Feeling Like Shit on Naltrexone

[Amethyst26]

Hello Again to All!

After many weeks of waiting I finally received my Naltrexone from River Pharmacy. At first I was all excited to try it and see if it would really work. I took 25 mg yesterday and about 2 hours later, took 25mg more (seeing that I did not have nay wierd reaction those first 2 hours) Then I went ahead and tried having a glass of wine, then another. I did not feel a buzz. So I gave up and did not have my usual 3rd which is a good thing. But in order to get the feeling of being buzzed I took 2 ambiens and a benadryl. yes, I know this sounds awful. But anyways, I was still up late and slept in today. I took another Naltrexone today 50mg. At approximatelty 5. I feel awfull, I am one to exercise every day , even after a night of drinking. And tonight at 9pm I am just feeling lazy, depressed , irritable and still craving wine. Even though I know it is not going to buzz me I just guess I miss my nightly friend. I know if I have a glass I am just going to be miserable because it is not going to give me the buzz which is what I really want. I guess I am going to have to force myself to take a walk or something to get my mind off drinking. I just wonder, aside from the obvoious waste of money it will be to buy a small bottle of wine (equivalent to one cup) Am I harming my liver by combining with the Nalrexone? Also, has anyone else felt this blahness or am I just going through psychological withdrawal from my nightly friend. Any advise would be appreciated. Am going nuts here. I thought Naltrexone worked on cravings too! I am gonna try to not take any sleep med tonight, even if i do subcumb to a cup of wine. I just don't wanna screw up my poor liver even more. Is it ok to have one drink?

Thanks!

[Cinders]

Feeling Like Shit on Naltrexone

Hi,

I am having the complete opposite reaction. I am feeling great.

I am taking 100 mg of Naltrexone and Campral.

The difference in myself this week is amazing. Absolutely amazing.

I feel like a new person.

I hope things get better for you.

Cindi

[Cinders]

Feeling Like Shit on Naltrexone

Oh, and yes, you can drink on Naltrexone.

Please Google on the Sinclair method. Several people here are using it and it actually requires that you drink while you take Naltrexone.

I would get a doctor to work with you, though. Preferrably one who is open to the idea of the Sinclair method.

Cindi

[November Star]

Feeling Like Shit on Naltrexone

Stay with it

I hope that whatever cure is out there and I am sure ther is a cure that you will be able to sustain the side effects - stick with it guys............:goodjob:

[nancy]

Feeling Like Shit on Naltrexone

From what I read about naltrexone... it can take pleasure away from a lot of things, not just drinking. Have you looked into that?

Maybe an option for you would be to only take it on the nights you drink as opposed to taking it every day. I think you should talk to a doctor, as Cinders said, one who is supportive of Sinclair Method.

[Amethyst26]

Feeling Like Shit on Naltrexone

Update

I agree with you about the Naltrexone taking pleasure away from things, and causing general lethargy. I read that 50mg is alot. I am going to go down to 25 mg and see if that helps. Last night I had a glass of wine. I didn't get the buzz but it tasted ok. When i went for a 2nd one I actually was replulsed and ended up spilling half it it down the drain. I had no desire to drink after that. I have to admit that after only 2 days on the naltrexone, Today I feel I am starting to feel more positive. I think since I was drinking 3-4 glasses of wine a night my antidepressant had stopped working, so then I was more depressed and wanted to drink more. It was kind of a vicious cycle. Today for the 1st time in a long time I felt clear headed. I think it is worth not skipping a dose... and enduring the side effects. I am going to work out today BEFORE taking my dose at 7pm. I am not going to bother drinking wine tonight. It is not worth the $ or extra calaries just to feel yuckier. I hope Gopd helps me...I really need to get my life in order and the alcohol is just clouding my vision of the changes I need to make.

Thanks for listening to me whine about wine...lol


:thanks:

A

[ready2change]

Feeling Like Shit on Naltrexone

From what i ready about Naltrexone (and the Sinclair Method), you need to drink in order for it to work and "undo" the neuro pathways that have been caused by alcohol. What I also read is that you should only take it when you are going to drink. What I don't understand is how it works, when for most of us the only reason we drink, is for the buzz...and apparently you don't get one with this drug? I'm not sure I see the point? I read in the forum on these types of anti craving drugs where people actually drank MORE trying to attain that buzz? Enlighten me, please.

R2C

[trixietrack]

Feeling Like Shit on Naltrexone

yes I agree with the above. drink. I read somewhere that for the first few weeks you should not do anything pleasurable that is healthy and a good habit anything that triggers pleasure from rewarding yourself.

Just focus on the wine.

[Amethyst26]

Feeling Like Shit on Naltrexone

well...

