I've been a binge drinker for many years, with a significant acceleration in frequency and amount consumed during the past couple of years.

My binge is defined by the consumption of approximately one litre of vodka per day for 7 days. Hospitalization usually follows. So a binge 'takes me out' for around 2 weeks. Fortunately, my employer knows my 'pre-binger' behaviour, so I've managed to keep employed within my profession -- which is good news.

Starting around 2 1/2 years ago I've:

- attended short-term residential treatment - 18 days x 2,
- attended long-term residential treatment - 2-3 months x 2,
- attended day, out-patient program - 2 weeks x 3,
- attended AA and SMART meetings... sponsor, etc. x nth times,
- received CBT training and counselling.

I should add that when I'm not binging/drinking I live a very healthy life - weight lifting, swimming, Mediterranean diet, spirituality, proper sleeping, etc. So, 80% of the time, my life is very healthy... but the other 20% is catastrophic.

On my last hospital visit the psychiatrist sent me home with a prescription for Naltrexone -- 50mg daily for 1 month. I attended an out-of-town, residential treatment program for 18 days and returned home a week ago Friday. I haven't drank in 7 weeks.

I tucked the Naltrexone prescription in my wallet and forgot about it until earlier this week, when I went to the Internet.

Initially I couldn't believe, sort of feared, what I read -- 100s of positive patient reviews, several positive medical reviews, and ultimately The Sinclair Method. But the logic behind The Method, retrain/undo the brain's habitual behaviour by interrupting its reward pathway, just made sense.

I was initially very worried that I liked this method primarily because it gave me an opportunity to continue drinking -- so I did my due diligence and reviewed every related piece of information I could find, including Eskapa's book "The Cure for Alcoholism." I also read this forum.

I concluded that I was an ideal candidate for The Sinclair Method -- highly motivated to quit/moderate, compliant to taking the pill always, binger, much to gain. So I took my first Naltrexone last night, planned an hour and a half pre-window, and went to the liquor store. I knew that I had 3 days off work (just in case) and I was spending the night with a non-drinking friend, who knew the plan.

The first thing I noticed is that when I entered the liquor store, I didn't head straight for the vodka. Instead I looked a little deeper for what I really wanted to drink. I looked at items I enjoyed when I was a recreational drinker. Ultimately, I bought 4 bottled Caesars.

While drinking I experienced the same effect as many other's have mentioned:

- The smell of the alcohol turned me off, which was a surprise,
- I drank 'VERY' slowly... the bottle just didn't grab my attention,
- No compulsion to drink, though I felt the intoxication,
- I drank "VERY' little.

I ended up not finishing the first bottle, though felt satisfied. Of course no hangover. Strangely, I wondered if non-problems drinkers felt like this.

So, that's my first experience. I'm very optimistic, though extremely cautious. My experience supports the premises and observations of The Sinclair Method.

...More to follow.

Heh, I think we've all wondered that at some point.

I'm glad your first experience was dramatic. Those who feel a difference right away are often (though not always) the fast responders. Keep us posted; we love success stories.

Sounds very encouraging. You have already spent so much time, talent, and treasure on this so far. It's sad, but you seem like you're able to psychologically get past that hurdle.

Anyway, I would concur that your experience was dramatic and there's no reason to expect that you'll ever be able to down 33 shots of vodka in one day again if you stick with this. Myself and many others simply were never able to drink heavily again with Naltrexone. It would be like being really full from dinner and being offered a stale, cold, burned bratwurst. "Um. No, thanks, I'll pass."

Keep us posted. It's very therapeutic to write things out, IMO.

Thanks for the encouragement!

I agree that the experience is very much "like being really full from dinner." Great analogy.

I'll keep posting.

Congratz. Always follow the golden rule.