Thanks again everyone for the replies.

I think I am under the impression that Nal can more easily help binge drinkers vs. daily drinkers, because at least speaking for myself, I don't have a daily habit of drinking, which I think would be difficult to break in addition to also drinking too much. Sure, I have triggers where I "justify" drinking, but my problem is the amount that I drink when I do. I guess I'm "lucky" that it is not a daily routine that needs breaking. My goal is to be satisfied with 1-3 drinks at a time.

So, I have taken the expired Nal while I'm waiting for the new bottle to arrive. Once before I posted and a few times since then. It could very well be the placebo effect (considering the meds are long expired), but it's working. And what's even crazier is that it's working the next day. For example, on my way home from work, I may think about having a glass (which always turns into a bottle) of wine, but these past few days it's a fleeting thought. With ease, I have nursed a single glass of wine over the course of hours. The same bottle of wine has so far lasted three nights, UNHEARD of in years. All on expired Nal. Hmmmmmm.

I have a very good feeling that this could be the answer to this decade + long battle. My mood does not determine whether I drink or not and at 38, I do feel as if I am in midlife crisis mode, however, my "issues" do not seem to be linked to my drinking problem, and never have been. I do not see a correlation. My problem is that I seem to be wired in a way in which I cannot have one drink. With that first sip of alcohol, it takes control and it has been that way ever since the very first time I drank. It has always seemed so unfair. I love food and cooking and wine pairs with that. I am drunk before I am done cooking a meal. The wine country is right up my alley, but I abuse the wine and don't enjoy the "country" part. France is my favorite place on earth, a land full of wine, yet I don't drink wine like the French and end up the stereotypical drunk blonde American. It's always seemed unfair and I've resented that I can't drink like a normal person. But again, I have good feeling about TSM. It makes sense to me. I believe in it. I am excited to begin this journey.

Thank you again for the welcome and your words of wisdom.

YaY Hopeful!! What a great start!! (even if past sell by date!! Ha ha)

I'm an ex nurse .. an I've got a medicine cabinet full of out of date stuff... (well, not full ... but I have taken a few expired pills in my time!) .. (not Nal right enough) and always been fine.

Delighted for your good result so far .... I, like you, long to be the "normal sensible" drinker .. having one or two ... maybe 3 tops and being satisfied ... maybe we will get there with our Nals.

Keep posting and reading the cured posts ... proof this does work and you're not dreaming! Goood luck

Lorraine

Thanks again, Lorraine. I keep taking the expired meds and oddly, I find myself drinking wine just to see if it works. Even odder, I am still drinking a lot less without any real effort. It takes me hours to finish a glass of wine and days to finish a bottle. In the time it takes me to drink a glass, I would have finished a bottle.

How is your journey with this so far?

Naltrexone on it's own doesn't reduce cravings.

What it does is block the opiod receptors. When alcohol is drank the body releasese endorphins which are taken up by the opiod receptors, and you feel a buzz. Endorphins are addictive, your body and mind likes them and over time you learn alcohol=endorphins=feeling good and so you chase this more and more. Taking naltrexone 1 hour before drinking blocks the endorphins, you still get intoxicated on the alcohol but without the buzz. Taking naltrexone every time you drink means your body isn't getting an endorphin hit and for some people this is enough to not want to drink so much, over time they find they aren't bothered by alcohol and can choose to drink whenever they like.