To get a prescription your best bet is a psychiatrist. If that doesn't work an addiction psychiatrist. Most communities have them. The Coleman Institute has offices in three of four cities, Richmond, VA, Pheonix,(?) and Las Vegas and Dr Coleman prescribes it and will install an implant, but I believe he requires a commitment to abstinence, AA, the whole deal. Maybe not anymore. Start with a regular psychiatrist. Tell them you need to reduce your drinking but you are finding it really difficult and need some help. That's the truth. Ask for Naltrexone, 50mg/day and Topirimate 25mg/day.

Psychiatrists don't do the moralist thing like a lot of GPs. Tell them you are open to AA and then go to a meeting now and them. You don't have to be sober to go to open AA meetings, you can even attend online, and there are many amazing people there. (Just don't broadcast at AA that you drink and don't plan to stop). AA really isn't any big deal. You can make it what you want. Just don't try BSing the folks in AA.

We all want keep drinking, but any of us who have spent any time sober know that sobriety is WAY better, period. Just ask our families! Our brains are hardwired to overreact to alcohol, sort of like an allergy. Alcohol makes us not want to stop. I beat myself up with shame for 30 years (If I were a real man I would better control this) until I read the science and accepted that I was doomed with the first sip. I am allergic to crab, but I LOVE the flavor. If I eat it I have to go to the hospital. Funny, though, I haven't spent 30 years punishing myself for being allergic to crab. It's just the way it is. I am taking Naltrexone because I recognize that as long as I drink any amount, alcohol runs my brain. My goal is sobreity, even though the pleasure part of my brain says, no it's not! I'm taking Naltrexone because the part of my brain that makes healthy decisions needs some help.

Can someone tell me of a doctor for the Sinclair Method in Louisville, KY? I went ahead and ordered drug on-line from River Pharma but would like the additional support. I am so hoping this works for me. Thanks Curly

Well hey there, Jim! Thought you might be a 'hit and run' member. . .guess not.

Yes, sobriety is WAY better than drinking out of control - which were the only two choices we've had, in the past. This just might be a nice middle ground, who knows?

You can preach on the benefits of AA, but my experiences there were a nightmare. Same with others here. I live near, and work with, a large community of Amish. People want to either villify them, or confer saint-hood. Same with AA. There's the good, bad, ugly - and those whose hearts and lives are in the right place.

Bottom line? If AA worked for us (including you), you/we would not be here. Yes?

I have had the same doctor for fifteen years. She is very thoughtful and very competent and is older and conservative. She has been on me for years to quit and I have refused, to date. I knew she would be reluctant to give me this drug when I requested it (after reading about it in the New York Times) and I was correct. I gave her the book by Eskapa and I quoted page 108 and the COMBINE study, emphasizing Naltrexone has been accepted as a treatment for boozers by the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2006. She remained highly skeptical and gave me some incorrect information about Naltrexone: "I hear people who take it immediately start drinking again when they stop it." I corrected her and explained you only take it before drinking. She refused to give me the drug but told me she'd at least read the book and get back to me.

She called me back on Monday and said that in addition to reading the book she had checked with an addiction specialist psychiatrist who told her he had his doubts about Naltrexone but why not try it, given the low-risk nature of the drug. (Not to mention the fact she knows I'm going to keep on drinking anyway.) I received a one-month prescription yesterday and took a half a pill. It ruined my night and made me nauseous. I planned to drink while on the drug but didn't because I felt ill. I guess that's a common side-effect. I only took a half a pill so would strongly advise newcomers to not take a whole pill right off.

I am anxious to see the results. I am a weekend binger for thirty years and toss back 30-40 drinks, Thursday through Saturday. I still am a successful professional, but the "alcohol blues" are ruining at least two days a week for me now. Time to stop at age 45.

I recommend getting a psychiatrist from this group: http://www.aaap.org/. They will know about Neltrexone. It's a disgrace that these doctors are so hesitant to give out a benign pill. If it works for me I plan to do a major drive to inform the public and as an attorney, think people will listen to me. If this drug works and doctors refuse to give it out anyway, they are violating their Hippocratic oath left and right and should be ashamed. I'll wait to see how it works for me before jumping on my soap box.

Welcome- you've come just in the 'nick' of time. . . You'll find a group of very high functioning alkies here, many of us in the public eye, and professional fields. Be ready for an emotional roller-coaster ride (but I suspect you already know that). I expect that, given the talents and enthusiasms of the committed members of this forum, we may eventually band together to create a real change in the world of addiction therapy.

Can't wait till we're all a few months down the road!