Hi Sinclair Pioneers - I'm an MWO oldie that has not been posting there for awhile...but I have been following the Sinclair group’s threads daily.

First of all: thank you all for being such good "posters" -- I would never have found your messages or found my way to the Sinclair Method if you had not highlighted threads by calling them "Strictly Sinclair" and peaked my curiousity..and if reading the threads was not so entertaining. Thank you! I am sure I am not the only lurker that you have helped.

I had great success with MWO using the hypno and supps, but could not sustain for more than 4 or 5 months. I fell off around summer (family gatherings...blew it)...and then again around holiday time last year. I tried Topa my second time around and had horrendous issues with the drug - it threw me into a major depression plus made me extremely angry. I journalled the whole time and, as I look back now, I wonder how my family made it through. I've been off Topa since November and my drinking is barely controlled at this point. I can make it through the week, sort of, but have been binging on the weekends. My preferred drinking pattern is 3/4 a bottle of wine a night and avoiding social situations so I do not binge in public.

I am going to start the Sinclair Method as soon as I get my meds.

I took the first step by going to my doctor last week and getting labs done today. I encourage everyone to go to their doctor - even if they say No (which mine still might), it is getting the word out there. I brought the book in with me and she said she would do some research prior to writing the script, but that she was willing to take this journey with me if her research did not uncover anything major and that she was interested in new ideas. Follow up visit is in 2 weeks (unfortunately). Again...she may still say no, but I feel good about talking to her and I will still report back to her with my good progress if I end up having to get my meds online. For insurance purposes she put our discussion and lab work under a wellness exam.

Thank you again for shining a light on this new method -- I am very hopeful about this. I really feel like I am waiting for the beginning of a whole new life...

Will post again after I see my doctor but will be reading your progress as I wait.

Wishing you all continued success,


~Happy

Hi Happy,

Welcome aboard!

Your doctor needs to know that from a medical standpoint, naltrexone at 50mg/day is not going to harm you. Frankly, unless you are suffering from severe liver disease, the biggest risk associated with The Sinclair Method is one you'd face with any other non-abstinence method: drunk driving. Naltrexone adds a dimension of inattentiveness that compounds intoxication (it doesn't do this if you're not drinking).

You might also consider pointing your doctor to the sections of this forum that have the Q&As and research information.

Again, welcome, and keep us posted on your progress!

RV

That goes double for me -- Lena

Thanks very much for the replies. I'm hopeful she will come back with a Yes, she just did not want to categorically say Yes without doing a little more homework. If she comes back with a No, I will definitely point her to this forum.

Great job setting it up.

Welcome. It will go well. Just be sincere and she will see the light.

I just had nearly an identical experience with my Dr today. He said he'd do some research and get back to me.

It is frustrating.

Someone suggested in another thread coming up with tips on what to say to your Dr when one goes for a prescription. I think this would be very helpful to others and they embark on the Sinclair Method.

I ordered two months worth of Naltrexone from River Pharmacy the day after I really found about about the Sinclair Method. It takes about 3 weeks to get Nal from this source, so I decided to bite the bullet and go see my PCP. One way or another I'll be starting....

My advice is to tell the doctor that you are abstinent but want Naltrexone to manage cravings. That is an on-label use for the drug and one glance at the PDR will tell him that as well as the fact that it's a safe drug.

I know many may not be crazy about advice to be less-than-forthright to your doctor. At some point when your drinking is well under control you can tell him or her that abstinence did not work out, but you heard about the Sinclair Method and used naltrexone while drinking, and that it worked. Then be ready to hand your m.d. info about the Sinclair Mehod. You will have come clean AND paved the way for others.

Hi Happy and Welcome!

In the book Dr. Eskapa describes why other methods of controlling/stopping alcohol abuse usually do not work indefinately. I for one do not want to be on that path for the rest of my life.

Anyone, who is getting ready to go to a doctor, when I went to a doctor for Naltrexone, I had planned on explaining what I wanted it for. When he said he did not know what it was, and began looking it up in a book, I quickly changed my tactics, and let him think I wanted it as an anti-craving med. As Lena said, we can always go back at at a later date when we are well and cured and explain how we used it- I think the very most important thing is being able to get the pills to begin with.

Hi -- Just got back from my doctor...after waiting 2 weeks for her to do research on the Sinclair Method, she wants me to do some homework...call a counselor, track my current intake/cravings/mood, write down my goal...

I don't want to go to see a psychiatrist. I have already done the homework. I just want to get started. Very upset about the delay. I see my issue as purely physical and I am a very private person. She also asked if I had tried Antabuse, was worried about the interaction between Nal and some natural supplements I take, and had the analogy of treating a patient that comes in and says they want to go from smoking 2

I, unfortunately, will probably be ordering online now. At least my insurance will not show this...which is good.

So - if you go to your doctor, I would agree - tell them it's for Abstinence only. I, unfortunately, had already gone prior to posting so had already gone down the Sinclair Method route.

This is so frustrating.