everyone is different. The side effects are pretty low so give it a shot..
Take care, John

lovingseren

Eat protein and complex carbs, (eggs and whole wheat toast, peanut butter on whole wheat crackers etc)

They are great craving busters, eat often, make sure you have a snack with you at all times.

Stay away from sugars, our sugar levels need to be on an even keel..that's where carbs and protein work so well.


http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...-programs.html
Find a program that works for you, and embrace it

Don't talk yourself into falling off the wagon, focus on "not falling off the wagon".

Seren

DKS

I used Campral and it really helped me a great deal. When I first started weaning off of it at the pre-planned time my doctor usually begins the weaning process, my cravings returned, even though I was already 1 year sober. It could have had a lot to do with what was going on on my life at the time (lots of stress, just returned from a 20 year anniversary vacation in Hawaii and all hell broke loose at work, so I had to leave town on a business trip the day after we got back from Hawaii. The business trip had me staying in an Embassy suites with the free "managers reception" (free open bar every night that I always used to really enjoy), etc, so there were TONS of triggers at that time.)

The doctor told me to go back to the full dose and try to wean again 3 months later. I did that and the cravings did not return the 2nd time. I stopped taking the campral completely in December and am now more than 21 months sober with no cravings or obsessive thoughts about alcohol.

Although I don't go to AA, there were many other things that I did that also were very helpful. We have a family therapist that my husband and I visit along with our teenage daughter, and discussing the alcoholism openly with her has helped, and that has also helped me deal with my husband's couple of relapses. I also went on the SouthBeach Diet on the same day I quit drinking, and that diet is very healthy and eliminates sugar which I am convinced helped reduce the cravings. I followed the vitamin and supplement program outlined in the book "Seven Weeks to Sobriety", which says that glutamine, Vitamin C, B-Complex, amino acids and other supplements can help tremendously to prevent cravings and restore your body to health after all the years of abuse. A regular exercise program is also very helpful. I lost 55 pounds by doing all these things, and the increased energy and the complements from friends, family and co-workers were a powerful motivator. I also read as many books on alcoholism as possible, and found the book "Beyond the Influence" to be extremely helpful. That book really opened my eyes to how and why alcoholism works the way it does and how my body can never again tolerate alcohol and why every time I stopped drinking and started again my high tolerance level was right back to where I left off within a week and I needed more and more alcohol to even try to get a buzz. Reading the Big Book and visiting SR daily was also a huge help.

Best of luck to you.

NothingToLose

Thanks everyone. I'm going to get off this naltrexone shortly but I won't be able to get another medicine for a couple weeks, I'm broke.

For the time being, has anyone suffered insomnia from taking naltrexone? I can toss and turn for 10 hours and I'm lucky to sleep 1. That never used to happen to me.

Barto

Are you craving to calm anxiety? Do you drink caffeinated beverages?

CarolD

Welcome to SR...

All medications need to be discussed
with your doctor.
Our SR Rules do not allow us to do so.

Good Luck...

NothingToLose

Yes to Q1 and No to Q2.

Tension and anxiety are a major factor in the craving. Many other things are as well. I do need a crutch to start out however, as going to therapy or treatment alone is simply not going to do it.

As far as the caffeine is concerned, I can no longer tolerate stimulants without having a horrible reaction, my nerves won't allow them. I drank caffeine heavily when I was younger as one of my compulsions, as well as chew tobacco and smoke and all that good stuff. But it all led me back to something that would help me to sleep which was the drink.

I've gotten probably only 20 real nights of sleep in the past 20 years. Been passed out plenty enough for lengthy periods of time, but thats not real sleep.

I need something non-narcotic that will help reduce the craving enough that I won't resort to drinking just to get me to sleep. Going without sleep is one thing, its the compulsion to drink for it that is a major short term problem.

I'm in a very delicate balance right now, so hopefully I will find something that will help in the beginning. Because I can say for certain that therapy / verbal treatment alone is not going to do it.

Barto

Are you going to meetings, interacting with others, and being physically active? If you are already doing all these things, maybe it’s time to consult a doctor that is familiar with alcoholism.

Grace2u

I agree with what DKS and Seren said about eating protein. Very smart. I try to remember "halts": never let yourself become Hungry, Angry, Lonely or Tired.

Now I'll tell you a little secret my addiction counselor told me - it had worked for her (she's been sober for 31 yrs): She said keep a little package of M & M's (assuming they don't cause dietary probs of course), one in your purse, one in your glove compartment, desk drawer, etc. In an absolute emergency, if you can't get some protein into your system, eat a few M & M's. This quickly raises the blood sugar level (which is what alcohol does) and may help calm the cravings. Again, this is for folks who don't have diet/weight issues.

Thank God I took her advice. I was on my way to a liquor store one very bad day, when I remembered the M & M's in my glove compartment. That small handful of candy saved my life that day. I drove home instead. Anything is better than using.


Also, 1 ounce of top quality, dark chocolate has 10 times more antioxidants than one cup of green tea. Dark choc (semi-sweet or unsweetened) has less sugar than candy and can be very helpful in a crunch.

About sleeping, remember back in the day when your grandma might recommend a warm glass of milk at bedtime? Well, turns out, that's not just an old wive's tale. It is now thought by some that there may be something in calcium that helps with sleep. Have you tried warm milk? Or maybe camomile tea?

The source of this info is Dr. Andrew Weil (web site, PBS, books). Maybe you could ask your doctor about these little things, and see what he/she thinks. He/she will probably have even better approaches. Or you can consult with a nutritionist who's expertise is on alcoholism, always a good idea for anyone in early recovery. I met with one while in rehab, and she was awesome!

lovingseren

200 mg of Magnesium works well for me at bed time.

least

ask your doctor about trying you on Campral. it works for me.:praying

CarolD

Please check this link...

Insomnia? 41 Simple Tips to Help You Get to Sleep - Insomnia treatment, cures

Blessings

NothingToLose

I finally got my campral. What was this I heard about establishing a certain time frame of sobriety prior to starting?

Tazman53

I highly reccommend you read the entire label, antabuse, revia, & campral all are ment to be used with a long term recovery program.

When I went and saw one of the premier alcohol/addiction specialist in the country and told him the truth about my drinking and then asked him which med he was going to prescribe me he leaned back in his chair and told me "Mr. Price I will prescribe you anything you ask, but I will be wasting my time and yours, you need to go through medical detox and then into a long term recovery program if you want to stand even a chance to stay sober!

The mans name is Dr. Schultz, pick up any medical text book on alcoholism and drug addiction and you will see he is either the author or co-author, I got real lucky to see him, I was his last patient he had before he went back into research again.

NothingToLose

Although it didn't answer my question, I appreciate your feedback nonetheless. I have no problem detoxing, I do so frequently. Its the mid term phase that I need help with. I need something to help me make it 2 weeks instead of 5 days. Thanks.