Today is DAY 1 taking Selincro (Nalmefene). Reason choosing this is because I had read that it is a newer improved version of Naltrexone and I couldn't find Naltrexone initially on the UK pharmacy website (I have found it now) - however Selincro is really expensive (£120 for 28 tablets!) so if it takes a while to work, I may change later to Naltrexone which is only £1 per tablet.

Up until today I have been drinking 1.5 to 2 bottles of wine a day (urggh!) I am going to count my progress in how many drinks rather than units of alcohol so up until now I have been drinking well over 60 drinks a week.

Will check back in here next Friday!

Snaps,

I'm in the UK. And I had little trouble convincing my GP To prescribe nalmefene, if you have access to the book there's part just for the medical profession.

I'm not sure from your post wether you're in the UK or are ordering on line.

Regards

John

Hello there,

All us UK peeps now trying this, good luck.

I got a 3month supply of naltrexone from overseas, GP looking at book at the moment and might stretch to prescribing Nalmefene.

Took me a few days to adjust to naltrexone, wondering what it will be like to change over to nalmefene

Hi John and Nigel

Yes I'm in the UK and have ordered it from www.pharmacy2u.co.uk this is recommended by C 3 Europe which advocates the Sinclair Method. I hadn't realised that I could order it over here either until last week - it is quite expensive (£122 for 28 tablets!).

First you have to have an online consultancy (basically you fill out a questionnaire about your health etc and they ask you to complete a drinks calendar for 14 days (I cheated a bit because I know how much I drink every night- it's always the same so I filled it in an submitted it a couple of days later). Once you have done this the Doctor emails you back with permission to order.

I didn't realise that you CAN order Naltrexone on this website too - I was automatically offered Nalmefene and brought it because I have read that it is the improved version of Nal (Dr Sinclair talks about it in several interviews). However, I checked and they also sell Naltrexone for £1 per tablet. I really don't know what the difference is between the two though.

Nalmefene is supposed to be available on prescription from the NHS from November 2014 - so I figured that if I have used it successfully for a month, I might be able to persuade my DR to prescribe it for me in future.

Good luck!

Quick update - well I took my first Nalmefene tablet yesterday and this is my experience:

Took the tablet at 5pm (my witching hour usually starts at 6pm whilst cooking dinner). I then headed out to the shops and thought I would treat us (just me and hubby) and bought a couple of steaks and decided to make dauphinoise potatoes to go with it - and of course a bottle of wine. I usually buy two (one's never enough - luckily hubby doesn't drink wine so I know I don't have to share !) but thought I would try to lower my intake last night.

Well - by the time I got home just before 6pm I was feeling a bit 'indifferent' - not sure if that's how to describe it, but I truly didn't feel like I could be bothered to do anything - my enthusiasm to cook the lovely meal I had 20 minutes before had left me completely (this is so not like me!). I said to hubby that I was going to sit down and read for half an hour and would call him when dinner was ready. I didn't even feel like drinking a glass of wine, but felt I should as I'd taken the tablet. Well I drank it really slowly, didn't enjoy a single sip (this is my favourite wine - but it just tasted like vinegar). I was ragingly thirsty, so also downed a pint of water.

I cooked dinner, but felt totally indifferent about eating it. It was weird. I had hardly eaten anything all day and was quite hungry, but when it was served up I just couldn't eat more than one mouthful (this is not like me at all!) I drank lots of water, but started to feel quite unwell (sweating, heart felt like it was racing and quite sick). So I went to bed.

I wasn't sure if what I was feeling was alcohol withdrawal (I usually drink two bottles of wine a night - and I'd only had one glass) or whether it was a side affect from Nlmefene. I felt really unwell all night - kept dosing and then waking suddenly feeling as though I had forgotten to breath and gasping for breath. My heart was pounding so fast I thought I was going to have a heart attack - I was so relieved to wake up alive this morning! It's now almost 2pm and the feeling of wanting to be sick is only just starting to lessen a bit.

I know most people are taking Naltrexone - but I understand that these are basically the same drug. Has anyone else experienced side effects like this? We are going out to a comedy night tonight and I've decided that I will be AF - I simply can't risk feeling that ill again tonight. Can anyone advise how long these horrible symptoms will last - I'm terrified to take the next tablet.

Oh - on the plus side - I haven't thought of drinking all day - and the thought of having a glass of wine tonight makes me feel positively sick. I don't think being AF tonight will be a problem!

Hello snapdragon...

I cant speak about Nalmefene, but personally I felt really horrible, sick and out of it when I first took Naltrexone and I only took half a tablet. Still now the nausea is gone but I do feel spaced out. The racing heart I read can be a side effect and I had that once too.

My suggestion as someone said to me is to take a half dose for the first two times (I took a half dose for the first three times) and do it when you are at home and safe. I wouldn't worry myself about tonight, wait until you have a few safe days ahead and then start low dose and build it up.

Personally I am now going the other way, the first week or two I felt a big indifference, now I am drinking more, but thank goodness I read a lot of posts here that tell me that's normal and its my body/mind searching for that high that's just not there.

stick with it, I am certain it will be a success

Snaps

I'm 4 weeks on nalmefene and side effects have long passed. Your explanation of what happened to you last night has made me remember just how bad the first few days were.

I remember thinking that anyone starting nalmefene should plan to be at home for the 1st three days at least. If you are out tonight you probably should stay af and not take nalmefene.

My SEs were nausea, extreme tiredness, flu like symptoms and loss of appetite. These passed by day four.

I initially reduced my drinking quite a lot but they say there's a honeymoon period before ones alcohol consumption can go back to pre TSM levels.

All this seems daunting, however trust me it does pass and it's worth it.

Good luck

John

Hi snapdragon, I also had crazy bad side effects taking 50 mg of Naltrexone the first 2 days and decided to ease myself into it. I actually only took 12.5 mg for 4 days and then upped it to 25 mg for 3 days and now have been on 50 mg for 6 days with an AF day yesterday. Thank God my side effects went away other than after taking the Nal I feel kinda sleepy. Not sure if this is true but have read that it is good to have side effects as people that do experience these are more successful, not sure but hoping it is true???
OK keep us updated on how you are doing!

I just saw this on my C Three Europe Facebook page:
For those beginning TSM using nalmefene (Selincro), I would recommend you are in a comfortable and safe environment for the first time you take the tablet, preferably at home if possible. You are likely to have a few minor and temporary side effects which will go after a week or so but you cannot take half a nalmefene tablet in the same way you can naltrexone, so you are going from zero medication to a full dose the first time you take it. Have a small meal about 20 minutes before the tablet - toast is fine - it will help reduce any nausea.

It is NOT a good idea to take the tablet for the first time an hour before you are due to go out to a restaurant or bar and then be struck with panic if you start feeling disorientated and sick - that can be very frightening. Be kind to yourself and be aware that you are going to need a little time for your body to adjust to taking this medication. Once you are through the first 1 to 2 weeks, you should feel fine. If you have any questions about side effects, drop me an email on Joanna@cthreeeurope.com

That sounds like good information Cheeto. Ty for posting.