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Well, I had to go to our family doctor today, and when he asked how my wife was doing (metastatic cancer), I spontaneously decided it was time to let him know about her "other" disease. She came to me this AM after a two-day drunk and expressed that she really wanted to stop doing this to herself and me, so I thought he might have something to suggest.
His first suggestions (tell her I'd leave if she didn't get help, push her to start program, etc.) were not new or viable. He then suggested a drug called Campral, which he said takes away the desire to drink in many people. I'm trying to keep our insurance uninvolved in this since we'll be having to get new insurance at the beginning of next year, so there were no notes in her chart (since he didn't examine her)...just the prescription.
When I got home and mentioned this, her first reaction (of course) was being a bit upset at me for telling the doc. I informed her that she is not the only one who needs help with this problem, and although I won't be taking out ads to announce the problem in the paper or discussing it with friends and acquaintances...I'm done hiding her disease from professionals who can help EITHER her OR me, as I know *I* need help in learning to cope even if she doesn't choose to get help. I've covered for her long enough.
Back to the subject- has anyone heard of or had experience with this drug Campral? It's not like antabuse (which makes the person violently ill if they drink)...he said it just helps take away the urge, and he's had patients who've said they could just drive on by the liquor store when taking it when before their "car would just turn itself into the parking lot".
I know an A would still have to be motivated to change, else they wouldn't even take the pill let alone do the work on themselves...and I'm sure it's an aid, not a Magic Pill which does the work for you. I'm just curious if anyone has heard of this or seen their A benefit from it.
Thanks, and many blessings to all of you for your strength and kindness.
HI XD I have heard of Campral. I heard that it would replace inpatient treatment as it works to relieve desire. If the A drinks while on it, it will not make them sick but they shoulcl continue on the program and they will eventually stop.
My son tried it, and it did not work . I believe it did not work because he did not want to stop
Good Luck
-- Edited by hotrod on Friday 6th of August 2010 04:44:24 PM
Hi XD, I can relate to Betty here...... my Ason was prescribed this and took it religiously.... but continued to drink (hidden while taking it....he wasn't ready to stop.
The drinking escalated and the Campral prescriptions eventually remained unopend.
On a positive side I believe it has very good results on those who truly want sobriety as it takes away the craving.
I really like that you put your foot down with your wife in regards to being open about discussing what's going on. Alcoholism really likes to isolate and hide, and her reaction is typical.
I've been told that when an Alcoholic says they're looking for help that my best and only response to them would be to hand them an AA meeting schedule and leave the rest up to them. Perhaps in your case, you might wait for the next time she brings it up and hand her an AA meeting schedule, and perhaps a pamphlet on the drug.
Discussing the idea with her at any other time... when she's not the one to bring it up... typically just leads to defensive behavior, or in the long run, their blaming you for their predicament if it's not working out right.
I hate to use this this metaphor, but really in my own experience, giving an Alcoholic a meeting schedule or other information on how they can find help well after the time they inquired about it is almost like punishing the dog for peeing on the carpet several hours after the fact. All the dog understands is you're yelling at it for walking in the room... not for the pee. Not saying you're yelling at or punishing your wife, but that's my experience with the extent of an alcoholics willing attention span on contemplating recovery. There's just that one brief moment where you can give them the info. The rest of the time, it's just best for me to mind my own business.
My AH used Campral one of the times he tried to stop drinking. It was after a stay in rehab, and I guess a doc there prescribed it for him. He also used the Vivitrol shot as an anti-craving med. It ended up that he relapsed on both drugs. He has about 17 months of sobriety now, and has not taken meds this time.
In my opinion, alcoholism is a physical, mental, and spiritual disease. While a drug may treat the physical aspect of it to some degree, if there is not mental and spiritual help also going on, the alcoholic will probably not succeed. Medication is not a long term solution.
Like Ness, I think that for someone that really wants to get sober, medication may have a place - along with mental and spiritual help.
I totally agree with White Rabbit. My AH has been on both Campral and Naltrexone. However, he was not receiving the mental and spiritual help at the time. He relapsed within 4 - 6 weeks.
He has been sober now for approximately 8 months - no drugs, just counseling and AA.
I'm not saying that the drugs don't have their place, however, the mental and spiritual problems have to be treated along with the physical, in my opinion.
