I searched and read several other post about campral, but found nothing related to my questions.
I am 28 days (almost 29) sober and stopped taking campral yesterday. I felt very tense while on it and numb to the point I couldn’t cry when needed. For reference, I lost my youngest son (15) in December. I typically feel better after a good cry when the need arises. On campral I couldn’t cry and it made me feel very uncomfortable for that reason.
Today I’m having a lot of suicidal ideation. I’m not going to hurt myself. I’ve already been to the psych ward and I won’t be going back. So, I’m modified to ask my doctor or therapist about my current situation.
Has anyone experienced these things while on or when they stopped campral?
If so, did it pass?
I have 2 other children and 3 grandchildren. I’m not going to hurt myself. And i have zero desire to drink, i just want to remedy the suicidal ideations.
Just want to voice my support to you. I have no real advice other than please talk to a doctor about what you are experiencing, while I understand your reservations about doing so.
All I can say is that campral causes depression and suicidal thoughts in a very small portion of its users. That’s what seems to be happening to you. Physically there’s no known danger to quitting campral without tapering of or something like that. Of course the urge to drink may come back when you quit. Wishing you all success and thinking of you Christine
Thank you! I remember now that my doctor said numerous times when I saw him a few weeks ago that if I have any thoughts like this to call 911. There’s no way I’m calling 911, they’ll surely take me back to the psych ward if I told them why I was calling. He didn’t mention that the meds could do this and I’m kinda of baffled why he’d prescribe such a med knowing my entire situation. He’s very familiar with everything I’m dealing with. And the whole reason I ended up in the psych ward months ago. I feel stupid for not having researched this medication before taking it now. I’ve been on it a month and have had success, but the tension has just become too much. And not being able to cry when I’ve needed to is a whole other uncomfortable feeling I can’t even explain. Today is the first time I’ve been able to cry and it actually helps to let the feelings out. I have a therapist appointment today, i may find the courage to tell her, but it’s scary thinking they may ship me off for a mandatory 5 days. Yet another reason in the books as to why alcohol is nothing but a HUGE problem and not worth all this mess. I haven’t drank in nearly a month and it’s still affecting me negativity because of meds to stop. Thanks for letting me rant!!
Yes to alcohol being nothing but trouble! I firmly believe that the secret to successfully becoming sober, and staying sober too, is to not go it alone. Medications can help only a little bit. We have to do it together. For me this place has been instrumental in my success in staying sober for over four years now. But I started out doing some face to face meetings too. I’d say, do whatever feels right to you, just don’t try to go it alone! We need our peers. We’re in this together. Alone it’s too much. And please rant all you want, it’s what this place and we are here for. x
Hi there, Carol! Sorry you are not feeling great and are experiencing SI. I just wanted to encourage you to tell your therapist today. As a prior therapist and a mandated reporter, I can tell you she will do a suicide assessment when you bring it up. But, from what you have said here, there would be no reason for her to report. A therapist should only report if you are an imminent risk to yourself- you have ideation, she will check if you have a plan and the means. Without a plan and means, you wouldn’t be an imminent/high risk, so she’s (should) just going to work through it with you.
I have also been to therapy with suicidal ideation and my therapist didn’t report. I started therapy after I had a plan and the means. I luckily had someone intervene before an attempt and I got into therapy. My therapist didn’t send me to the psych ward, we just worked on it and it saved my life.
I just want to shed some light because a lot of people are afraid of their therapist in this situation. Afraid of being reported and thrown in a psych ward. But therapist are trained to deal with this so that it doesn’t have to end up like that. A lot of people end up fighting that battle alone because of the fear, I know I did for years! Sending you strength and love!!! Hope you get to feeling better!
I took it for a month, it made me so sick and gave me insomnia. I felt terrible and exhausted!! I decided to go to AA and it was obviously a much better experience!
The other thing you might try instead of taking the medication daily is opt for the injection. I think it lasts over a month? It can be painful shot to your butt but it might help. Unfortunately with any medication it’s a trial and error period to figure out what works. Usually if it doesn’t work it’s a month or more of suffering to decide to not continue.
Naltrexone and Campral are two different meds and I’ve tried both. The shot VIVITROL is the same as the med naltrexone, in time released injectable form. Naltrexone made me feel terrible. I’ve felt relatively fine in campral other than the lingering tension and unable to cry when needed. Crying is actually a natural stress reliever. The hardest part for me has always been the first 30 days. Hopefully i can stay the sober course with counseling 2x week and will power.
