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[imjustagirl]

i am searching everywhere for naltrexone for alcohol recovery and am having zero luck...its in the mims thailand but none of the local pharmacies have heard of it....has anyone managed to acuire it here through a hospitol or pharmacist in bangkok??? thanks

[Sheryl]

I think it is a controlled drug....and in any case using it on your own would be dangerous.

See a psychiatrist specializing in addiction disorders, there are a number of them at the various main hospitals. Go to the web sites, select pyschiatry as specialty and then look for one with "addiction disorders" listed as area of focus/sub-specialty. Selecting one with training in the west on fairly recent years will up the odds of familiarity with nalotrexone.

[Johnniey]

I thought that naltrexone was to allow an alcoholic to drink normally, not to recover from alcoholism. When I took it, I found that I could drink almost like my "normal" heavy-drinking friends.

[Sheryl]

A mail order url link and post quoting it have been removed. We strongly recommend against the online purchase of prescription drugs unless (1) you have a doctor's prescription for it and (2)  the source is a pharmacy you know to be reliable as opposed to an anonymous source in cyberspace.  Risks otherwise include drugs that are counterfeit/poor quality/contain unlisted ingrediants that may or may not be safe etc and, if it is a drug that is either not licensed for use in Thailand or requires a prescription here, legal problems which could extend to jail time.

   Above applies to any type of pharmaceutical other than nutritional/herbal supplements.

   Specific to naltrexone:

   1. It is a serious drug which is thought to alter neurotransmitters in the brain, somewhat similar to various psychotropic meds (and indeed, some of the newer antidepressant drugs are sometimes useful as an adjunct in managing substance addiction).  It is not safe to use on your own. See a physician specializing in addiction disorders.

   2.  Contrary to post above, it is not recommended for use by people still actively drinking, and AFAIK has never been tested in that setting.  

   The safety of  long-term use (which is what one would have to do to use it as a ameans of maintaining moderate drinking) , has also AFAIK not been tested.

   3. Studies on its efficacy in treating alcoholism have shown mixed results. It appears to vary greatly by individual and there may be genetic factors that determine whether or not it will help a specific individual.  

   4. Naltrexone is listed in MIMS in the generic form only, which suggests that no brand has yet been licensed for import and sale in Thailand. It is possible, however, that some of the large private hospitals have it. Most of these also have physicians specializing in addiction disorders. Generally this is a sub-specialty of psychiatry, but sometimes also neurology.

[Johnniey]

Apologies for posting that URL.

Howvever, be warned that most(99% +) doctors in Thailand have absolutely no clue when it comes to alcoholism. I've had "experts" from good hospitals try to prescribe me benzodiazepines and even tell me that after a few years it is safe to drink a couple of beers a week.
Many alkies I've met, even in AA are hooked on benzos because they were prescribed by a Thai doctor, who knew of their alcoholism.
As an alcoholic, I'd often feel safer making my own diagnosis. Regarding these experts - I'm pretty sure my own diagnosis saved my life.

[Sheryl]

Agreed that the vast majority of doctors here are not well informed on the subject but there should be a vast difference between the average doc and a specialist in addiction disorders. Especially if the latter got his specialized training in a western country.

[SOEYCHANLOY]

hI,
I hear that that medicine is used also for the treatment of alcohol addiction, but basically it is a mollecule very  similar as NALOXONE or "narcan" , just that naltrexone is a long acting opioid receptors blocking andused in opiate treatment for keep patients clean . Anyway, I can recommend you to look for "re-via" it is another brand  name of the same naltrexone widely used in US and by the way in Thailand.
I hope i could help.

[ding]

Sheryl, on 2011-08-23 11:16:56, said:

Agreed that the vast majority of doctors here are not well informed on the subject but there should be a vast difference between the average doc and a specialist in addiction disorders. Especially if the latter got his specialized training in a western country.

There used to be an outreach to the medical professions in AA - my area anyway. It's now pretty common knowledge that switching to barbs or anything else, is just changing seats on the Titanic. In fact, it's an all to common back door out. Pain management is tough for addicts & alcoholics.

Too bad Thailand is still a bit blinded by a pointless stigma.

For anyone interested; http://www.fda.gov/S...tch/default.htm

Edited by ding, 2012-01-29 02:51:39.