Neltrexone and The Sinclair Method - unleaning to crave

I stumbled with a video about Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) treatment with The Sinclair Method (TSM), just like Mi_Sporte did in this thread: alcohol-addiction/topic183673.html

The treatment consists in taking a opiate blocker (usually Naltrexone) and taking alcohol as soon as the drug takes full effect. That should make them able to drink without having that pleasure of doing it, which in turn would gradually make the people "unlearn their addiction", eliminating future cravings.

It worked very well for Claudia Christian, but it is essential to note that in her case the "genetic predisposition coupled with engaging in the behavior" was the only thing driving her into AUD. She did not have childhood issues or traumas, had her chosen career, beautiful home and family/friends who loved and supported her, as she describes here: https://youtu.be/6EghiY_s2ts?t=188

And by the way, Naltrexone in lower dosages is also used to treat Alzheimer's and even AIDS, as it produces some sort of boost in immune system. - http://www.lowdosenaltrexone.org/index.htm

I'm very skeptical about the use of prescription drugs, but I found this one very interesting because people say Naltrexone is totally non-addictive itself and because TSM allows us to teach our brains to think and behave normally about the addictive thing.

Anyone tried the TSM method ? Some say it is the most successful treatment for AUD.

That makes me wonder; can't an analog method be developed to treat other types of addictions which are also primarily linked to endorphin release (natural opioids) ?

I'm asking because there is very convincing theory linking such type of addiction to borderline personality disorder (BPD) and explaining a series of behaviors. It is certainly a much more complex and poorly understood disorder with significant difference from AUD, but I know people with BPD for whom such theory makes all sense. The study below failed to prove such link:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22002175

But I have read the abstract and understood it couldn't prove anything since it was too simplistic. It was about taking the drug for 3 weeks ans nothing else. That will certainly not be enough to learn a different pattern of thoughts and behaviors. For a TSM analog solution, the patients should get exposed to their worst triggers as the drug took effect and be conscious about the goal of changing the way they feel about that trigger.

And it is perfectly understandable why wouldn't someone want to take that risk, once BPD reaction is so intense and harmful. The triggers would have to be very carefully tackled under a safe environment and the patient would have to hold faith on such approach on forehand so they get willing to cooperate. But I think love and care could be enough to give them that encouragement.

Hi

I have been on Naltraxone for about 3 months now. It has made a huge difference to my cravings although sometimes I can drink through it. I must add that I am a problem drinker and not a total addict. It changed my life. I was told by my psychiatrist to drink it in the morning, but sometimes I find drinking it in the late afternoon works better. I come from a family of alcoholics and was also diagnosed with PTSD. I was unable to stop without this drug. I was told I can stay on it for the rest of my life.

Good luck

Pietmond,

Pietmond wrote:sometimes I find drinking it in the late afternoon works better

According to The Sinclair Method, most important thing is that you have taken the medication exactly 1h before drinking, when then the drug effects will be maximized, preventing your natural opoid system to reinforce that behavior. Is that what you are doing ?

Pietmond wrote:I come from a family of alcoholics and was also diagnosed with PTSD.

I see. So maybe you drink also as a tool to numb out unpleasant feelings which you don't know exactly were they come from. That would be the case of recurrent childhood traumas, which are much different than adult PTSD such as Vietnam war. So you might like to read about "complex PTSD" or CPTSD. There are many videos and self help books on it.

But I don't think CPTSD alone induces AUD at any level. For instance, I have some level of CPTSD and I may drink one can of beer sometimes to relax when triggered. It feels better but usually I don't feel like drinking a 2nd can of beer, because I know it feels very bad (for me) to drink too much.

Pietmond wrote:I was told I can stay on it for the rest of my life.

Thanks for sharing that ! Any side effects? From what I read, worst ones occur when other drugs are in the mix.

I'm thinking about my wife and very convinced that Neltrexone could change her life as well. Though neither of us are drinkers, so it may take ages until research demonstrates it can help her. So I'm now searching for natural alternatives. The following link describes 4 alternatives for opiate withdraw, and most are theorized to work as opiate blockers (like Naltrexone):

1. Ibogaine root - prohibited in most countries since it causes strong hallucination
2. Mega-Doses of Vitamin C - cheap and safe
3. "Calm Support" - a specialized vitamin/mineral supplement
4. Kratom medication

https://opiateaddictionsupport.com/natu ... ithdrawal/

Option 2 is the most affordable, as C powder. I could get 30 g per day overseas for less than 30 usd per month. Never tried that dose, but feel more encouraged now. We may have to decrease the dose if diarrhea or stomach cramping due to acidity occurs. But there are more expensive forms which overcome such side effects, like buffered C options (which are ph-neutral) and lipossomal C (which is better absorbed).

https://opiateaddictionsupport.com/how- ... ithdrawal/

Hi PuzzledMan

Thanks for the feedback, very helpful. No, I just drink it mostly in the morning. I will drink it an hour before this afternoon. Yes, you are right with complex PTSD. I was also diagnosed with a dissociative disorder that for years I have blamed on the alcohol abuse. These things become so interdependent. I am female, by the way.

May I ask why you need this for your wife if she is not a drinker or did I miss something? I am going to google your other suggestions. Thanks so much and good luck.

