I've been abstaining from alcohol for the past 18 months. before then, I was becoming more dependant on alcohol - drinking excessively 6 - 7 nights per week, and pretty heavily over the weekends. I didn't drink during the weekdays, but when I wasn't drinking, I was thinking about it. It was pretty depressing when I think back.

Following a few incidents involving police and A&E, I decided enough was enough, and managed to wean off it over the course of a week, and have abstained since then. It wasn't easy, but the transformation I've seen in the past year or so has made the effort worthwhile.

However I've always thought that someday I would try to drink again. Although I don't necessarily have cravings, there are occasions when I think "**** it, just have a glass of wine with dinner". It's also been a struggle socially, but I've gotten better at handling that.

So then I stumbled across naltrexone. Wow - I wish I had know about it a year and a half ago! But I didn't and I'm here now. I'd like to think that I could have an occasional drink socially, but I'm concerned about slidning down the slippery slope again. I guess I can experiment, and see how I feel after trying to moderate again, but I wonder if naltrexone would be a good safteynet. Does the fact that I have been abstinent for over a year work against me?

You are to be congratulated on being abstinent for over a year.

TSM only works when you take nal and drink; it is essentially retraining your mind.

If I were you I wouldn't start again. I would stay where you are. Most of us are struggling mightily to get there.

Good luck to you, Newlife

Everyone here is going to recommend that you don't take it up again.

That said, given you past history, I would never go back to drinking without naltrexone.

What are you doing for support to maintain your abstinence?

Apart from some online support in the early months, I've not had any other support groups. I've been completely open with my wife, and she's been very supportive both when I decided to stop, and even now while I deliberate.

I guess I need to read more about other experiences. My opinion might be a little clouded by a documentary I saw recently (One little pill). I'm sure there's been plenty of discussion here, and I suspect perhaps it paints a bit more of a rosy picture than the reality.

Thanks for the honest feedback.

I don't know if you read the book "The Cure for Alcoholism" wish talk about Naltrexone. You may want to read it so you can have a better idea of what you want to do. It's not recommended to start Nal while abstinent. But like all41 said, you may want to have some Nal on you in case that you can't resist alcohol.

TSM isn't a way to have a social drink right from the start. Whilst some, a miniscule few have found success within a very short time, most people have to go through the full throes of full on drinking in order to become deaddicted.

What I am trying to say is that if you come back from abstainence to do this you may have to go through a period of drinking like you did before you quite.

Or you may be ok right from the start.

So there's probably a risk involved.

If you can abstain without it, don't break it.

I was abstinent for 1.5 years, slipped & started TSM right away because I had been aware of it and went right back to where I had been when I quit as far as the severity of my drinkng. I am almost 4 months in and although I've improved, I am still pretty messy and desperate for extinction. I would never recommend this to anyone who was abstinent - only those who are drinking and already out of control. If you take a drink expect you will be back at square one and gear up for months of bad drinking, at least. I think the drinking is that much harder when you have a long spell of abstinence under your belt - it feels like reliving a nightmare. I am desperate for this part to be over and have no idea how long it will last. Hope this helps! Jephiner

Hang in there, Jephiner. I totally get where you are coming from. But we WILL get there. Nal on!! Hugs to you from Newlife