Do I have to drink within 1 hour? Can I wait 2? Do I need to take a second pill if I'm at it all night? Thanks.

Pre- Natrexone
50 0 80 units per week
day 3 - so far 12 units.

Thanks.
TMac

From Dr Eskapa's book; take 50 mg of Naltrexone, wait one hour for it to have maximum concentration in your bloodstream, then drink. A 2 to 3 hour wait appears to be acceptable. In fact, I waited 2 hours today prior to drinking, because I was distracted with other things.

Regarding taking a second pill, I have read that it may be good to take a 2nd pill after 12 hours if your drinking session lasts that long because the half-life of Nal is only 4 hours, so by 12 hours, there is only 6¼ mg or so in your body. So its a good idea to take a 2nd one after 12 hours of drinking to keep the opiate receptors blocked. I've learned all of this form the book and especially this site. I am merely repeating what I have learned.

Bob

I recall it the same way Bob does. One member drinks 24/7, and on this board Eskapa suggested taking 50 mg every 12 hrs would provide the best coverage. Some have posted about taking nal before bed, taking it in the morning, etc. Eskapa has said the point is to take it before you drink, not six hours before you drink. One hour is not set in stone but the idea is at least one hour is best so the nal has time to form a blockade of all the opioid receptors, which is fully effective for about twelve hours..

The Golden Rule is to take nal one hour before you drink, each day you drink.

as the 24/7 drinker, I would like to say I am feeling better "covered" by taking the nal 2 x a day.
I do take it at different times, but I do think I am keeping it in my system.
And here it is again, night time. In my past life I would be drinking and would drink at least 1/2 bottle more of wine and/or a few drinks, some rum, some brandy.....
I am sitting here having tea, and I sort of "in the way back of my mind" WANT a drink, but I really do not. But you know, it is very nice know if I did, I could. And that my dear forum friends, is the mental objectivity that is helping me the most.

From my sober chair, to hopefully YOURS

Thank you all for the replys.

The readers digest version of my story: Began drinking at 13 in 1971. All heck broke loose in 1983 after a serious brain injury. Anxiety, depression, mode swings, panic attacks, rage, and personality changes. I was too afraid to see a shrink so I drank to get thru the day. By 1989, I was doing at least 12 beers a day during the week (lunch, train home, and bar at the train station). Weekends were worse. All the usual stuff happenned. Job forced me to go to Smihters in NYC and they to AA. I hated AA from the get go. Stayed a year. Got drunk, went back right away. Stay dry for 9 months, got drunk. Went back, got drunk. Eventaully I stayed away from booze for 5 years - never did a step. Drank in a beer in 1998. That started 8 years of hell. Two 6 figure jobs lost, detox, rehab, locked up in dual-diagnosis ward for 6 weeks. After almost losing another job, I went back to AA. Got a sponsor and tried to do the whole thing except I am a commited athiest. I always felt totally alone. I wanted science and medicine not voodoo. I began to drink last Oct because I want to drink. I love it, I love bars, I love the comraderie. I always knew science would find a way to let me drink socially again. I have been drinking anywhere from 30 Units to 60 units per week the last serveral months. I know if I did not find this method, I would be back to drinking everyday as much as I could until I passed out. I would only stop because a brutal hangover would get in the way. I would be out of work, my wife and kids would be devestated. I would be suicidal and doing things I normally would not do. From seeing all your posts, I know that Naltrexone + Drink = CURE.

WeeK 1 (so far)
3 Units day 1 - Naltrexone made me feel woosy and I had limited time to drink
3 Units day 2 - Naltrexone made me feel woosy and I had limited time to drink
8 Units day 3
8 Units day 4
Cravings are fairly strong