drinking on Naltrexone (sinclair method)

[rustyonthelake]

drinking on Naltrexone (sinclair method)

hello

I have just read about naltrexone and thinking about trying it...did you get your meds from a doctor or order online...
thanks
rustyonthelake

drunknomore?;203192 wrote: Hi everyone, Thought I would post a few more observations on what its like to drink on Naltrexone since not many people here seem to be doing it but I've been getting good results with it. Last night was night 5 on 25 mg and I still didn't drink nearly as much as I traditionally do ( 2 bottles) but for the first time drank more than I had been for the previous 4 nights ( usually 1-2 drinks, one night I drank three, all with no effect aside from some tiredness). Last night I was at a party and I drank one, but it seemed to affect me more than the previous nights. I still didn't want more though. I think the difference between last night and the previous nights is that I ate a lot yesterday - a full business lunch and a business dinner, and that seems to reduce the effect of the Nal. So now am going to watch what I eat as well to make sure my stomach doesn't get so full as to interfere with the drug, though actually my desire to eat has gone down too on this stuff, so that shouldn't be too hard.
Anyway still woke up totally hangover free, and still so much less interested in drinking, but still able to socialize without drawing attention to my drinking habits in any way, which is GREAT! Its a whole new world.
Wishing everyone the BEST
DNM

[cessation]

drinking on Naltrexone (sinclair method)

rustyonthelake;601852 wrote: I have just read about naltrexone and thinking about trying it...did you get your meds from a doctor or order online...
thanks
rustyonthelake

I ordered my meds from River.

[happy4once]

drinking on Naltrexone (sinclair method)

ME: im set to start the nal soon.. i took topa for a bit but couldnt take it due to side effects. does drinking on the nal feel thesame as drinking on topamax?

I've tried both and there are big differences. Topa works almost immediately but the side affects are horrible. Taking Topa felt like I was putting a little blanket over my cravings...they just went to sleep immediately. Unfortunately my anger and depression woke up big time instead.

Nal is very, very subtle. The first few weeks it was a bit like the good Topa blanket, but now it just feels very under the radar. My consumption is up this week but down overall and my cravings are just different.

The good thing about Nal is that you are unwiring your addiction, permanently (as long as you do not drink without Nal). With Topa, you are just masking...nothing is being 'fixed'. So, I like Nal

[me1455]

drinking on Naltrexone (sinclair method)

ok thanks .. out of curiosity, what do you mean your cravings are different ? did you feel the nal takes away the buzz mre than topa?

[ldhkah57]

drinking on Naltrexone (sinclair method)

I have a question for the group. I read all of your posts last night until 2 in the morning. I was fascinated. I have been sober for 15 months, go to AA, but still crave alcohol and would love, love, love to drink socially. Do you think it is possible to rewire my brain with nal all these months later? I'm afraid of getting bombed after so much time sober the first time I drink and also afraid that nal won't work and I'll be back to where I started--drunk or hungover 24/7. Thanks so much for reading my post.

[LaBear]

drinking on Naltrexone (sinclair method)

Boy, what a loaded question, can't believe I found this. I am taking Naltrexone and according to the Sinclair Method one should not start drinking to try this. You have been 15 mos. sober. Do not change this for the method. If you go back to drinking then check out the Sinclair method at that time.

[LaBear]

drinking on Naltrexone (sinclair method)

me1455;602823 wrote: ok thanks .. out of curiosity, what do you mean your cravings are different ? did you feel the nal takes away the buzz mre than topa?

Hey, why the heck don't you just jump in. I see you are still here asking the same old questions. I am now taking the Naltrexone. You seem to want your cake and eat it too. Yes, ya still get the buzz, yes ya still get drunk! Read the book, do the work, get going. You said you were scared, etc. and yet you do nothing but ask if you can still get high! Sorry but you need to know you are in trouble and have to try something before you loose everything. Believe me I know!

[ldhkah57]

drinking on Naltrexone (sinclair method)

LaBear, thanks for taking the time to answer my question. I have another, however. I have a friend who has been in and out of AA for 15 years. She just relapsed yet again and has been sober for a week. Every time she has to do the "hard work" in AA (i.e. the fourth step) she seems to relapse. Do you think this might work for her? :thanks:

[LaBear]

drinking on Naltrexone (sinclair method)

I have never been a member of AA so I can not speak for that. I was sober for 13 years on my own and thought I could just have one!!!! From there I progressed over a 5 year period to become a binge drinker. If your friend is bouncing back and forth the Sinclair Method might just be something she might want to try, nothing lost of she does not succeed because what she is doing is not working either. There are plenty of posts on here about it and also a message board that is set up so as to not interfere with MWO forums. Good Luck.

