My wife has noticed, and I tend to agree, that I've been drinking more with naltrexone than I did before. As she puts it, "You take your magic pill and then you drink whatever you want."

I have been diligent in not drinking unless I took a pill an hour earlier, and I have never had more than a couple drinks per evening after taking the pill.

On the other hand, though, I have found myself looking forward to the pill and a drink (or some drinks). Today is a perfect example. I had intended to abstain, but later I took a pill and then had a rum and coke. It was so good that I had another, and then I had another, and I expect to have yet another.

It got so bad that I forwarded all my calls to voice mail so I wouldn't have to talk to people with my slurred speech.

So, how's it been for any of the rest of you? Are you drinking less per session, but for more sessions, or you just drinking less overall?

Your experience is typical, but you have not said if you experienced the initial nausea so many do...and a very close indicator of eventual "success" with this method. Hope so - but don't give up hope and just keep on with what you normally do. Read here on other threads for a good one your spouse should read. Hang in & good luck!

I have heard there is a small percentage of people it does not work for. Also how long have you been doing it? That matters very much. I never ever believed it was magic. Good luck with whatever helps you.

You neglected to say if you feel the same when you drink. Do you still feel the buzz? I could drink gallons too but I don't because I don't get buzzed and so usually don't finish what I pour.

You can get "drunk" but not buzzed - there's a difference. Is that what you're experiencing?

You don't say how long you have been taking naltrexone. It could be the drug acting just as it's supposed to - but you're looking for the buzz so keep drinking.

Read read read read! Everyone here has valued experience to share. Don't give up - what's your alternative?

sorry - BGH here again. Neglected to answer your specific questions. I was drinking the same amount, and the same number of sessions - that is every day, day after day, until all of a sudden I felt "cured." But even now I reach for a drink when I'm really stressed or anxious, or depressed - that's the HABIT - my response to stressors is to drink. I don't have cravings as such anymore.

The difference now is that I can have alcohol free days if I choose to. I can have half a glass if I choose to. I feel in control when I drink rather than getting out of control as I ALWAYS did.

For me that's "cured." But this is really different for everyone. Choose to change your drinking habits. Set your goal. Keep taking naltrexone an hour before each drinking session. Let it happen. This is a brain chemical solution, not a will power, white knuckle solution - Dr. Sinclair's rats just drank - he gave them nal, then they stopped drinking. End of story.

I agree with you and your wife - this is not a magic pill - BUT IT DOES WORK, for the vast majority of people. If naltrexone does not work for you specifically, do your homework and try something else. But don't throw in the towel just because you are experiencing something that is well described by many here, and that is perfectly normal with The Sinclair Method. Good luck.

Gee, thanks for all the responses! I’ll try to clarify some of the stuff I didn’t mention in my first post.

I didn’t have nausea, but I generally don’t experience side effects from medications. My doc told me to start the naltrexone at half a tab per day (without drinking) I guess to avoid the nausea. I did that a couple days and then switched to the Sinclair method. I can’t remember exactly when I started, but it’s been a couple months. I wasn’t doing well at keeping a record, but I downloaded the spreadsheet from this board and I intend to keep it up to date.

As to not feeling the buzz, that has been true. For the last couple months, I haven’t had more than about 5 units at a time, and I haven’t been noticeably drunk, either subjectively or objectively. Also, when I have been drinking beer, I have left the last bottle of the day half empty because I was just got tired of drinking it. I still tend to drink for the effect rather than the flavor, though.

I don’t intend to give up. I was concerned that because my doc told me to use it daily while abstaining that he would also only prescribe 12 weeks worth. Then I would either have to stop drinking entirely or I would have to buy it at River for four times the price at my pharmacy. I checked the label, though, and it says 5 refills until April 2011. I certainly expect to make some progress over 150 drinking days. I hope eventually to be like Richard in Dr. Eskapa’s book, with a tablet in a pendant in case I decide to have a drink.

Thanks again for all your replies.

Hope it works for you - and that your Dr will be more open minded abou the time frame. You will just have to talk to him. Tell him it is working and you feel the need to continue to take the meds in order to stay sober. Whatever BS you need to tell him - do it. Drs can be so obtuse! Good luck!