excuse if this is redundant but i have read this site for over 12 hours- love it!- and have not found this discussion...

is a honeymoon period a good indication of future success? (my drinking is down by half so far)

what about feeling somewhat dazed early on by the naL? (i feel like a zombie on this stuff)

seems that binge drinkers seem to respond a bit better as well? (i am a daily binge drinker and am a bit concerned about dealing the the naL side effects everyday.....)

all these questions are selfish but i feel others new to this process (i am in day 3) may want to know this info as well.

this site rocks and is such a welcome change from my AA days of unscientific dogmatic failure.

Yes, the honeymoon shows you are responding to NAL. There are a few people that have claimed that NAL had little affect on their consumption. Cutting down by 1/2 right away is a very good sign.

Having said that, there appears to be a sizable minority of persons for which TSM does not work for a variety of reasons: 1) they seem to have a different reaction to NAL or Alcohol than most people likely due to genetic factors, 2) they can't handle NAL due to side effects that don't go away or 3) they have issues with long-term compliance and drop out.



That is quite normal. I would say most people feel dazed the first few times they take the medication. Typically that will go away within days or weeks. For a very few people that is not the case.



I don't think so. Both groups have had good to excellent results. If anything, being a daily drinker you will have the advantage of daily extinction sessions, whereas for a once or twice a week binge drinker it could take longer for extinction to take place.



I have found people on this site to be for the most part very helpful, scientific and non-dogmatic. This method is the best out there as far as I'm concerned. Unlike AA, it actually works for a sizable number of people who try it.

Welcome.

merlot-
thank you very much for the detailed response.
i will continue to gather strength from those around this site who are so giving of their knowledge!
not surprising- i have quickly become addicted to this site (6 hours today).

all for now.
day 1- 6 u
day 2- 5 u
day 3- 5 u
day 4- tomorrow....

I second all that Merlot has told you. I would only add that you must be working on any and all issues that 'made' you drink in the first place.

I feel totally cured as far as the extinction of buzz and actual desire to drink, BUT my anxiety issues are still around (working on that!!) so I instinctually reach for a glass of wine when the anxiety time hits!!! It's really weird! I am many times really fearful of having an AF day even though I KNOW from experience that if I simply WAIT a few minutes the feeling of anxiety will pass, and I can have an AF evening with NO worries.

So yes, jump in and join in, and read and read, and you will find wonderful support. But I urge you to do some soul searching and work on your personal 'issues' at the same time!!

Best of luck! {edit: I don't mean that you won't be letting naltrexone work its magic in your head, that you MUST have therapy, or that you MUST work on your issues - just that for me it would have been better if I had addressed my anxiety more deeply earlier on in the process!}

Welcome. Merlot and BGH both are spot on with their comments, IMO. I would add that after having read every thread in the first year of the site, I did detect a definite pattern predicting success: the initial reduction in drinking or honeymoon. Very few people reporting a "honeymoon" went on to say TSM did not work for them. So things are looking up for you my friend. The unfortunate minority who do not meet with any TSM success typically (but not always) report zero to no reduction in drinking and no real noticeable difference in their drinking experience. Also, the nasty side-effects almost always go away after a week or so max, for most people.

thanks for all for the 411-
it means so much to get some idea of what this is all about and what to expect as i am in a little bubble with nothing but the internet and my thirst for knowledge and lots of hope.


and yeah- the naL is having a serious affect on me- i mean it is almost 8 and i took my pill at 7 and i am not yet really craving that drink. for a daily alcoholic like me that is just a big and good wtf moment.

hopefully i will be around these boards for awhile.

the book is on it's way.

let's do this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!