Hi All
I started TSM 7 days ago and my drinking is worse than before! I am a binge drinker and have been since 15 years of age. I am now 41. Since starting the 50mg Naltrexone one hour before drinking, my drinking is worse. I don't know if it's the Nal or a mental approach that says, "fantastic, I'm allowed to drink, let's drink!" Where as before i approached drinking with some level of trepidation because I know I can't control it. I am really hoping the Nal begins to work soon. Has anyone else had a similar experience? Is this normal?

It's probably that second one.

When people have been trying to abstain, they sometimes go a little nuts when they're finally "allowed" to drink. It's temporary. It's happened to others, and it will pass.

thanks. thats really comforting to know. I was/am worried that the path to getting cured was going to be harder than before starting TSM. However, all the science and the experience of others in this forum tells me this the way to go. I just have to hold on till I get there

Hey Raest! Welcome to TSM. How much worse is the drinking?

I went through a period where I drank as much as I used to, if not more, than pre TSM levels. I believe its your subconscious brain trying harder and harder to get that high but you aren't gonna get it on TSM. It will pass my man.

Hi Gc1979, well, as bad as it's been before, to the point where I pass out and blackout. Difference being that in the past when I had an episode like that I would be gun shy for at least a week before it would happen again, mainly through abstaining or drinking only in "controlled" circumstances like out at dinner where there are "external" influences that are acting on my drinking. Since starting TSM it has happened 5 times in the first 10 days as I have been giving myself permission to drink as if I was taking my "medicine". I believe I need to change my mindset and view Nal as a tool only and that I should use additional strategies such as spacing out my drinks and limiting the amount of alcohol at home to "self sabotage".

Maybe it is the subconscious brain. Someone on the forum said that habits linger after the craving is gone or the high isn't reached. Its definitely a "flatter" drunk feeling, but that hasn't stopped me drinking too much yet.

Thanks for the encouragement!

I had no trouble drinking through naltrexone, to the usual point I did before taking it.

Spacing drinks and drinking more slowly as you suggested, lets Naltrexone blunt the enjoyment, and goes a long way to decreasing the drinking.

AF days help also.

Those are commonsense things you should do anyway, but they'll increase your chances of success exponentially

thanks Guapo, I'll give that a try & post progress in a separate thread.