Campral

[E_gitz]

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I'm a moderate drinker and I don't consider myself to have a dependency problem, but my doctor thinks I might. I don't know if I should start taking Campral because I only have 4 weeks worth of the meds and I have no prescription or insurance. Also, the pamphlet says that I should be abstinate from drinking, but I like to have a few drinks every Wednesday.

If I take Campral, that means that I cannot have my weekly drink night, right? And more importantly, is it safe if I completely run out of the pills and abruptly go off of them with out weening off? The dose is very high and there is no way that I can afford these pills if my doctor cannot supply me with samples any more. How long should I take these pills? Is just a couple of months enough?
Help, help, help, I need more information.

[myra]

I just started Campral on Monday. Very expensive but I consider it to be no more expensive than the amount of wine I was drinking. So, very worth it to me if it keeps my self esteem intact, keeps my people around me safe from me. Having said that , I am lucky to be able to pay for it. I'm not sure that the topamax was not more effective as anti-craving than campral. I intend to be alcohol free but prescription info says to keep taking the campral even if you drink.

I will certainly use up this prescription and see how it goes.

[barebones]

from what i have seen, yes u should be off drink if thats what ur using campral for. if u take drink and campral is that the effect will have less results. this drug is only for cravings. no u shoudnt have any withdrawels from coming off campral, as it doesnt work in that way. from what ive read on the info is that campral should be tooken up for a year. but i guess it depends if ur cravings for drink has gone when u are off it.

u say u dont have a drinking problem and u drink only once a week? i dont see then what purpous it would be being on campral and why ur doc gave it to u.

[E_gitz]

I'm still trying to figure out what to do. It sounds like I will be safe just taking the 4 weeks worth, although it might not be very effective.

My doc thinks that I am gaining weight from drinking. It's something she's always been preoccupied with. I'm 5'0" and my weight always stays within 110 to 120, so I don't think I even have a weight problem. That's why I like to research what I'm given before I take it.

[Cinders]

E_Gitz,

Let me get this straight. You drink one night a week. Your weight is 110-120 and your doctor thinks your one night of drinking is contributing to your weight?? (It doesn't sound exceptionally heavy to me, the weight I mean.)

How much do you drink on that one night a week?

Is it possible your doctor doesn't believe you only drink one night a week?

Cindi
XXI

[E_gitz]

Yes, It's possible that she doesn't believe me. I have been seeing her since I was 18, so that's about 5 years. I went through a wild partying phase after high school until I was about 19-20. Ever since then she, and some of my family have had it in there heads that I have a drinking problem. It's kinda like the Lindsey Lohan thing, I guess these days we still expect girls to behave proper and keep their appearance, while boys are free to... "be boys" as they say.

Either way, that was a few years ago, and I'm done with college(for now) and married. So I have moved on. Today, I have 3-4 drinks of Rum+Coke on my one night and we have a box of wine that will usually last a little more than a month. I guess the definition of "binge drinking" is 4 or more drinks in one night for a woman. So I fit right in there, but I think the "standards" that these studies apply to everyone are unrealistic. I am German-Irish, so 3-4 drinks for me is hardly binge drinking.

Also since 18, I have gained 10-20 pounds. I think that happens to everyone. Plus, people in high school always said that I was really skinny. I'm at a healthy weight, but she always picks at my weight gain and my drinking. Maybe I should go to a Clinic that's farther away, but has a doctor that doesn't know me from high school.

I'm willing to try these pills for the benefit of the doubt, but I want to make sure that I know what I'm doing first.

[Ukblonde]

I have just been to my Dr and requested Campral today. I do have a drink problem (lol) and haven't been able to take it til now because I really wasn't able to stop for any length of time in the past. From my research Campral doesn't actually have any interaction with alcohol but if you continue drinking whilst taking it it negates any effect it could have - so no point taking it.

Campral helps with cravings, once you have stopped and are abstenant. If you are only using it to drink less then it sounds as if it has been mis-understood/prescribed.

Scary really.

[tweezy]

Hi UK Blonde,
I had my first prescription of campral over 3 years ago, however I just wouldnt take it cause I guess Iwasnt ready to give up the grog and getting' out of life'.
Now Im on my third go at taking campral now for about 2 weeks daily and I think it helps me not to crave alcohol.Iseem to be fairly calm too which is a bonus. I hope it helps you .
bye for now.

[E_gitz]

Tweezy, do you think that Campral can succeed in 4 weeks or less? I wrote more, but I waited longer than 10 seconds to post.

I guess, I would like like to try Campral to see if it would help me if do need it.

[Cinders]

E_Gitz,

Find another doctor!!

What are you expecting the Campral to do? Keep you from drinking once a week?

I imagine you can do that without the Campral.

I would not take any drug that is unnecessary. I say that because as a woman in her 50s, we end up taking a lot more drugs than we want.

I guess what I am really saying is, if you do not perceive you have an alcohol problem, you probably don't. Try doing without the "drinking day" for a week and see how it goes. It if truly bothers you, perhaps you might consider the Campral. If it doesn't, I would suggest you consider consuming a little less during your night out and make sure you don't drive after two drinks.

Cindi
XXV