Naltrexone Works!

[airam]

Naltrexone Works!

UK, I m very glad for you. I m also having excelent results with Nal. I haven t posted about them because I m always thinking this is just a honeymoon phase that will end.
I have had several AF days. And that IS really something for me.
I had a few alcohol free days a year ago while taking Topa. The onle AF days in many years until now.
I m still taking Topa, a very little dose. Only 25 mg. I m also not taking Nal full dose. Only 25mg too.
The days I drink, I drink from 2 to 4 units most days. A LOT less than before (I used to drink more than 100 units a week).
I hope this never ends.
I have to add that I finally found a good therapist. Maybe this fact has something to do. She prescribed me 10 mg fluoxetine (half the dose I used to take), but most importantly, she truly listens to me. I have to give her some credit here. BUT (a big but), I haven t told her I drink. Still, I think this way is better. Some therapists tend to attribute everything to alcohol, even when it is not. I don t know how she would take it.

The whole medication package:
25 mg Nal
25 mg Topiramate
10 mg fluoxetine
.125 mg Xanax the days I don t drink (half a .25 tablet)
is making wonders to me and I m very happy.

[Guest]

Naltrexone Works!

Hey Airam

Yes it could be Honeymoon for me too but I have decided to post what is going on for me, then I and others can follow what does happen with naltrexone. I'm actually now having less AF days than usual since I would typically binge drink, but have had time where I have drunk daily. I have heard there can be two addiction mechanisms(?), baclofen works on one and nal on the other. I am guessing perhaps when I daily drink[too much] it's for a different reason to when I binge drink.

Anyway good news on the AF days. Hmm I was prescribed fluoxetine for depression many years ago. It did really make a difference at the time, but I was continually re-prescribed for 5 years. I stopped feeling the benefits and I knew I was drinking a lot(between 60 and 100 units a week), so decided I was probably wasting my time and stopped taking it.

Oh just noticed you are only using 25 mg nal. I'm taking 50mg, I'm assuming you find 25mg enough for you personally. I think I saw on the Sinclair forum that it's thought 50mg is the dose most likely to cover all of most peoples receptors, and that's why it's the usually prescribed dose. Of course that doesn't mean everyone is the same, and if you can get away with taking less that's a lot cheaper!

[Guest]

Naltrexone Works!

Going to add some stats here now. I didn't really log my drinking before I started Nal and generally feeling better. This was due to a mixture of lack of motivation, and being out of it either on alcohol and then baclofen. I had also had hundreds of attempts to quit so had gotten fed up of starting off counting etc. I do know however that I would usually drink between 20 and 30 units per drinking occasion, which would occur at least once if not twice a week and often lead to a 2nd day of drinking starting the morning after and carrying on with another 20-30 units. I would drink to blackout almost every time I drank and perhaps had 2 or 3 occasions per year where I could manage to have just 1 or 2 drinks - but that would be completely enforced, and I'd still be wanting to drink much more.

Since being on Naltrexone at 50mg per day, taken at least 1 hour before drinking if not a few hours prior.

Week 1 0 units
Week 2 13 units/2 drinking occasions (average 6.5units)
Week 3 22 units/2 drinking occasions (average 11 units)
Week 4 19.6 units/3 (average 6.5 units)
Week 5 30.6 units/4 (average 7.7 units)
Week 6 11.6 units/4 (2 days to the end of the week) (average 2.9)

During this time I've drank on 14 occasions none of which were to blackout.

As you can see I am drinking less but more frequently. Part of this is because I know I can drink on Nal(have to for it to work), and part is because I have a pretty good idea I can drink with some safety with the Nal. This is only based upon experience so far, and every time I drink I do wonder is this going to be the one where I go over the edge and the honeymoon stops. I'm prepared for it and if it does happen I hope I can take it in my stride.

[Guest]

Naltrexone Works!

Tonight I wanted to get drunk - have had the odd urge throughout the day but told myself to wait. Anyway bought enough to get reasonably plastered, drank 2 units worth and now on my way to bed. Simply not bothered, again.

Surely it cannot work this quickly?Could I still be honeymooning in week 6?Who knows. It is actually a bit boring but then again I suppose it's the obvious effect of removing Endorphins!!!Will carry on because I like having a life that is not interfered with by AL.

[KatieSmiles]

Naltrexone Works!

UK, hopefully you will continue on becoming more and more disinterested without having a major spike or two along the way. It truly seems that TSM is working for you, if you do end up going back up in units remember that's to be expected and not get discouraged.

Keep fighting
K

[bleep]

Naltrexone Works!

I don't know enough about naltrexone to comment, but I will say that you appear to be in a really good place UK. It is great to see!

