Hi Struggling - your point is well taken about some doctors being supportive but the issue for us is the higher cost of naltrexone here in Canada. When I bought my one month supply of Rivia (the only brand we can get) 30 pills cost me $200. We have NO drug plan and this drug is not covered by medicare even for the over 65's which my hubby is. So going the local doctor route is a non-starter for me. Those with a drug plan in addition (through work for example) to Canada Health would get it cheaper I guess, but I'm wondering if we'd have the same issues with pre-existing health problems as some of the Americans are having.

Hi BGH - Well, I emailed that pharmacy I referenced earlier (no phone support), but you have answered my question to them already. I will look at the cross border thing also, but frankly, customs scares me. Thank you for all your good information, and I will let you know what happens.

Hi Struggling - fair question, and I haven't ruled out going to my doctor. She is generally supportive and we have a very good relationship. But to answer the question more completely: it's really about the security of personal information. I know others on this site have stated flatly that they cannot let even their doctor know about their drinking issues. Others have had problems with insurance. I'm coming at this from a similar POV, in that I have first-hand experience, through both myself and people close to me, of what can happen to privacy when there has been a catastrophic accident and insurance companies are involved. Frankly, all records are seizable, and insurance companies will use any avenue to not pay. Something as simple as me drinking more than I think is good for me, and seeking help quitting, can become a very public football. I like my football field to remain very private. But as I say, I haven't ruled it out, and am willing to take the book and a few printed-off journal articles with me as back up. Thanks for all your support. And GOOD LUCK with the Baclofen. Way to go!

*has a sudden thought* Do these places ship to Europe? My daughter is going to be there for a couple of months... With a permanent address...

I guess i dont understand about being worried about confidentiality. Canada has very strict privacy laws. As well I guess for me at least - I would rather have my health than destroy myself with AL because i am to worried about insurance companies. Not knowing the source of where you are getting drugs is also a scary thought. I am no expert, just hate to see some one taking drugs from an unknown source without a drs advice.

Hi Struggling - well, I did come here for advice and information, and what you say makes a lot of sense. I think I will make an appointment with my dr for next week, and go well prepared. She might write the script, she might refer me to a specialist, or I might ask for a second opinion. Wish me luck! I hope things continue to go well for you, also.

Hi Canadagrrl. I'm a canuck as well. Just visited my Dr. today to discuss Nal. He wasn't very receptive but I told him I was going to do it one way or another, with or without his blessing. He promised to research TSM but I'm not overly confident. He even told me he thought Nal wasn't available in Canada. I see that's not true.
I wish you good luck. My problem doesn't seem to be nearly as bad as some I read about here but it is something I can't quite control nonetheless so I'm determined to do this.

RandallF,
Good on you for not letting this go. I dont understand why Drs are unreceptive to these things, I guess they fear what they dont know. I was lucky, when I went to my dr he listened to me about tsm and when I mentioned Nal, he went and got his drug book and when he couldnt find it in there, he called a pharmicist to find out info on it. He then called a colleague who suggested Baclofen and while I wasnt keen on it I tried it and I havent looked back - 14 days on it and 10 days af. good luck to you my friend and if you need anything feel free to pm me.

Hi RandalIF
Good luck with your doctor. I did think about telling my dr that I would get Nal whether she prescribed it or not, but decided not to go that route. What I have decided, after even more thought and reading, is that I need to give a good solid effort to kicking this habit on my own before I go looking for medical help. I haven't really tried that yet, and I know if I was a doctor, that would be what I'd look for first. So I'm off to try tapering down to AF, and then see what I want to do after that. Thanks to Struggling, I have read a lot about Baclofen and that is what I would ask for if I couldn't slay this beast on my own.
Good luck everyone!

Hi Canadagrrl - welcome to the forum! My personal opinion on getting the prescription through your doctor is that it can affect your getting life insurance - which, if you look over the board, has been a huge issue for many. You can potentially be denied life insurance due to "alcohol" related issues as Nal is known only for treating alcoholism. It will be on your medical records and insurance companies have access to these. I have been denied life insurance due to medical records. I order mine from https://www.reliablerxpharmacy.com This is a partner company for All Day Chemist. They have a person they ship to in the U.S. who forwards it on to Canada discreetly. However, I know someone else from Canada tried this site a while back and had issues. Let me know if it works for you.

Best of luck any way you figure out. Keep posting. It's great to see fellow Canucks on the board - regardless how our team did yesterday

Hahaha, Claremont! Who cares about those overpaid babies. Our women's team rocks! At everything. Go Grrls!

I'm pretty much with you on the insurance thing. I've got renewable term, so I won't have to worry about that. It's all the other ways info can be misused. Remember when the RCMP murdered that poor Polish man in Vancouver airport? The mounties actually went to Poland to dig up dirt on him being an alcoholic to justify what they did???!!! I know, from personal experience, that if someone is incapacitated in a car accident, even if it wasn't their fault and they weren't driving, the insurance company will try to find out about substance abuse issues, just in case it might do them some good. During lawsuits, medical records can be seized.

Jest sayin"