Are you tracking your intake Maxi? It is really important to do so even though it doesn't seem it .....

Hugs, Maggie x

Maxi, when you feel easier about it, try taking the Nal an hour before you get off work (for instance). You'll get the maximum shielding effect that way (assuming you don't drink that day until after work). We've found it's best to keep the Nal around at all times anyway, so carry some with you, as you might need to have one at a moment's notice.

Maggie's absolutely right about keeping the drinks diary. So often we just run on autopilot and keeping the diary calls another part of your brain into the frey, plus it can really help to look back and see how far you've come. It's nice to pull that up when you might feel that you're not making headway, you can look at the diary and see that you have indeed.

Maxi,

I would not have been able to cut down my intake without the nal, and I knew I needed to (2 bottles a wine a night and looking for more). So I do believe that was your honeymoon period. I would have to dig up my journal to look, but I think mine was only for a couple of days. I felt like I didn't want to drink, but once I started I did want to (my brain was saying "finally"), and even though drinking was different I still drank more than I wanted.

Could you take the pill at work the days you go to work (like Joe suggested)?

Even if it is 2-3 hours before you get home it would be better than taking it first thing in the morning. I think it might be more beneficial taking that way, for that way your brain will put the connection with drinking after work = no reward.

The days that you are not going into work taking first thing in the morning would be best; however, you need to do what is best for you, and if taking it first thing in the morning is working for you, do that. I think that would be better than you forgetting to take and/or not being able to wait that hour.

Do not worry about when you take your pill, for that will come easier with time.

I know what you mean about wanting to drink as soon as you get home from work, for that is all I would think about before leaving work (around lunch time) and the way home (this is before TSM and before I had a real issue ). All of that will change, it might happen slowly, but it will change!

I think as long as you take your nal, and try to drink those first 2 drinks as slowly as possible you will feel that things are different. Try to get as much water as you can before you start and in between sip of alcohol.

The water thing was something I fought in the beginning, but once I started doing it I realized why people suggested. Alcohol dehydrates you so you drink more alcohol because you are thirsty, which makes you dehydrated and making you drink more. Drinking water stops that cycle, it gives your brain/habit a break from the alcohol (and sometimes my brain couldn't tell the difference), and it will slow down your intake. If plain water isn't your thing add lemon or something to it. This may help you, or if anything this will keep you hydrated and dehydration is one of the reasons we will wake with a headache after a night of drinking.

Remember, these are only suggestion. We can suggest what has worked for us, but you will need to do/find what works for you.

Thanks for the update. Keep us posted,

Jaba

Hi there - even after I took the nal for months I was still drinking as soon as I got home from work - so I always took my nal at work. I poured a drink the minute I walked in the door - so had some Nal in my keyring holder .... and would make sure I took it at work. I KNEW I had to or else I could not drink when I got home! So you might look at it like that and that way I never forgot!

Jaba has given you some great suggestions - but as she said, we all do what is right for us. You will find your own way but often others suggest something that we did not think of .....

Hugs, Maggie x

I too recommend taking it before getting off work. especially when I was first starting, I found it really hard to time out so I was taking it exactly one hour before drinking. I chose to just take it at a given time in the afternoon when it was easy to remember. still proved to be very effective for me. good luck!

Hi Maxi and good luck, you are in the right place. I had problems remembering to take my nalmafene (UK equivalent) which works best when you take it 2 hours before drinking. I set my mobile alarm to remind me, silly thing but it did the trick. I've been on it since early Nov 15, had some ups and downs, but never lost faith (had support from Joanna C3 Europe that REALLY helped), now I'm having AF days without any problem and for the present time I've really lost the taste for alcohol, I used to love a glass of wine, beer or a G&T, now it doesn't appeal, I'm not saying I'm out of the woods, but definitely on the right track. And it feels so good to be a NORMAL person again!