Hi all - I am a binge drinker who 90% of the time can have a couple and stop. It is the 10% of those times where I can't stop - regardless of the situation or who I'm with etc. I hit a certain point and it is like a switch goes off and I can't drink fast enough and blacked out.

I just received a Rx for naltrexone and plan to use it episodically. I don't drink every day or crave it... So I plan to use it only in situations where I would typically have trouble because the social setting/activity is alochol focused - weddings, parties (NYE is a big one) and times when I'm drinking and socializing for many hours. This means I'll only take it once a week at most I think.

My question is - does anyone else use nal this way?? I can't find any posts that match this method of use....

Any thoughts or experiences you could share would be much appreciated!

Melissa

Okay.. Dug a little deeper into the boards and see lots episodic useage posts. Still, I'm nervous and would love any advice. Thanks!

Merry Christmas Melissa and Welcome!

Everything I have read and come to understand about TSM doesn't advise this. For the reprogramming to take place you have to take Nal every time you're going to drink or think you're going to drink. The prescription is Drinking + Nal = Crue, one thing I have never done has messed with what has been prescribed. Why do you want to change what has proven to work? Fighting this alcohol thing is very scary, I have seen too many people die from this, honestly, including a niece at the age of 21.

Perhaps sounding harsh, when it comes to life and death we have to be honest with each other. I have come to care for people and their well-being with a respect that I never had before. Alcohol has taken me down some bad roads, admittedly I don't ever want to go there again. With everything you have, please take the best care of yourself, this is the first step. I have tried many methods and this one is working! Keep trying and fighting you are worth it. You will find what is best for you, I wouldn't advise not following what TSM has proven to succeed.

Please don't let this scare you or think that you have to do this our way or no way. By all means this is not a controlling method, but one that is very supportive. Keep posting and asking lots of questions, keep track of your drinking like the book say's and take Nal one hour before you're going to drink or think you're going to drink. It works, never lose faith and always there is hope. This is my advise.

Cheers, Zippy

Welcome, Melissa. I use nal only when I drink AL and I do not drink daily. I, too, wondered if nal would work for non daily users and have found that nal is working very well for me this way.

I need to update my weekly progress thread. I'm out of town and typing one-handed (more on that on my thread!) on my iPod very slowly now, but wanted to give you assurance that TSM can work for non daily drinkers too.

Be sure to take it one hour before you drink AL every day you drink. I took 25 mgs the first few times, then 50 mgs.

Hope this helps. Good luck and let us know your progress.

I think it depends what you mean by "episodically". A lot of us on the board are binge drinkers and thus only drink episodically, and thus only take nal those days. However, according to TSM, you should take nal one hour before you drink, EVERY time you drink, whether or not you think you have the possibility to get out of control. I think this is the way you are going to see the BEST results.
However, I will say that I don't think you won't get ANY results if you only use nal on the occasions you are likely to get out of control, IF (and this is a big IF) you are really good at predicting these situations and at moderating in other situations. Since I spent two years trying to moderate my drinking with therapy of different kinds, I for instance am quite good at "knowing" when I am likely to overdrink or not. but it's not an exact science. I guess what I'm saying is...I've kind of been using nal episodically in the recent past, but I'm not sure it's a good move for me. Basically, I've been only taking 25 mgs or nothing at all (eeep guys I know) when I KNOW it's just going to be one drink at home after work. So far that has yet to backfire in any way, and the reason I am loathe to take nal for just one drink is that it often makes me quite nauseous. However, fi I am going out and drinking, I will ALWAYS take nal and the full 50 mg dose. The times I have not have been pretty disasterous.
So yeah. I'm not sure it's a great idea not to take nal every time before you drink. But it is likely better to take nal sometimes than never, if you get what I mean?

Thank you for you comments and advice! I completely understand what you are saying. I also think it would be wiser for me to take nal every time I drink rather than try to judge when I will and won't overindulge. Clearly I've had trouble controlling my drinking or I wouldnt be here seeking help and taking a medication. I haven't read much about TSM yet either. That's next.

The GREAT news is that tonight I took 25mg and consumed two glasses of wine with only mild interest. Once the second glass was empty, I was ready to stop. Normally I would have swollowed the last sip and immediately gone for a refill. So the 50mg was too much for me... The 25 seems just right - I'm usually very sensative to medications so I guess this shouldn't surprise me.

Has anyone stuck with 25mg with success? Will I eventually need the 50?

Merry Christmas to all and thanks again! Melissa

hi, I take nal the tsm way but I have a sister who is by no means an alcoholic but can get pissed at work dos and long parties. If she thinks she is going to be in for a long few hours drinking she will ask me for a nal and she loves them. She says it just slows her down and she has more clarity and enjoys her night more. However she only does this 5 or 6 times a year.