About 8 weeks in...initially had decrease in consumption and bad behavior for about a week or 10 days. I am now drinking more than before. Before TSM, average 60-80 units per week. Now, drinking everyday because NAL allows me to drink without blacking out, getting angry unnecessarily (as I normally do when drinking), and allows me to drink and still be compassionate and mindful at the end of a day of drinking. I drink light beer, and am now consuming around 20-24 plus brews per day. That puts my guestimated consumption at 126 units per week.

I seem to be a hard case. Been drinking for 30 years, and for the last decade, it has been like this. I am sad at my life situation, but I will not give up. I am 48 years old. I have a good job, and I make money. But, of course, I am so disappointed in myself. I will try to keep better records and post them on my progress. It is not unusual lately for me to wash down my 50 mg NAL first thing upon getting up in the morning with a cold beer. I know this breaks the rules.

I don't like AA...although I have friends who live by it. They do not know I am an alcoholic. I have tried AA several times, as well as outpatient rehab, when I quit for 7 weeks. God bless AA if it works for you, but it just ain't for me. I am too much of an analytical thinker. Hey, I like Jesus, and even might pray to God and Jesus at night. But, I don't really think that is going to change my situation. It is 4:00 am, and I have been drinking for about 22 hours. Still lucid, but this is not healthy. I hope to contribute to this forum in a useful way that may help others eventually (if only I can help myself), as well as succeed in overcoming this demon.

Love to all
Bud-man...
a drunkard

Nothing in this post should be construed as medical advice. Always consult your physician before taking prescription medications
Bud-man it's no surprise your numbers have gone up. As you said you have given yourself permission to drink everyday but also you are likely experiencing an extinction burst. Your brain is looking for its reward and when it doesn't get it more beer is the only answer it knows. Eventually, the light bulb will go off that more beer is not working and your numbers will come down. At 8 weeks in you may have a few rough weeks ahead but then you may notice you don't "need" a beer a 9am. Next summer you could be a moderate levels or even abstinent if that's what you choose. As far as your dosing. The mean elimination half-life (T-1/2) values for Naltrexone and 6-ß-naltrexol (the other active metabolite of naltrexone) are 4 hours and 13 hours, respectively. This means after 26 hours you have 25% of the 6-ß-naltrexol and after 24 hours about 1.5% of the naltrexone. So there is still some 6-ß-naltrexol in your system when you take the next dose. Ideally you should take it 1 hour before your first drink and you might want to consider a 25mg booster dose after 10-12 hours. Tracking your numbers is helpful for you to see progress and easy to do with beer if you drink at home (just count the empty cans in the morning). Don't think just because you are "hard case" this won't work for you. It may take longer but your turnaround will be much more dramatic than most. Stick with it and Nal-on!