[spuddleduck]

Naltrexone Works!

sounds great uk. you say you wanted to get drunk, how did it feel to then not get drunk. i know that sounds a bit silly but if i wanted to get drunk and couldnt i wonder if i would have the same panic i get when i realize i dont have enough booze to 'complete the job'. you were obviously fine with it which is great.

[Guest]

Naltrexone Works!

Yes you've asked this before Spuddle I think. Well it's like this, yes I do get the feeling of wanting to get smashed, but I also know all of the cr@p that comes with it. So when I am drinking on naltrexone I find I am more able to make that choice, and because I'm not all fired up from the alcohol I can think more clearly and make the right decision. The physical reaction to alcohol, that burning drive to chase oblivion after the first glass or two isn't there. I'm just relaxed with it. At first this didn't happen that often but it's something I expect when I drink now. I appear to be getting used to the fact that I might only have 1 or 2 drinks when I drink, and it's becoming the norm the more it happens.

Tonight I'm in a situation where it would be nice to drink, I've bought a few small bottles of my current favourite tipple and will take those along. I am not worried that I'll want more, I kind of know that I'll be quite happy with those.

I don't know if this is the naltrexone 'effect', and once again I don't know if I'm about to suddenly go off the deep end - but it appears to be doing what it is supposed to. Not sure at what point I become free of the honeymoon, but I am still very excited about what it is doing for me - as you can probably see!!

[Ne/Neva Eva]

Naltrexone Works!

honeymoon, shmoneymoon, uk. That's my way of saying it makes no nevermind. Which is a very old fashioned way of saying, "You go girl! Embrace it!" Sounds a lot, quite frankly, about how my way out unfolded.

Ne

[spuddleduck]

Naltrexone Works!

thanks uk, that makes it a bit more clear. i sooooo want to be where you are right now. long may it last for you. im still feeling pretty crap from yesterdays throwing up. at least thats keeping any thoughts of drinking out of my head. im off to local race meet tonight (cartmel) and i will be driving so no drinking for me. im usually tempted for a couple (ha ha in my dreams... a couple of bottles perhaps). when i feel better im gonna try 25mg of nal, sober on a full stomach and see how it goes. i will put the day aside for any nasty side effects

[Guest]

Naltrexone Works!

Update since Saturday afternoon, I drank socially last night and consumed around 3.5 units. I will admit I did take an extra 50mg 1 hour beforehand, having taken 50mg earlier in the day purely because I'd not been sure when I would start drinking, and I knew the event could/would go on for a long time possibly outside the 10 hour effectiveness window. All was well. Tonight I once again was in an appropriate drinking situation, drank socially and had just a couple glasses of wine - worked this out to be between 3 and 4 units.

Did feel the nice warm AL glow, and a little quickening of the heart at various points but I was easily able to stop and the overwhelming drive to drink more did not happen.

So week 6 total units ~18-19 6 drinking occasions (days) averaging 3 units per session, max drunk was I think 4 units in one evening which was over several hours. In the past I'd drink 4 units in around 40 minutes.

[KatieSmiles]

Naltrexone Works!

Excellent Uk! You are on your way!

[Guest]

Naltrexone Works!

I want to get flipping drunk, and I can't. Got myself all worked up today, narked off, tired, run down, fed up, nothing particularly going on tomorrow morning (well apart from a load of stuff I need to do, but don't have to answer to anyone about it). I buy a load of alcohol, and can I drink it?

Nooooo.

Trying to get to the bottom of just one 2.8 unit bottle of alcopop, struggling and about to give up and go to bed with a good book. Remainder is going to sit undrunk, along with the bottle of white wine I was given as a present last week.

Grrrrr.

Well if this is how it's going to be with Nal I'm going to have to sort out all these triggers, otherwise I'm only going to be a frustrated so-and-so.

[sylvia1]

Naltrexone Works!

I wouldnt worry too much about the honeymoon ending. You will almost surely never again drink to blackout. Your units might spike a little but you will always have that awareness that you get with nal.

By the way I know that feeling of being all prepared to get a buzz on and then you just get bored with it. Its a bit annoying especially one night lately for me, I had invited friends over and 1 hour into it they were getting drunk and boring me to tears. I couldnt wait to see the back of them. It was funny because they were amusing my 15 year old and I didnt want her listening to them. She told me Oh relax Mom they are having a good time why dont you have a drink and chill- ha ha I got a kick out of that one

[applekat26]

Naltrexone Works!

I'm glad it's working for you. It makes me feel soooo sick whenever I try it, even if I cut the dosage way down....trying bac now and looking into ibogaine.