I found an AA meeting

if you can get to a meeting, ask for a ride. we are taught to help a newcomer and picking you up is one way. i'm sorry there's not a decent choice for you in chalmette. i think the drug my sister used is chantex-spelling?- it cuts the craving and doesn't make you sick. she's been sober now 4 years.
you keep posting here, chalmette. we're here for you. your life can improve beyond anything you can imagine if you put down the drink. i'm 21 years sober so it can be done for u 2.

My truck will get me around the parish. So i can drive to the meeting. It's only about 2 miles away.

Chantex wasn't on the list gulas gave me. But i'll ask my GP about that one too.

Right now i'm fighting the urge to get a six pack today for the Saints game. If i can hold out. It will be my first game without beer.

Thanks Madisgram

Be strong, don't give in. When the beer commercials come on, mute the volume. Good luck brother. Go Saints! Headed out to a meeting tonight, have a good, sober evening there.

Champix is an anti-smoking med, not anti-alcohol cravings.

The two main anti-cravings meds for alcohol are Revia (Naltrexone) and Campral (Acamprosated). I was on Revia for awhile and it did help, but I had to go off it due to cost when I lost my health insurance.

But I know lots of people who are on either Revia or Campral for whom it has been a huge help. My addictions Dr. tends to prescrive Revia more, simply because Campral is contraindicated if you have a history of psych issues.

Topomax, has been around longer, and apparently works as an anti-craving med for some people. Also it's available as a generic so it's a lot cheaper. I've heard it has some weird side effects though.

I've never heard of Baclofen being prescribed for alcohol cravings, although I heard of it prescribed for cocaine cravings - but I'm not an expert on anti-cravings meds.

None of them make you sick if you drink on them. The Revia though does take the fun out of drinking. You don't get the initial buzz from the drink. When I drank while taking it, I just felt flat and got a weird kind of headache.

The only med that'll make you sick if you drink on it, is Disulfiram (Antabuse). You've got to be absolutely positive you want to stop and stay stopped if you go on it, as drinking on it, is literally hell. I've drunk on it a couple of times and you get really really sick. You also have to be super careful when you're on it, to avoid all alcohol in foods as even a small amount of alcohol can trigger a reaction. You have to be especially careful about sauces. So it can make eating out a challenge.

Meds can definitely be helpful in stopping drinking.

splitimage

Chalmette, I have realized that I am an alcoholic but I just can't go to a meeting right now either. I've tried, even drove to one but sat in the parking lot. I know I need to go but can't find the courage to so I can relate to what you're feeling.

There are aa meetings online if you're interested. I have found it very helpful and they are at all times of the day. I've even gotten a sponsor online and have started working the steps with her.

The online meetings are aaonline.net

Baclofen is a relative newcomer, as an anti-craving med. However I have read nothing but positive things about it. I would definitely be trying it if containing my cravings becomes an issue again.

Check out the comprehensive Wikipedia entry for it, as well as the Time article on the link below.

http://www.time.com/time/health/arti...913016,00.html

Well gulas. I wasn't strong enough. I went to the corner to get smokes and saw a friend getting beer. I broke down and got a six pack. I drank it during the game. When i finished the 6pak, i wanted more. But i didnt go back to the corner and get more. I fought it off. Now i have to start all over.

Your Sister

chalmette

Hey Split. I didnt know there were so many meds for alcohol. I'm writing them all down to show my GP.

I know for sure i don't want to be on the antabuse. I don't want to take the chance of drinking then getting real sick. Hangovers are enough.

Thanks for listing more and your experience with them.

Chalmette

Hi hopefultoday. I'm glad i'm not alone in the scared to go to the meetings. I wish we could both be stronger and go. I think one day we will.

I'm going to go to the website you posted and check it out. I'll let you know what i think of it.

chalmette

chalmette i don't know why the chantix helped my sister but it did. they prescribed it for her alcohol abuse/alcoholism and it did work for her. she is a smoker too and in her initial recovery while on it she didn't crave as much for that too.
it's good you're exploring options to help you.

Thank you Madisgram. I've got about 9 different meds written down. I'm just going to hand the paper to my GP and see what she says. She knows about my drinking but has never said anything to me about meds for it. I'm thinking of calling her.

chalmette

Trust me, as someone who has tried AA and rehab, take the AA