Nalmefene For Alcohol Addiction
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Nalmefene is a medication that can be used by those who are concerned about their drinking. Nalmefene for alcohol addiction may be an option for people who are not yet at crisis point, but know they need to do something about it.
A useful adjunctive treatment, Nalmefene is licenced and recommended for people who are drinking but do not need a detox.
If you are drinking alcohol but do not wake up with withdrawal symptoms, then Nalmefene for alcohol addiction may be useful.
Nalmefene For Alcohol Addiction:What Does Nalmefene Do?
Nalmefene sits on opioid receptors and slows down the effects of opioids.
While not invented for alcohol addiction, it has now been licenced for this. It is common for medications to gain additional licences aside for which it was originally marketed. Viagra is a perfect example!
The aim of treatment with Nalmefene is to reduce the reward gained when alcohol is consumed.
When you drink you get a sense of relaxation, a sense of euphoria. If you take Nalmefene, in sufficient time before you drink (an hour to an hour and a half) you will not experience these pleasurable effects.
The theory is that, by doing so you will disassociate yourself from drinking alcohol. Moreover, Nalmefene for alcohol addiction works by targeting this reward system and helping break the cycle.
What Nalmefene Can’t do
Nalmefene can not be used as a detox medication.
If you take it and decide to drink alcohol it will not stop you getting drunk.
Should you drink, excessively, on a daily basis (and throughout the day) it is likely you will become physically dependent on alcohol. Nalmefene can not be used as a detox medication as it won’t work.
Nalmefene must be taken, at least an hour, before you drink otherwise it will not be effective.
Are There Any Side Effects?
As with all medications, there are some side effects that have been reported by people taking it.
Some of the side effects are:
- Feeling sick
- Dizziness
- Insomnia
- Headaches
- Poor appetite
- Rapid heartbeat
- Diarrhoea
- Dry mouth
- Vomiting
- Excessive sweating
The good news is that most cases of side effects have tended to be mild or moderate, start at the beginning of treatment and only last for a few hours to a few days.
Current evidence shows that these usually pass if you continue treatment or take a short break.
Sometimes it is difficult to work out which are possible symptoms of side effects and which are the result of you not drinking as much.
In some cases, it may be difficult for you to distinguish side effects from the symptoms you may feel when you reduce your alcohol consumption. However, Nalmefene for alcohol addiction is generally considered safe for most people when prescribed appropriately.
Nalmefene For Alcohol Addiction: Who Can’t Take Nalmefene
As Nalmefene interferes with opioid receptors you should not take Nalmefene is you are on Methadone, Buprenorphine or any other opioid based medication.
Were you to use Nalmefene after having taken opioids it will push you into withdrawal. This can be dangerous.
Those with poor liver and kidney function can not take Nalmefene.
Key Takeaways
- Nalmefene for alcohol addiction is a medication for those who drink but do not require detoxification.
- It works by reducing the pleasurable effects of alcohol when taken prior to drinking, targeting the reward system.
- Nalmefene cannot serve as a detox medication and may lead to withdrawal when used with opioids.
- Common side effects include nausea, dizziness, and insomnia, but these are generally mild and temporary.
- To obtain Nalmefene for alcohol addiction, engage with local alcohol services, as it is not initially prescribed by GPs.
Where Can I Get a Prescription for Nalmefene?
Your GP can not prescribe it for you. Not at first, anyway.
Due to the way NHS GP services are commissioned, your GP can not recoup the cost against their prescribing budget and neither can a pharmacist if the stamp on the prescription is from an NHS GP surgery for the initial months of treatment.
You may be able to get an NHS prescription from your local, council funded, drug and alcohol services.
To get a prescription from your local service you will need to engage with them: attend meetings and groups. It may take sometime before you are seen by a clinician. Not all services are funded for Nalmefene. It is a very expensive medication. In summary, for those seeking Nalmefene for alcohol addiction, engaging with local alcohol services remains the best route.
If you work with them, attend meetings and keywork sessions, they may (if the service has been aligned to do so) be able to get your GP to provide a repeat prescription.
Nalmefene is taken for six months to a year.
There is no evidence to show that taking it for a longer period will have any benefit.
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If you choose to go into residential treatment, we will provide a referral without charge.
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