Hello all. I guess I am what you would call a refugee from Baclofen and MWO. I tried Baclofen and it nearly drove me out of my mind. Seriously - I have never been quite so scared. And so upset because I really thought it would be my cure. But it wasn't. The whole experience, from dealing with a difficult doctor I'd never met over the phone who could never even seem to remember who I was, to getting the prescription filled to then suffering the horrible side effects at 60 mgs... the entire experience was a complete nightmare for me. Devastated would be a good word. I am now back to one bottle of wine a night which is too much for me at my height and weight.

One day as I was pondering my plight, I thought about some surgical procedures I had recently had (draining and sealing a very large cyst on my kidney) where I was given either morphine or a synthetic morphine and how wonderful it felt... very much like I feel with alcohol. So on a whim, I Googled, "Alcohol is an opiate" and there was the Sinclair Method. I bought Dr. Escapa's book and this whole thing makes so much more sense to me, FOR me than the Baclofen did.

But there is no way I am ever going to let my doctor or my insurance company know I am struggling with this. I can't. Too much to lose. I am a highly functioning alcoholic and I can't risk getting a "record" on this. I know that it will open up a new level of hell for me - and my doctor probably won't prescribe the Naltrexone anyway - Oregon doctors really are in the dark on so many things despite the progressive rep Oregon has. Oregon is really quite backwards on so many different levels. I have known many people who have gone to AA only to relapse - it doesn't address the biochemical issue. It treats alcoholism as a spiritual and mortal disease and I am sorry, but it is not. It is a physical illness. And I have seen some of the cult-like behavior close up which really turns me off.

Also, insurers don't even want to give you life insurance if you have had an alcohol problem... I feel like a pariah.

Anyway, I posted on the MWO board asking for info on Naltrexone doctors in Oregon who would let me pay them on a cash basis and off my "permanent record" or if anyone can recommend a reputable online pharmacy where I would not need a prescription. The response has been pretty tepid with only two kind souls answering but not really me much. So I am happy to be here where people understand that Baclofen is not a panacea for everyone.

I know there is River Pharmacy but from what I can see, it's uber expensive. GoldPharma is better but I hear they require a prescription... or do they? I am really naive when it comes to this kind of thing. I have never even been pulled over for speeding. So any help/advice would be SO appreciated. I really, really want to do this. I HAVE to. My mother died from alcoholism in 2009 (she was only 67 and had become homeless despite my efforts to help her). I can't follow in her path.

Thank you so much for any help you can offer... xo Dana

You're pretty much where I was (and I'm also in Oregon). I ordered from River Pharmacy. Damn the expense, it had to be done.

Lots of people prefer All Day Chemist.

https://www.alldaychemist.com

Apparently it's a little cheaper. It's also easier to verify that you're getting Naltima and not NoDict. Some people have found that NoDict doesn't work for them, although I haven't had any trouble with it.

Welcome to the forums. It's not that busy -- most people just self-treat quietly at home -- but it's still a good place for advice and support

Hello and welcome...sounds like you've been having a tough time so I'm glad you've found some hope in TSM.

I've ordered from Allday and Goldpharma (I'm in the UK). There wasn't a huge difference in price between the two. Allday will supply Naltima and Goldpharma has Revia...I have used both with good effect. Neither site needed a prescription. Allday asked for my GP details which I gave but they never contacted him, and with Goldpharma you fill in an online medical form which they refer to an inhouse physician who then fills in the "prescription" and the meds are dispatched. I think this is just to cover their backs. There's a question which says diagnosis and I just put alcohol dependency and told a little lie to say that it had been medically diagnosed...I don't think they check.

I too started out at one bottle of wine a day...every day. I'm now down to an average of one small (4oz) glass a day and am adding in AF days. It does work!! Good luck.

Ruth.

Thank you, thank you, thank you both... yes, it hasn't been an easy time. But I guess nothing that is worth anything is easy. It is so comforting to know there are others out there who have walked in my shoes. xoxoxo and my very best to both of you...

Welcome! I just ordered Naltima from alldaychemist.com, 60 pills for $114. plus their $25.00 shipping charge. Both tiimes I ordered they ended up calling me which kind of freaked me out the first time, but the second time I was with the program and it was fine. The way I look at the cost is, it's ending up being a lot cheaper than the alcohol I was buying.

Also, I am in charge of my body, not the doctors. I feel perfectly FINE bypassing them to handle my health problems when I can - so go for it!

I'm so glad you've discovered TSM and I hope it works for you! Good luck!

You're welcome Dana...I can remember feeling overwhelmed at the beginning by the thought of ordering online but it really is ok. I meant to say that on Allday I think their credit card payment system is often down and that's why you may have to phone and speak to someone. To avoid this, I did an online bank transfer from my account and it all completed without me having to speak to anybody.
Let us know how you get on. All the best,
Ruth.

Ok - I just did it. I ordered 4 units of Revia from Goldpharma.

They say it will take between 12 and 18 days for shipping. I am going to pray that this works.

And Maggie May - "Also, I am in charge of my body, not the doctors. I feel perfectly FINE bypassing them to handle my health problems when I can"... Damn you are right. THANK YOU for that. I think that was the final push I needed.

Will let you know how it goes. Until then, oxoxox

I'm in Oregon and my PNP is wonderful, just prescribed the Nal when I asked her to and describe TSM. She, and my primary care, view it as a daily med to reduce addiction, but neither seems to harshly judge me for it. I do have employer provided health care, so I decided not to worry about the insurance consequences. The main risk I see is long-term disability insurance being denied if I develop an alcohol-related disability, but I'm outside the pre-existing condition 1-year "window".

You really might want to check with your primary care practitioner (s/he might surprise you), or shop for a psychiatric NP who may be more open.

Mer... would you private mail me with the name of your PNP and PCP? Thank you!

Yay. Got an email for Goldpharma that my order was shipped. I hope it gets here soon. I hope there is no problem. Just read an article about people buying their prescriptions online from overseas and that cu$tom$ has been intercepting. I hope not.... can't wait to start logging progress. Mer - sorry if I overstepped. I would just feel better having a Dr. here who would work with me off the record. xo - hope you all had a good T-Giving if you are in the US and a good day if not.

PS - I was relieved to see that I could pay for a prescription from GP and that they would have a Dr. validate.