Planning to try TSM Naltrexone

[Noelle]

Planning to try TSM Naltrexone

Ukblonde;1116000 wrote: I've had two occasions now where I've not had more than 2 drinks because I simply got nothing from them. It was like drinking flat pop, and didn't even taste nice. On other occasions I've had a little buzz and tried pushing on for more. All I can say is that I simply get bored of drinking whilst on nal and stop at around 1/3 to 1/2 of my usual, pre-nal amount. It just feels like so much effort I cannot be bothered. In the last week I have actually wanted to get spannered like i used to, and have really tried but I just can't do it.

*I* think this is also the Naltrexone working. I don't remember if I said this here, but I got Vicodin for my bad knee and while before it used to make me feel really good, it now only takes away the pain........like it's supposed to. The Naltrexone took away the "fun" part. Damn! :H

[KatieSmiles]

Planning to try TSM Naltrexone

spuddleduck;1115969 wrote: thanks for this thread, im interested in trying nal. can i just ask do you have any effect at all from drinking al. katie i notice you say you 'guzzle' when you drink. that is me totally, chasing the buzz i guess. i would say 2 drinks gives me all the buzz im going to get as it just gets crazy chasing after that for more. do you actually get any of the warm fuzzy feeling and then know you can stop/slow down or do you get nothing. i dont think ive worded this very well bu i hope you know what i mean

Hi spuddleduck

After two or three I do feel a buzz, it's a little bit different but not unpleasant. Once I get that feeling, I kind of lose the urgency to chase it for more (guzzle). I can still toss back 7-8 drinks over a period of time and I do feel them, but something is different, it's like I'm not so obsessed with the booze and can actually leave some in the glass.

[KatieSmiles]

Planning to try TSM Naltrexone

week 3 report

This week went by pretty well. My numbers are still up, but again that's due to drinking daily. Pre TSM I was drinking up to 40 units weekly but only drinking 3 or 4 days per week, so every session was anywhere from 7- 15 drinks. I now never drink more than 8, and if I do manage to get to 8 it's equivalent to a 15 drink binge, if that makes sense. I just can't seem to get all those extra drinks in, at 8 I am pretty well pissed and am done, weird eh?.

All in all I am pleased with the changes in my drinking up to this point. I drink a lot less on each occasion and several days I have only three or four cider and that's all I want, pretty amazing. My housemate is now gone, so this next week will be interesting as I now won't be coming home to someone after work where we were daily cracking a cider or into the wine while making dinner and chatting about "girl" stuff.

Staying on the TSM track
K

[Guest]

Planning to try TSM Naltrexone

KatieSmiles;1117594 wrote: week 3 report

This week went by pretty well. My numbers are still up, but again that's due to drinking daily. Pre TSM I was drinking up to 40 units weekly but only drinking 3 or 4 days per week, so every session was anywhere from 7- 15 drinks. I now never drink more than 8, and if I do manage to get to 8 it's equivalent to a 15 drink binge, if that makes sense. I just can't seem to get all those extra drinks in, at 8 I am pretty well pissed and am done, weird eh?.

All in all I am pleased with the changes in my drinking up to this point. I drink a lot less on each occasion and several days I have only three or four cider and that's all I want, pretty amazing. My housemate is now gone, so this next week will be interesting as I now won't be coming home to someone after work where we were daily cracking a cider or into the wine while making dinner and chatting about "girl" stuff.

Staying on the TSM track
K

Katie

My experiences are pretty similar to yours, and whilst I'm drinking less each session I did start to find myself starting to drink more frequently. I know you are supposed to drink for TSM but drinking everyday/moderation isn't my goal at all, plus it was making me feel tired and I could feel it affecting me during the day. I also had a feeling I was starting a habit, not the alcohol itself but looking forward to the taste and experience. So I have made an effort to have more AF days and feel a whole lot better as a result.

[KatieSmiles]

Planning to try TSM Naltrexone

Hi Ukblonde

I agree with you on getting AF days in, for one I don't think being on that drug 24/7 is that good for you and every AF day is a good day. I worked very hard at breaking the cycle of daily drinking, it took me a good 4+ years to get it down to 3 or 4 days a week and I don't want to lose that! So this week I will shoot for some AF days even if it means slowing down the process of TSM.

[KatieSmiles]

Planning to try TSM Naltrexone

Week 4 report
Unusual cravings, craved Grande Marnier of all things. This is way off the wall for me, sugary liquers are only something I drink in fancy coffees, which is maybe one per year if that. Well, I bought a bottle and drank the whole thing in two days....barf...I didn't, but just writing this grosses me out.
Drink levels still high and no AF days yet. I have no side effects from Nal, I take it and forget about it. I think the Grande Marnier thing was my brain searching for it's familiar "buzz"...not really sure, but it was defo not my usual drink of choice.
Marching along......
K

[KatieSmiles]

Planning to try TSM Naltrexone

Making one note here.
Friday night, huge trigger for me.
drank 1/2 L wine (3.5 drinks)
no desire for more
drinking water, reading a book
simply unheard of in my previous life

[bleep]

Planning to try TSM Naltrexone

I'm unfamiliar with naltrexone, but things seem to be happening Katie!

[KatieSmiles]

Planning to try TSM Naltrexone

I think so too Bleep!
I've only been on it a month and I see differences for sure. Time will tell, I'm just following along and waiting to see what the outcome will be.

Ps.love that avatar of yours

[KatieSmiles]

Planning to try TSM Naltrexone

week 5 report

48 units this week. Not very pleased about that, but not discouraged in any way.
I had a visit with my GP this week and she encourages me to stick with the program. She has never heard of TSM per se, yet she totally understands the extinction process and agrees that it will take some time to rewire my brain because I have been a daily heavy drinker for more than 25 years. She also mentioned that my genetics play a big role in my alcoholic nature and these genes are the reason for deficiences in my brain, or something like that. I really am amazed that she "gets" this whole thing and supports my choice to try naltrexone the way I want to try it, even though she has no other patients using Nal for alcohol abuse.

Another side effect I'm having is that Naltrexone has actually improved my mood, I sleep better and am happier over all. I asked my GP about this because I was under the impression that Nal causes depression and she said it MIGHT cause depression in some people. She tried to explain that brain deficiencies vary person to person and some medications can cause the deficiencies to worsen so they warn people to watch for depression, however it doesn't mean it that everyone taking it will become depressed. In fact people like myself may even benefit from it.
Anyway the stuff agrees with me and I feel very fortunate about that.

Sticking to the method
KS

[spuddleduck]

Planning to try TSM Naltrexone

great that you are feeling so positive katie, and great that you have your doctor on side. maybe your mood has improved because you are feeling more in control and are doing something positive about your drinking. whatever it is good for you. thanks for keeping us updated

[mario]

Planning to try TSM Naltrexone

Well done katie as spuds has said thanks for keeping us updated,hope you keep moving forward with this.

[KatieSmiles]

Planning to try TSM Naltrexone

Week 6 - 46 units

Units still too high, but two things noted.

Coming home late after an evening out with friends and NOT cracking open a cider before bed. In the past I've ALWAYS had to have at least one more drink when getting home.

Actually CRAVED an AF day, not drinking that day was unbelievably easy. The thought of having a drink was kind of repulsive.

Plugging along....

K

[Guest]

Planning to try TSM Naltrexone

Katie

Good to see you still positive, and still persevering. From what I read you need patience for TSM, and you have that.:goodjob:

[KatieSmiles]

Planning to try TSM Naltrexone

week 7

33 units, down 13 from last week. No AF days this week, but had 3 occasions of only 2 drinks per session with no desire for more.... amazing.