Started Nal. 10/14. Had an amazing first week. Now halfway into second week. Yesterday went to a party and took 1/2 pill. I wasn't planning on drinking but wanted the insurance. Drank one beer and several shots of vodka. It was too much, because I woke this morning not feeling great.
I then did what I usually do, had a couple shots. I scared myself - this is not supposed to happen!!! Took a nap and took a full 50 mg. Nal. I just drank a hard lemonade and feel drunk like before.
Is this it? Did it not work for me?

susie,

you're only in your second week - it's really, really early days. you need to set your expectations to 3-6 months at an absolute minimum

am I understanding you right that you had a few shots the next day without taking any Nal? this is an absolute No-No. you MUST be compliant with the Golden Rule - take your Nal & wait an hour before drinking EVERY TIME without fail

if you're new to Nal you might feel a bit rough the next day, even if you haven't drunk much, until you're more used to it

hang in there, it will work for you, but not if you don't follow the Golden Rule EVERY TIME

-badger

susie, what Badger said. Very very early days. Some people respond immediately but NOT most. At this point, all you need to worry about is following the Golden Rule: take your pill EVERY time you will drink, wait the hour, .....

Try not to worry about the rest right now, other than tracking.

Nal on!! Newlife

Thank you for reminding me! i just had such a wonderful first week and thought it wouldn't change. I will just continue taking the pill and tracking and not stress too much. Maybe after having been addicted for decades, I can be patient with this process. I stopped smoking with Chantix and it took several tries but now I have not had a cig in over 5 years.

Susie,

I agree with newlife and badger. It will come if you just take your pill an hour before drinking. And as far as you over indulging at a party and waking up the next morning and having a drink to feel better - it is sorta okay AS LONG as you take the pill an hour before. I continued a lot of heavy drinking when I first started NAL - which was normal for me at the time. And I did wake up a time or two and have an early drink - but always following the golden rule. But I did not worry about TSM and NAL not working because I read in the book and in this forum that MOST people have to go several months before seeing major improvements and some even longer. So I took the pill and drank normally - for me. Which was way to much.

The beauty about the TSM is that you are supposed to drink like you normally did prior to taking the NAL at least for awhile. It helps the process. But that means you should not expect your addiction or habit go away in a week or so. Only a lucky few get that result. The rest of us just follow the golden rule and it takes effect gradually. Take a look at my numbers below and you will see that I did not have a good first month. And that it took well into my second month to start seeing some major improvement. But now drinking is getting less important to me every week it seems.

Slow and steady wins the race! Keep posting and keep following the golden rule and try not to get discouraged that you are not one of the lucky few who have instant results.

Susie,

I understand your fear, but I think your honeymoon period might be over. I agree with everyone, and now comes the hard part...waiting until you see results! The good news is that what you saw during your honeymoon period is what you can expect once you have control.

Remember that some it has taken longer (8 months to over a year).

Follow that golden rule and keep posting for we are always here,

Jaba

Susie, my intake skyrocketed after my honeymoon period to the extent that I stopped tracking the numbers. Then about week 12 things started to change. I started tracking again which is an important component of the program. You only need to do one thing right now. Take the nal one hour before drinking. Overdo it and need a shot in the morning? Take the nal, wait one hour, and have the shot. You can do it! Keep posting.

Just keep it rolling Suzie you have a long way to go. I like to think of it in this way too... WWNPD... What Would Normal People Do?

Well it's not too uncommon for normal people to over indulge once in a while at a party too. So don't be too hard on yourself for doing it. Just keep up with that Golden Rule. When you wake up not feeling so great then you absolutely must just white knuckle it and wait that one hour. You can do it and in the end it will be so much more worth it.

Agree with all. I didn't sweat my drinking in the beginning (a little late after 30 years...). Just keep the amount you drink in the back of your mind and the pill you take in the front, and carry on as normal. By Valentine's Day there'll be a new you!

Golden rule Susie!!!!

Never ness with it because you'll fall back like you wouldn't believe.

First go at tsm in the summer of 2013 my honeymoon was unreal and lasted for near Xmas. I ran out and within not even 2 weeks I was back getting drunk.

I'm not sure if I'll ever get cured using tsm but the way it can stop me binging for weeks at a time is damage limitation enough for me.

You just can't do this in halfs imo.. Your just wasting your time. Sorry if that's harsh.

If you think you might have a wee morning drink take the med even if it turns out you don't fancy one after all.