I have been reading all night aout the SM, ordered the book, now I just have to work on getting my doctor to prescribe the naltrexone for me. I have tried everything, AA, rehab, topamax, hypno therapy, etc-and just keep on drinking! If I could moderate in the end, that would be ok, but honestly, alcohol has caused EVERY sh***y thing that has happened in my life, I wouldn't mind being done with it. I want to read the book to know if one really 'has to' drink as much as they want, because trust me, I don't want to be drunk anymore, I just want to stop, but when I abstain, the cravings! Besides for 3 weeks in rehab, and maybe 10 or so other nights, I have been DRUNK every night for the past 4 years, take a break for pregnancy, and then 4 years before that. Usually I would say about 70 units a week (two small bottles of wine a night or one big one.) If this can cure me, I will be eternally grateful, I don't want to lose anything else because of this stupid addiction, I only barely have my self respect and dignity left. So I guess my question is, can one moderate while taking naltrexone, or do I really need to drink as much as I am now, cuz I really have had it up to my eyeballs with the sauce and am ready to be D-O-N-E...Thanks!!!

Hi MissKris, and Welcome!

You'll be glad you found us, as we can all relate to how alcohol has almost destroyed our lives. Many here have gone through all types of therapy, AA, detox, etc. - only to find none of that worked. The Sinclair Method (TSM) offers a different approach, and real hope for a solution. You'll have many questions, and we'll all be here to help you in any way we can. The members here are such GREAT people!

As far as "getting your doctor to prescribe", you should carefully think about that. Many of us have found extreme resistance, because TSM is so controversial. It's hard for any professional to condone a program that advises an alcoholic to drink. The safest way to proceed might be to tell your doctor that you are having trouble with cravings, and have heard that Naltrexone could help. It is approved for that purpose, but doctors are instructed to prescribe it to people who are willing to be abstinent while using it. You don't need to tell your doctor that you intend to follow TSM and drink while taking it. Better to just get the prescription without a fight at this point. You do't have to lie - just don't say more than you have to for now.

About having to drink a lot for TSM to work, that's not necessarily true. You should drink whenever you have cravings (and when it's safe/responsible to do so). Naltrexone won't prevent intoxication. You might not feel as drunk, but you will still get drunk when you drink in excess. The process of extinction takes time and patience. You'll see from reading the posts here that it's not a "quick fix" type of program. However, it is producing REAL results for those who have faith and stick with it.

Just move ahead, don't try to over analyze your experience/progress, and lean on this group for support. You are not alone - we're all here for you!

Hi MissKris,

Welcome aboard! You will find a lot of valuable information on this forum - so dig in. Members of this community are also very helpful and supportive. We're very fortunate in having Dr Eskapa as a forum member so you can pose questions to him, should the need arise.

Best wishes on your journey.

V.

thanks, kris, i pretty much just figured i would have to say i was planning on using it for absitince/anti-craving purposes. problem is, my family doctor, last year, prescribed me topamax off label for cravings, didn't work as i am still drinking. i am afraid he will not want to prescribe this nal if i tell him i was drinking on the topamax (something he told me NOT to do). he will think, why won't she drink on this too, which is the point, but you get where I am going. any ideas for ways around it? i am still on the topamax, maybe tell him i find it not as effective anymore and have been having cravings, and now would like to try naltroxene instead to see if it helps, or add it to the topamax? any ideas on getting around this would be greatly appreciated, the doctor is possibly compliant as he is open to new ideas for treatment (obviously, the topa off label), but i know he won't want to do anything that he feels might be harmful to him or me, or how knowledgable he is about naltoxene. and i would much prefer a 30 dollar co-pay per month than the 100 dollars online, i could swing the 100, but am on a budget being a single mom. THANKS!!!

My experience with Topamax was SO horrible, and it actually made me drink MUCH more! Weird, I know, and I've not heard anyone else having that result. Funny thing is I was taking it (also off label) as a mood stabilizer for bipolar disorder. What a mistake...

Anyhow, if you're still taking Topamax, I assume side effects aren't an issue, so that excuse might not work. I would tell him it's no longer working for you, and in case he wants to increase the dosage - say you're not comfortable with that, but have heard that Naltrexone has helped a lot of people. It's a very safe drug (unlike Topa), so I don't think he'd feel uncomfortable prescribing it. As for the fact that you've been unable to remain abstinent, whether you're honest about that, or you just tell him you're afraid of falling off the wagon - he should support you without judgement if he sees that you're really trying.

Kudos on being a single Mom! If you can handle that, I'm sure you'll figure out the right approach with your doctor. Others here might have some good suggestions as well. Best of luck, and let us know how it goes.

Yeah, he may not buy the side effects business of topa cuz I have been on it for about a year. It does help a little bit insofar as obsessing about alcohol and sometimes being able to moderate the amount I consume, and my mood is more stable ,esp. in social situations, but my prob is def at home, when my kid is asleep and i am lonely and just wanna drink away my problems and pain (most of which stem from alcohol so go figure!), and after that 3 or 4 drink, forget it, the topa has no effect on mods for me I will just wanna drink till I pass out or completely make an ass of myself or do something dangerous; you know all of the joyful things that alcoholics do when drunk. And you KNOW you HAVE to stop, and people look down on you, and it's like, "do you think I am CHOOSING this?" why would ANYONE choose this hell, if anyone who has been in my shoes knows, NOBODY!!! so, when i read about the SM, of a cure, i am willing to do whatever it takes. obviously, because as someone who tried AA, let me tell you, besides for some nice people I met in the program, to me, it keeps me in a state of fear and depression, made me fell more despair and hopelessness, made me want to drink more...i felt like i needed a drink to get through a meeting sometimes..but i still went, so i will try ANYTHING if i kept up with AA!
so, yeah, that is a good idea to say i feel the topa is not working as well and don't want to slip, and heard about the naltrexone. i am going to call the DR later today for an appt. and let you know. my aunt is also a family DR so I can try her to, we are fairly close.
Does Anybody know of a comprehensive article i could print out about the effectiveness of naltrexone and abstaining? maybe i could show that to the DR since he will think my plan is to abstain.
THANKS GUYS!!! sorry to ramble just tryin to let everyone know where i am coming from day 1 bc this board seems to be a great support!

Kris, that IS odd. never heard of topa making cravings worse. I do know that some people just don't tolerate the drug well for whatever reason. I didn't lose any weight on it either, maybe 3 lbs or so, but I don't need to. I really had no side effects except dopey feelings sometimes and decreased sweating, I can do an hour on the treadmill wo barely breaking a sweat where i used to need to shower, weird!

Welcome, Missy! You're at the beginning of the end of your addiction to alcohol. Is that exciting, or what? The folks on here are more than eager to help any way we can. You'll have a lot of questions. Ask away - but try not to over-analyze. Unlike AA, TSM (Thank You, Dr. Sinclair!) has taken the onus of alcoholism off the sufferer. You don't need to feel like a moral defective person any longer, but can learn to treat yourself with the same love and dignity you would extend to any person suffering from a condition outside their control. Once you're cured, you can be a message to the world that this method WORKS.

Look forward to hearing more from you on your journey.