-- Sun Apr 30, 2017 7:03 am --

PuzzledMan

Regarding side effects: nausea from hell for the first 2 weeks. After that I have had no unpleasant side effects. My gp did tell me that he will monitor my kidney function. I assume that may be an issue with longterm use. I do think that with the toll alcohol takes on your body - the Naltrexone can hardly be more dangerous.

Have a nice day

Hi Pietmond,

Just to clear up, this is from Wikipedia:
"The Sinclair method is a method of using opiate antagonists such as Naltrexone to treat alcoholism. The patient takes the medication about an hour (and only then) before drinking to avoid side effects that arise from chronic use. The opioid blocks the positive reinforcement effects of alcohol and allows the person to stop or reduce drinking."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naltrexone

It looks like the side effects you felt are about the withdraw effects. The video below shows how Neltrexone kicks off the opiates from the brain, detoxifying it, and how easier it is to go through this process gradually.

https://youtu.be/3oweopNMq3U

My interest here is to find out if the solutions found for AUD and opiate addiction can be transposed to BPD, especially The Sinclair Method. Because the most convincing theory to explain BPD is about the need (or addiction) to behaviors and thoughts which make the brain release endorphins, which is the natural brain opiates, and it's effect can be also achieved by consuming alcohol or an illegal opiate drug. By the way, many people with BPD drink excessively, do illegal drugs and dissociate. But is much harder to get awareness of a harmful process when it occurs and feeds itself within the brain, regardless of the presence of any substance or external stimuli.

So for each person with BPD there is a huge list of topics/situations which are "dangerous", as they may trigger an episode. The person with BPD does not really avoid them. Instead, induces them. Such acting out unconsciously in a way that forces someone to abandon you (temporarily) when abandonment exactly your greatest fear. Or having negative thoughts just for the sake of having them. So according to the endogenous opiate theory, those thoughts and behaviors are like the drug for an addict. Once they are learned it is very hard to avoided them. Though if this person was aided of a opiate blocker and accepted to try, in that state, to overcome those topics/situations, then there would be hope of unlearning them. That means to just maintain a healthy thought and behavior while going through it. Not feeling compelled into negative and neurotic thoughts, and unnecessary arguing, this person could then find herself safe and comfortable enough to not activate defense mechanisms such as projection and blaming. Afterwards, she would remind that as a pleasurable experience were things did not escalate and thing or relationship was harmed, so she would gradually bond to this new healthier "personality".

Hi PuzzledMan

Fascinating idea about BPD and the possible solution. Do you take attachment theory into account or not really? I guess these types of disorders are complicated both in their origin and their solutions. Good luck for your search and your wife is very lucky to have you!

Kind regards

Thanks Pietmond for your encouragement.

Didn't find much yet. This guy says he used vitamin C mega-dose to cure opiate addiction in him and many other people, up to 250 grams per day !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jUCZpIGnUY

This woman explains that vitamin C reduces the mood fluctuation of heroin addicts like her, but she does not mega-dose. That is interesting because BPD also causes mood fluctuations.

https://youtu.be/1so4Kj5JC6Y

I find a lot about Niacin for alcoholism, not specifically about mega-dose C, but Roger J Williams protocol includes both, and other supplements.

Strangely, I couldn't google out any information of mega-dose C for BPD. just this small (half-gram) C dose usage:

http://www.hopeforbpd.com/borderline-pe ... ut-drugs-1

So either the theory that mega-dose C can work as opiate blockers (like Neltrexone) is wrong. Or maybe opiates are not that important for most people with AUD or BPD. Opiates could be, just one of many processes behind alcohol cravings, which would explain why Roger J Williams protocol adds many supplements other than mega-dose C. I'm convinced that opiates are driving most of my wife's behavior, so it should be easy to find out if mega-C really blocks them. I wouldn't be so confident if it was about other people I have lived with, which have BPD traits but not a all symptoms. Yet I have the perfect guinea pig here. And since it is safe, I will take it myself too, as an encouragement.

I'm getting better each day in detecting when "opiate cravings take control of her behavior". And this actually helps the relationship because then instead of getting upset I just become curious and sometimes even laugh about her persistent attempts to create an argument. If mega-c works as a opiate blocker, then soon she should not do that anymore, even if I encourage it (by bringing up her favorite rumination subjects, for example).

The attachment theory is a valid theory, for attachment style, but it alone will certainly not cause a full criteria BPD, ever. Nor will it alone cause AUD. While it can motivate the engagement in substances and behaviors, attachment issues won't produce later cravings, unless genetics/biology are set for that. For instance, I would never become an alcoholic like my father by copying him, nor behave as my wife by copying her. And when something terrible happens in my life, I don't feel like drinking too much or modulating my moods in a unrecognizable way.

I'm trying Naltrexone again. I tried it a few years ago and couldn't tolerate the side effects. I'm on day 5 and had three days of sobriety. I drank a glass of wine yesterday to ease withdrawal but didn't get pleasure from it. I was pretty disappointed that I didn't continue with sobriety but I think it's important to avoid withdrawal. I'll drink less and less every day until I stop.

The Naltrexone does give me side effects. I feel dysphoric, anxious, dizzy and nauseous among other things. I hope they lessen with time.