[me1455]

drinking on Naltrexone (sinclair method)

Labear, Happy4once wrote

Nal is very, very subtle. The first few weeks it was a bit like the good Topa blanket, but now it just feels very under the radar. My consumption is up this week but down overall and my cravings are just different

So i asked what he meant by how he felt on nal. Im simply wondering how people feel when they drink on naltrexone and how it possibly helps them to not want the next five drinks they normally would have going on a binge. i m eager bc im awaiting my nal to come. Should be here anyday now.

[happy4once]

drinking on Naltrexone (sinclair method)

Hi - let me expand on what I meant by my cravings are different (and this may not be the same for everyone...). Right now I am averaging 1.5 less units per night than my pre-sinclair 4.5 a nite ...that doesn't really sound that great, right? So to put some context around what is different I mentioned that my cravings are different.

Pre-sinclair I would think about my wine constantly - wake up in the morning and calculate how much I had left, if I had enough to get through the night when I got home..on the way home from work my arms and back would start physically aching for a drink and the focus of my evening was to get my kids in bed so I could open the wine. Many times I would open it with them still up. There was a constant nagging all day long until I took that first sip and then this wonderful feeling of relief would spread throughout my body. Ahh. Relief.

Now, 8 weeks into the method, I don't think about wine much at all. I don't know how much wine I have in the house. I am currently ignoring my children and letting them run around and play prior to putting them to bed (no rush)...I don't feel the physical need to drink. However, I will drink a few glasses tonight and I will thoroughly enjoy them. I will not get that relief rush but it still feels nice to have a glass a wine and I don't miss the rush or the physical pain of craving. I am only half-way throught the 4 month mandate, but I find the craving difference to be a very good sign.

I agree with LaBear - come on in when you are ready, the water is fne and this method works - sloooowly, but it works.

[happy4once]

drinking on Naltrexone (sinclair method)

ldhkah57 - I think (if I am remembering this correctly) on thesinclairmethod.com site Dr. Eskapa or another member suggested that those that are currently sober carry a Nal pill around as an insurance policy in case they relapse...if they relapse, take the pill. However, under no circumstances mess with your sobriety - if you are AF now, stay that way.

If you can't stay sober and relapse, by all means try the Nal. It takes at least 4 months though so it's not fun if you've achieved 15 months (awesome job!)...I think this method will work for most of us if we are disciplined, committed, patient and currently drinking.

Best of luck to you and your friend.

(More info at thesinclairmethod.com • Index page)

[ldhkah57]

drinking on Naltrexone (sinclair method)

Thanks

Happy4once, thanks so much for your thoughtful reply. I guess I want to have my cake and eat it too. In one sense, life is much better now that I am sober, but I do miss my old friends and social situations and such. Either way, cold turkey or the Sinclair method (or any reasonable method for dealing with problem drinking) requires hard work and discipline. Since I've gone this long, hopefully I'll be able to keep it up. Thanks once again.
Lisa :goodjob:

[me1455]

drinking on Naltrexone (sinclair method)

THanks Happy4Once, the cravigs are a big annoying part of what i go through at ths point in my alcoholism. That just really started about a year ago. the day time obsessing over getting home and having the first sip of my wine. so not having that crazy rush to get to the wine would be great in itself. so on average how many glasses did you have before the sinclair and now?

[LaBear]

drinking on Naltrexone (sinclair method)

1455. not sure if you remember sending me private messages but I do. Go back to your box to read. Anyway, Naltrexone, The Sinclair Way is rather new to all of us and our experiences are different. You should go to the forum on Sinclair where you will have so much more to read about the progress, etc. You can and should probably purchase the book. I too am new to this. I know you don't want to loose that buzz and you still want that good warm feeling from the wine. I understand, but on the other hand you also are frightened of the negative aspect of all the drinking. We hope and believe with this method to either change our drinking habits our end up just not wanting to drink anymore. It can get a bit discouraging because the process takes time. I too was on Topa and hand the same experiences as you did. Hope you get the Naltrexone soon and start. Don't forget the first two days to split the pill in half and only take .25mg and you will not have a problem with side affects most likely. I am very afraid of drugs and side affects also and did not have a problem at all which is VERY UNUSUAL for me! Again, good luck!