Yes i agree that most of us do drink for the buzz. I did not take the Naltrexone today at all. I figured that since I took 50 mg yesterday the affect would carry over till today, I hear some take it every other day. Well, tonight I had one glass of wine so far. I do not feel the buzz and don't necesarily need another, however if I do end up going for one more I am going to take 25 mg so I don't end up having more than 2. My bad effects from drinking usually occur after having more than 2 glasses of wine. Since I am on an anti-depressant, overdoing the wine is counter productive. So I guess my answer to "Ready to change" is that though I know nothing about the Sinclair method, my goal is to be able to moderate. To achieve a happy medium. Perhaps obtain somewhat of a buzz but not trigger the "drinking one after the other" cycle. Until I can eventually abstain completely. I am sure that day will come. I guess I am just trying to "get under control" for now. I am not sure this makes any sense. But perhaps once I see myself making more positive changes in my life due to drinking less it will then lead me to eventually not need to drink unless in a social situaion, in which then I can then moderate. Not sure this makes any sense but I am willing to try it. Maybe I will call this the Amethyst method...LOL. I have trouble doing things by the book in general and perhaps this is just me trying to rebel, while remaining in control. I salute those of u who are in a better place than me and can abstain completely. And I pray for those who are out of control...as I have been ,many times. Perhaps this drug may help. I am just learning as I go.

Regards,

A

[Amethyst26]

Feeling Like Shit on Naltrexone

I just wanted to add...I think that for me Naltrexone does not kill the initial desire for a drink. But once i have a glass of wine and don't get the elusive "buzz" it kills the desire to have another one. I beleive it is the Buzz which prompts us to feel Good or High, and hence have another to enhance that feeling. Even if it means getting in your car to buy more, With the Naltrxone I am not prompted to have another. I am ok and I just don't care for another...Beleive me when I say this in itself is a breakthrough. I have never been able to stop at just one.

So Anyways...I hope this helps you R2C.

Regards,
A

[Evie.Lou]

Feeling Like Shit on Naltrexone

I absolutly love it !!! It took away the desire to drink and helped me sleep at night...I felt Great almost from day ONE.

[ready2change]

Feeling Like Shit on Naltrexone

Thanks Amethyst for answering my questions on Naltrexone. For "me", I ONLY drink for the buzz...only drink white wine, which I don't really enjoy the taste of. So I would be afraid that I would continue drinking thru the meds to try to attain that buzz. Or do like other I have read, and just not take the meds say one night to get the buzz, and then from what I read about the Sinclair method, you would be un-doing what you started to un-do....as in re-programming the neurons in the brain that intice us to drink. Does this make any sense?

R2C

[bloggy]

Feeling Like Shit on Naltrexone

R2C

I found I couldn't really 'drink through it' as the first drink was OK, the second not particularly enjoyable and the few times I bothered getting myself number 3, I found that to be somewhat nauseating, so I found it hard to carry on drinking to see if I could get drunk.

I just gave up and watched the TV or did something else instead

[Amethyst26]

Feeling Like Shit on Naltrexone

Update,
Well last night was another surprising differece. Had wine #1, felt ok, but since I hadn't taken my naltrexone i decided to venture and see how # 2 would go. I waited an hour between drinks, which i never usually do . Then i took like 45 min to finish wine glass # 2. At this point, I was starving , proceeded to have dinner and forgot about wine altogether. For me this is truly a breakthru. SO yes I think the Naltrexone does stay in your system if you skip a day but that is taking 50mg. I am not sure about the 25mg dose. But around 12am just to be on the safe side (to not wake up and try the same antics again today and get diff resutls) I took 25 mg before going to bed. SO tonight I will probably do the same, if I do have a drink I will take my dose right after. This way I can avoid the side effects of lethargy which taking it early was giving me. So yes R2C, I don't think you have anything to lose. You may surprise yourself and not be able to drink thru the Nal. Esp. if you already hate the taste of white wine, the Nal makes it lose any apeal that it may have for you at all.
Hope this helps

[Mike with a dream]

Feeling Like Shit on Naltrexone

Recently Started on Naltrexone

I started on Naltrexone last Wednesday. Per my Doctor's instructions, I split a 50 mg tablet for two days, then proceeded with the entire 50 mg tablet Friday. But I kept on drinking. This was my last weekend, I told myself. It would allow time for the drug to take effect, I told myself. I, too, thought it would help with the craving. I hasn't, yet. Big surprise, especially Saturday night, I could not get drunk. This was very frustrating, so I gave up and went to bed. I don't know if it will help with the craving in the future, but it has definitely stopped me from drinking. What's the point if you can't get a buzz, just more calories. If I could get a diet bourbon, now we'd be talking!

Naltrexone may not have taken away my craving right away, but I believe it will in the end. I really did not want a drink today. If it stops you from drinking, the need for alcohol will go down. At least that's what happened to me the last time I was able to quit (for a year, in the mid-90s). My downfall was to drink wine for my birthday. The familiar buzz came back, and I was on my way to drinking every night. So if Naltrexone stops the buzz, so much the better.