As some of you know I dabbled with this some months ago, but did not have full information or any support (Dr. gave me Nal, but had no interest in what I was planning to do with it:o)

Anyway, I took 25mg last night and drank 4 beers over a period of two and a half hours. That was excellent for me, normally under the circumstances it would have been a lot more- but I was reminded of one of the reasons I gave up before- I felt quite nauseous yesterday, and worse I still feel sick today- to the point if I bend over a toilet I will probably be sick.

I know some people experience transient nausea when beginning the treatment, but this doesn't feel very transient- and in Dr. Eskapa's book he does mention in one trial 5 out of 93 (sorry if that is wrong I am writing from memory) patients had to drop out because of nausea. I do hope I am not in that percentage.

Well today the thought of drinking on top of the nausea is very unappealing, so I don't think I will drink therefore I won't be taking the Nal.

Has anyone else had an experience with Nal and nausea? Side effects were mentioned very little in the book because it seems to generally be a very well tolerated drug.


Edit:

Just found the answer to my question-

In the largest study, the most common side effect of naltrexone affected only a small minority of people and included the following: nausea (10%), headache (7%), dizziness (4%), fatigue (4%), insomnia (3%), anxiety (2%), and sleepiness (2%). These side effects were usually mild and of short duration. As treatment for alcoholism, naltrexone side effects, predominantly nausea, have been severe enough to discontinue the medication in 5-10% of the patients starting it. For most other patients side effects are mild or of brief duration.

So it does seem that for some the nausea is more severe- I will persevere for now.

I was a little queezy for the first couple of days. I never barfed but did feel as I might for a couple of days. As situations served me, I did not drink on my 3rd through 5th and when I resumed taking Nal, the nausea was gone.

Hang in there. This too shall pass.

Marbella -- When my naltrexone arrived from River Pharmacy I was so anxious to get started I forgot and took 50 mg on the first day. I took my first drink an hour later and it did not stay down for five minutes. I had nausea, vomiting to the point of dry heaves, for about three hours. I felt better (although a bit weak) later and by the next day felt just fine. I took 25 mg for two days and then up to the recommended 50 mg. Not a bit of nausea after that first day. In fact, except for a slight uptick in my chronic tinnitus about an hour after I take my dose, I would not have any indication I had taken it. I so hope the nausea abates for you.

I am concerned about the 25 mg dose you take. Fifty mg is the dose Dr. Eskapa says ensures a blockade of all the brain's opioid receptors. That way, extinction can take place.

I see Dr. Eskapa has dropped in for a visit. Perhaps he or Dr. Sinclair can provide some input re: managing side effects and proper dosage.

There has GOT to be a way for you to continue!

Anyone have any ideas for our Marby?

Oh Thanks SR and Lena, it's so nice to have others to ask who are doing this too.

When I got myself out and about and moving, the nausea did subside, so hopefully it is just the transient nausea people experience the first few days.

I am definately planning to up my dose to 50mg, but if I am feeling so queasy on 25 mg I am a bit afraid of how I will feel on 50mg- I am also in a bit of a dilemna as I am now fancying a drink, but will probably be able to white knuckle through without one- so should I have a day off giving the nausea a good chance to subside, or should I take the nal again, and chance the sickness, and therefore get on with the treatment?

I will try to give it a miss today, and hope maybe someone can advise what one should do from a medical point.

Also fantastic to have Dr. Eskapa on board!!

Eff. I feel sick to the back teeth.

I did not drink or take Nal tonight- I wanted to as a difficult (for me) situation came up, that I had to try to call my mum, usually a trigger for me. Well, I white knuckled it as I was unsure about taking Nal again for the nausea/tiredness thing- I had to drive home also and we'd had thick snow.

I got home about half an hour ago, went for a pee, and the urine is completely dark. Normally it is a very light yellow, but if I binge drink, the day after it is dark yellow, well this is like twice as dark as that. I guess Nal is not doing my liver any good- I suspected the same before when I took it in October as the whites of my eyes were kind of yellow, but tonight was a bit shocking.

I feel so disappointed and don't really know what I should do now.

Well, I will sleep on it, tomorrow is another day.

Oh Marby I don't know what to say except take good care of yourself.

Someone else please hop on!

Lots of water and rest and it's time to think ASAP about a liver profile for you, swetheart.

Love, Lena

Oh gosh, I wouldn't think of taking any more naltrexone without seeing a doctor first. That's so disappointing.

Hang in there if you can't do the naltrexone. Nalmefene (sp?) is coming and isn't metabolized by the liver.

I'm worried for you, too, Marbella. But don't panic - chances are it's just a reaction perhaps to nal & whatever you drank. There are lots of reasons why urine changes color. Did you take vitamens, eat asparagus, etc? Be safe & go see your Dr. ASAP

Let us know - we care

I feel fine today, and my urine is a normal pale yellow. I did drink a big glass of blended red grapes yesterday, but I often do that and the urine doesn't change.

I was thinking that 10% (more or less) of people cannot take Naltrexone, because of side effects, and another 10% of those that do take it finds that it simply does not work for them, so of the 100 that begin, there are maybe 19 that don't have success, so possibly I am one of those 19. Well, to look on the bright side, if I am one of the 19, statistically the next guy that comes along probably won't be one of the 19, and if I am one, well I have been much much better with my drinking anyway these days, as my circumstances make it very difficult to find time to quietly get smashed, and I am very rarely in a social setting where I want to drink- last Friday being the first time for 7 weeks.

I guess it is time for me to get my backside down to the doctor (I don't really even have a doctor) I just go to whatever one I fancy depending on the ailment at the time, so I will get myself a proper doc sorted out, and have some tests done, and maybe be able to find out more about nalmafene.

I won't try taking it again until I have things sorted out, but just reading the book and knowing why I became addicted and others don't has been a tremendous help, I think just having that extra knowledge may give me the final push I need to be able to stop abusing it.

I will keep coming here though, even though I won't be able to contribute much at the moment if that is OK.

Marbella is in Spain. Any chance she could get nalmefene there? What is the status of Nalmefene outside the U.S.?