21E,

I am assuming that you are on naltrexone and not Selincro, and you are only taking 1/2 of a tablet not the entire 50 mg (if on Selincro disregard). If 25 mg (1/2 of tab) is giving you issues (and it sounds like it is) drop it down to 1/4 of a tab for the next couple of times that you drink.

If you did start out with the 50 mg it is possible that you are experiencing some the side effects that will dissipate with time or lowering your dose and slowly working up to 50 mg can help.

You can take things for motion sickness and/or a drug for nausea, for that has helped others in the past. If you are afraid/hesitant to take your next dose, maybe plan on taking something like those to keep ahead of the game...pre-maintenance so to speak (whatever the amount of time suggested on the package to use before knowing seasickness would happen, would be the same for the nal).

Not everyone needs 50 mg and there are a couple of people here that can do just fine with a lower dose; however, 50 mg is protocol and is what Sinclair (and others) have used in the studies. I might suggest for you to lower your dose for a couple of days until you adjust.

This is a really good sign, (I know it doesn't seem that way now), for the nal is still in your system and letting you know that...it might be an uncomfortable, but trust me it is a blessing in disguise.

I did start with 1/4 of a pill only because I read about the side effects and I am a wimp. I am not a binge drinker, so it might be different for you, but I stayed at 1/4 of a dose for 2-3 days (I think) and moved up to 1/2 of a dose once I felt no ill effects and so on. My side effects were minimum, but everyone is different.

I did have a spacey feeling, slight nausea and a little wobbly for the first couple of weeks, but nothing I could not handle (remember I am a wimp with side effects). It was nothing compared to pregnancy, but slightly comparable to what I experienced those first 4 months.

If you are on Selincro you will have to slow adjust to the side effects, for that tablet cannot be cut because of the warning of skin irritation when doing so.

I am sorry to hear that nausea has lingered, for that is not fun, but it should dissipate with time and more use with the nal.

I am really excite it to hear about your progress! Remember that this too shall pass and get better...much better!

Jaba

Hi Jaba thankyou so much ~ yes I'm on naltrexone ~ the neausea has gone this morning yippee ~ I didn't get this the day after the first dose though ~ it was straight away which was why I could only manage 5 units. Anyway I'm definitely getting some sickness tabs today as that's the only side effect so far. So if that goes away I'll be super excited. I'm thinking I'll stick with 50mg and see how it goes with the sickness tabs maybe as I'm wanting to get quicker to extinction as I can ~ but because I'm really busy at work the next couple of days ~ if I get a craving I'm only going to have half a tab ~ because I'm a binge drinker it might not be till Saturday that I get a craving to drink ~ it sounds silly but my cravings are stronger when I have a day off the next day ~ if I'm busy I try not to think about it ~ would it hinder my success leaving it 4 days before a drink? Thanks again

21E,

I think the only thing that will hinder your success or progress is not taking your nal every time or not waiting that hour.

Since you are a binge drinker, it is suggested that you do not white knuckle it or avoid drinking, to take the pill and drink when you have a craving; however, I can understand waiting until you have a day off the next day, for I know I wouldn't be able to function the next day sometimes.

Alcohol deprivation may explain why you binge drink. Alcohol deprivation effect (ADE) is defined as a temporary increase in voluntary alcohol intake following a period of alcohol abstinence.

It is very important that you do not avoid those cravings, for you will need to extinct triggers that make you drink; however, do not force anything. If you are off and do not want to drink don't.

With time you will find a balance and the binging will become less; in the mean time, reading some of the posts here from UKBlonde may help you. She was a binge drinker, and is not as active here right now, but has given advice to others. She has come a long way and her story is amazing, and very encouraging. To find her posts you can go up to the right hand side (after you log in) and it will say "members", just hit that and then hit "U" and scroll until you find her name and click on her name; then you can hit the blue area where it say view members posts (hopefully that makes sense).
Unfortunately there is no way to speed up extinction. It will happen when your brain is ready to let go, and our brains can be very stubborn! You may avoid taking the pill with those side effects, so please increase after you have tolerated 1/2 pill. This should be as painless and side effect free as possible, so we can work on extinction. If the side effects are too much and every time it may be harder for extinction to happen, for you may not want to take the pill or you may not want to drink.

The rule is to drink when you have a craving, and taking nal without drinking is not advisable because of an up-regulation of your receptors. It doesn't hurt anything as long as you do not drink or be exposed to any alcohol off the nal, but there are a lot of foods and medicine that have alcohol, so be careful. Taking a pill and not drinking occasionally is just a waste of a pill, and to make sure your body adapts to the meds a couple of times is okay (but not recommended). But, you have to do what works for you, and if you feel taking the pill so your body can get used to the side effects, do what works.

