Looking back at the 22 weeks or so that I've been counting units, I realized I did not take Naltrexone on a regular basis for very long so I have rewritten my units record below my signature. I only took Nal consistently for 3 weeks and then, for various reasons, only took it sporadically. In the June & July time frame I tried starting Nal again but had a severe nauseous reaction so backed off (these pills were taken from a new sleeve). About 5 days ago, I tried again taking pills from sleeves which gave me no (negative) reaction at all and I've had no problem. In the next day or so, I'll try taking a Nal pill from one of the sleeves that did give me a bad reaction....to see if it's the pills in that sleeve...or just me.

At any rate, since I've been back on the 50mg of Nal, I report that I have the same big craving for alcohol but when I do start drinking, I have no urge to drink quickly. It's taking me longer to work thru a drink. I'm trying to go to bed early...9-9:30ish and that helps prevent me from drinking more. So the last few days, I've been drinking half of what I have been drinking prior to resuming the Nal. Can't imagine doing an AF day still but taking one day at a time.

Am thankful for the stories on this board. Really helps to not feel alone in this battle.

Rough evening last night. Went to an outside concert last night with my husband---our relationship has been shaky and tense, particularly since he discovered, and I admitted, that I'm an alcoholic (happened around Feb 2012). Anyway it all sort of errupted...in an outside public venue....where he must have said at least 4 times in a 2 minute span "you're an alcoholic"....Yes I know that but do we really have to broadcast to the town? I just wanted to crawl under a rock. Still do.

It could have been a good night. I only brought half a bottle of wine and just had one glass. My husband had two. I thought I'd go home and just have one more drink to make it a 2-unit night (I had taken 50mg of Nal and had low cravings) but I was reeling. Ended up being a 4-unit night. Could have been much worse if I hadn't been on the Nal. I feel so weak and unworthy. My husband has told his family I have a drinking problem and now I also feel so betrayed. I can't go visit them now with them looking at me differently.

I've been a sub-optimal wife and parent the last few years due to depression which helped spur the drinking along. But ever since I admitted being an alcoholic in Feb and got into this TSM forum and started dabbling with the Nal, I have pulled much of it together. Started working out. Started working again part-time. Spending much more one-on-one time w/ the kids. Nevertheless the past is coming back to bite me and my husband is letting me have it. I can't stand the pressure to be perfect. I can't stand the pressure to just stop drinking. I'm finding it all very overwhelming.

Okay, that's enough venting for now. Need to pull it together to get to work. At least that keeps my mind off things for a while. Hope this helps anyone else out there who is struggling.

Hi Gotthegene,

I felt really bad for you when I read your post. You are not in a good place at the moment and I would be mortified if my family or my husbands family were aware of how much I drink. Im on TSM for 8 months now and over the summer my numbers were really high due to the fact it was so much easier to drink with my hubby away or me away, functions to attend etc.

It was hard enough to admit to my husband that I had a real problem! Im hoping things my numbers start to reduce in the next few weeks starting with an AF day today... have to push the boat out!

Keep up the good work with your numbers - do it for yourself! I think its great to vent on this forum, we are all in the same boat so it will be one of us with problems tomorrow.
With alcohol involved life doesnt run smooth!!

Take care and I hope to post more in the near future,
Good luck

FallingToPieces

Just finished my second "week 1" on Nal. 25.5 units. Fortunately no side effects yet this time. I've noticed that the Nal reduces my cravings for alcohol but once I start drinking, the cravings increase. Anyway, once on 50 mg, I seem to manage 3-4 units/night vs 5+.

This would be easier w/out the turmoil in my marriage, which I'm finding overwhelming. But what can you do? Take one day at a time...

Took my son to the doctor today and realized I had an hour to kill waiting for him. Thought it would be a lovely opportunity to go to a wine bar and have a glass of wine and read my book "The Thinking Person's Guide to Sobriety" while waiting for him....totally ridiculous, of course . So instead, got a hot chocolate, took my 50mg Nal, and read my book in the park. Oh how it would be nice to have a glass of wine outside at a wine bar and that would be that....

Gotthegene, just keep taking the 50 milligrams of Nal, at least one hour before you drink, faithfully...without exception, and you AND your family will see the change in you, over time, as you cravings subside and your drinks reduce. If it's not happening, then talk to your doctor about increasing the dosage a little.

KOKO: Keep on keeping on. It works.

Take care.

Last night, I finally ordered Roy Escapa's "The Cure for Alcoholism" as well as 2 other books (in order to get free shipping): "How to Change Your Drinking: A Harm Reduction Guide to Alcohol" and "The Easy Way to Stop Drinking" (ya right! ). The last few nights I've also had sparkling water with dinner, not my usual yummy glass of chardonnay. The upsides of the water at dinner are (1) I'm not drinking wine in front of my kids every evening meal and (2) I'm consuming one or two fewer drinks. I'm also maintaining the early to bed routine so that shortens my drinking window to about 2 hrs.

Last night I managed to have just 2 units even tho I had another intense talk with my husband. Really wanted to run for the bottle but held it together. I seem to be tolerating the Nal well this time around so am focused on continuing with it.

I hope others out there are winning their battle today.

Good show. Allen Carr's "Easy Way to Stop Drinking" is a really good book actually. I read it recently. If nothing else, after you read it, you will have lots of info about your drinking. For me, it motivated me to really get serious and truly WANT to win the battle with the alcohol demon.

Good luck and hang in there!

Today I experienced the dreaded Nal Hangover, or Nalover. Lord, persistent headache, very queezy all day long and in bed most of the day. And I only had 3.5 units.

Hope others are doing better out there.

Particularly ugly isn't it? I've had only 1 since starting the Nal and never want to go through that again. Well, at least it acts as a good deterrent. And you know what? Alcohol, in it's pure state, is poisonous! Our civilization has simply become expert at diluting it and trying to make it tasty. Why??? The reaction your body is going through with the hangover is in fact perfectly natural. Our bodies do NOT naturally like alcohol---it is pure poison! We like, and become addicted to the SIDE-EFFECT of the drug, that is all.

Keep on keeping on! Listen to your body...there IS a very real and valid message there!

Take care.