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So I was watching Oprah today and it was about addictions this man on there was an alcoholic for over 50 years and he went through a research trial on a medication (a pill) that would reduce cravings for alcohol, he said after taking the first pill he never craved alcohol again and had been sober for 2 years unfortunately Oprah nor the man mentioned the name of this drug I've researched the net for over an hour tonight all I come up with is vivatrex, or topamax.....any ideas or any success stories on here about prescription drugs that may help my AH....he's definitely willing and in the early stages of alcoholism he's only 35.
I think... there are lots of drugs out there that can help, but the key thing is the alcoholic has to be ready and wanting to find their sobriety. We can't "will them" into taking an anti-drinking drug, anymore than we can "will them" into the doors of AA, etc....
The stopping of drinking is a big step, but only a step, in their journey towards sobriety.
Take care Tom
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"He is either gonna drink, or he won't.... what are YOU gonna do?"
"What you think of me is none of my business"
"If you knew the answer to what you are worrying about, would it REALLY change anything?"
If you look towards the bottom right of the board, you will see an option for looking up previous pages of posts. Look on page two, at the post titled Vivatrol. There is ebough information to help you and H start researching the meds.
Yes Vivatrol is the once per month shot. My husband took his first shot a couple of weeks ago and although he says he doesn't feel any different, he hasn't craved any alcohol either. He went to detox and is going to AA every night in addition to starting out-patient rehab yesterday. Keeping my fingers crossed.
I have not had experience with these, my A has no desire to quit but I like sash's reply. Yes they took the drug but also went to detox, are attending AA and are starting out patient rehab.
I do not believe there is a magic bullet out there where ya can take this once a day or once a month and all is better.
But the combination of the drug and the desire to not use and the personal work (AA and out patient rehab) wow, what a combination.
Sure sounds like an option.
lilms
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Two things: 1. Recovery is a process, not an event.....and.... 2. You only get to go around once. Leave em laughing and make it worth your while
Ha! Oh believe me, my husband doesn't do anything "a little bit." When he was drinking, he was a super-sized drunk to no end. Now that he decided to get sober, I keep imagining him in a superhero costume with an S on his chest for "Super Sober Man!" He is really into it.
There definitely is no magic pill or cure for alcoholism. You do have to put the work in. This shot he is taking is a short term plan for helping him through. I think he is supposed to take it for around 7 to 12 months.
What got my husband in trouble with alcohol was sheer boredom. He was always was a drinker, but a controlled drinker to a certain extent. Then he was out of work on disability for 1 year, went back to work for two weeks and was hurt at work again and out for another year. During that year home he started drinking really heavily. Since he has been sober, he is looking forward to going back to work once his out-patient treatment is finished. Hallelujah!
My husband also wanted to quit drinking and tried medication that would make him physically sick (throw up) and could make him have siezures. No matter how much he wanted to quit he was willing to risk it. He threw up and got violently ill and could not quit. So we gave up on that pill. It all boiled down to him just quitting by himself. The best thing that helped him was xanax. I have them prescribed to me.I gave him some spaced out and it helped to calm his anxiety and after a week the withdrawls had stopped and he knew he didn't want to go through them again so he hasn't drank. Your husband needs to talk to his dr and be honest and let him know what he's trying to do and explain that he is full of anxiety and it makes him scared trying to quit. His dr should be able to help. It all boils down to him and him doing it alone in the long run. He can do it especially with your love and support. Try and help him understand to not think about a week from now or even a year. Just have him get through one minute and then work on the next minute, that's it. Don't look at the "BIG picture". Good luck. It can be done. Your in my prayers ^i^
My husband has been prescribed campral the medication to help him curve the alcohol cravings. The problem is that they have to take it or it doesnt work and until THEY are ready it wont happen.. If only there was a magic pill or shot but there isnt it has to come from within..
My AH has tried almost all of them - antabuse makes you sick, naltrexone and campral are supposed to reduce the cravings. Unfortunately, as others have mentioned, they have to TAKE them for them to work. When he felt the urge to drink, he simply wouldn't take the antabuse, so he wouldn't get sick. The naltrexone and campral - I think the excuse was it didn't work, so why keep taking it? Of course, he was drinking a case of beer a day when he STARTED taking them, and never remembered to take the meds, so of course they didn't work....
If they don't want to work it, it won't work, plain and simple.
Thanks for all the information, I knew a guy on antabuse and UGH that's a scary pill to take I think they can even die if they drink while they are on it. I think the injections sounds like a good one, we don't have insurance at this time but we are in the process of getting it my husband owns a very successful business so not just for us but for the business too he knows he has to get a handle on this.
