Hi,

I've been alcoholic for 8 years and recently read TCFA and managed to Nalmefene on prescription.
My drinking was always bingeing. A Binge would last from 2/3 days to 9/10 days usually. I would also take cocaine, certainly during the first day or two of any binge.

Does anyone know if cocaine would negate the effects of TSM or would I be 'weaned off' that gradually as well?

Well, cocaine is not the same as heroin or other opiates, but a FOAF (seriously, I don't even take nal or drink) said that his experience with cocaine after taking nal and drinking was that there was no effect/rush from the cocaine. I also found this:

http://www.macalester.edu/academics/psychology/whathap/ubnrp/dopamine/cocaine.html

I certainly can't recommend using judgment-impairing drugs, but I think probably what would happen is that you would be wasting a lot of money on cocaine for no high.

Welcome archdeacons bench. I don't have experience with cocaine nor have read anything about the science behind it. But MAYBE the nal will help you with both addictions?

Please keep posting and let us know how you are doing. Take care of yourself. Newlife

Welcome ADB!

I don't have any experience with cocaine, either BUT I do have a question. Do you typically ONLY use cocaine when on a serious binge? If so, if you can get your bingeing under control, perhaps the cocaine use will slow down/stop, too? If you're a regular cocaine user, however, I'm not sure if or how the nal might impact that experience. Please keep posting... your insight might be able to help others in the same situation.

I only used drugs such as cocaine when I was drunk or wanting to drink.

Could you remove cocaine from the equation? That's what I did, I was able to stop the coke and then set about fixing the booze. These days I don't touch anything, yeah boring but life is a lot easier and I sleep at night.

archdeaconsbench,

I am a lucky one, for even though I enjoy a good speed buzz, cocaine would put me to sleep, so it is not a drug I have used since my 20s.

I think Dr. Roy Eskapa has been doing research using nal for addition to speed and cocaine, and I believe that NoDoormat may be correct in it would be a BIG waste in money.

I do not think that you would need to be weaned off the cocaine if it is not being used daily; however, I am not a doctor.

"Supportive rather than specific treatment is indicated in patients who are undergoing withdrawal from stimulants (cocaine, amphetamines and derivation). Observation and monitoring for depression and suicidal ideation are advised. Since stimulant withdrawal may cause irritability, a dosage of 5 to 10 mg of diazepam given orally every six hours on a fixed schedule or as needed for two to three days is recommended in patients with mild to moderate withdrawal symptoms. For severe withdrawal symptoms with persistent depression, therapy may be initiated with antidepressants such a desipramine...However, desipramine is not recommended routinely for management of withdrawal."
from afar (http://www.aafp.org/afp/1998/0701/p139.html)

I am unsure if you are saying that you want to continue the use of cocaine, but are afraid TSM will not work because of the use, or you desire to stop both but are afraid of withdrawal symptoms because of the cocaine.

I think if cocaine and alcohol use is a habit that you do together, that a binge of cocaine would want you to drink and vice versa.

It is a slippery road of addiction that we are all on...


This is a link that explains cocaine withdrawal:
https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/enc ... 000947.htm

This is a link for research that was done with naltrexone and cocaine addicts
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11316375

Good luck on your road to finding the answers,

Jaba

Excellent point! The guy I was asking about his experience only ever used cocaine a handful of times, always when on quite a tear with alcohol. Alcohol screws with your judgment and impulse control too, so if you use TSM to control the drinking, seems like the cocaine use will naturally follow. I certainly wouldn't use any drugs without taking the nal and waiting the hour though, except maybe marijuana (well, I wouldn't even do that; caffeine and sugar are the only drug habits I have). I'm sure I saw something about using naltrexone and marijuana together, though, so maybe somebody else knows where it is.

My experience of removing stimulants is extreme tiredness, I would imagine that benzos would only exacerbate that.

UKb,

I think the benzos is to help with the irritability and anxiety that may come along coming off the stimulants. I think sleep is something that may not happen because of overuse.

I had a friend that was abusing adderall and he couldn't sleep on it or off it...he said it was like his brain wouldn't shut off for weeks after using it and it would take a month or two to get REM sleep. He claims it was like he was too tired for sleep and his body/brain was so agitated he could not unwind; however, his girlfriend would sleep and eat for a week or 2 coming off of it. I guess we are all different with every addiction.

I do know that when I take the nal. my desire and need for coffee or the need for a "speed" feeling is gone. I can jump out of bed like I have been asleep for a week...it is just so odd.

Jaba

Adderall can focus the mind which is why it's used with add/adhd. .