I hope I answered this above, but I wanted to make sure I did. Nothing will hinder your success expect for not taking the nal and/or not waiting that hour (some people it is 2 hours). Holding back and not drinking when you have a craving may cause you do drink more than you want to when you do drink, but nothing really matters except that golden rule. Eventually you will find a balance with drinking when triggers happens, but until then do what comes natural and do not force anything.

We will be here to help you along, and hopefully the side effects will not be there the next time.

Jaba

Hi 21eller,

Welcome. I agree with Jaba about reading UKBlonde's story. It really is remarkable, a testament to how TSM can work, and very encouraging.

I am not a binge drinker but I do think that I suffer from the alcohol deprivation effect. I often go on 10 to 21 day cleanses with no alcohol and have cleansed as long as 45 days. I always hope that when I go back I will drink less, but I always seem to right away drink even more. That has been the case even since using nal. I have often wondered if bingers are really suffering from ADE.

I can identify with wanting extinction as quickly as possible. Sadly, I am not a fast responder and am on week 43. I am much better, drinking much less, but it can be discouraging. I encourage you to be patient. It is not easy, but slow and steady wins the race.

All the best,

Dee

Thankyou so much Jaba ~ the neasea has gone today ~I've been to the gym and feel great I've bought some sickness pills for next time ~ At the moment I've no desire to drink ~ if tonight I get a craving I will try and have a small amount with half a pill as boy, I'm busy for the next couple of days and I don't want to be hung over ~ this forum is great ~ I got sent a link to this clinic that charge £1000 to help you through the process for 3 months and it's just telephone calls, you have to buy the pills yourself they just get the prescription for you ~ this is better and cheaper ~ I'll look up UK Blonde thankyou

Thanks Deena ~ do you have a progress report? Sorry just seen it on your profile ~ I hope things get better for you ~ I'm thinking maybe leaving days in between drinking and taking Nal we don't respond aswell but I'll read ukblondes stories thanks

It's like Jaba says, 21E. When you get the craving, that's the time to attack via the Golden Rule. It shows your brain that alch does not equal pleasure, so it begins to forget the two are connected. That's how pharmacological extinction works. You don't have to have any more than one drink to move the process along (unless you actually crave more than one). "Selective Extinction" is described in the book, it involves doing things that release endorphins on your 2nd AF day, so your brain starts replacing the drinking pattern (automatic routine) with a healthier pattern.

"... ~ it sounds silly but my cravings are stronger when I have a day off the next day... "

Not silly at all. That's exactly how it works. If your brain doesn't have anything else to do, it falls back on automatic subroutines that it successfully used to counter stress.

I'd suggest picking up a copy of The Upward Spiral, it clues you in on how that all works and what you can do to replace the subroutines with healthier actions. It's about depression, but the genesis of depression is most often anxiety, so learning how to deal with that is a handy tool to have.

Great information Joe thankyou ~ I'm worried I'll get a craving in the next couple of days as I know I'll have to take the Nal and drink ~ if I can just have a few this will be great so no hangover for work

21E,

My suggestion would be only have enough available so you will not be hungover, and if the craving for more is too great to deal with go to bed to sleep or read a book. Plan on how many to drinks you can have and plan a distraction after you have finished that amount. Some people will drink mock cocktails in a fancy glass. Or, something that is very flavorful like Ginger beer/soda pop may work and it would help your nausea. If you are worried about the sugar from soda pop think about all the sugar that is in alcohol, and this is only temporary, for with time you will be satisfied with only one or two drinks.

I had to force my intake down because of the nal overs (worse than any hangover) were too intense for me to deal with. It was hard to limit my intake at first, but my brain accepted it with time. I did feel that anxiety and need for another drink, but I would distract myself by drinking lemon water and/or sleepy time tea (with valerian root). Drinking something helped my brain a little, for it didn't matter what I drank for my brain could not tell the difference while on the nal. There would be times that I just had to go to bed early, for I was very testy and when I am like that I usually drink more.

I think you will be able to accomplish this if you plan it out, and always have a way out.

Keep us posted,

Jaba

Something else might be Bitburger Drive, if you can get that in the UK. It's 0.0% alch, but they do a great job of making it taste like a regular beer. It doesn't have that "soda pop" taste and feel like others have.

Hi guys thanks yeah I've gone all week and been ok but I think by tonight I'll have a craving but I know if I drink late and only buy a small amount I should be fine ~ I've just got to be up early tomorrow so Saturday night would be better lol not heard of a bitburger drive but I'm not a fan of low alcohol stuff ~ I go for the alcohol to calm me down which it still does with Nal even if you don't get the high