Lena, I am a little bit confused about what you are saying. I wonder why you think I think it is an anti-craving med? For me right now it is killing the cravings. Should I drink more even if the craving is not there? I am not going to do that. I even stated that I am only taking 25 mg. in expectation that some sort of honeymoon period will end and I will up to 50 mg. As long as 25 mg is keeping me at one drink a night then I will continue with 25 mg. I feel it working. And if it's working as an anti-craving med., shouldn't that be a plus? The endorphins are not being released and it is stopping me from drinking further. I am okay with that for now. I know I have to keep taking it until the pharmacological extinction happens. If I was to stop taking it now, I would drink every ounce of liqour in this house in one evening. I have almost thought about doing an AF night but I do not think in anyway am I ready for that. Just because I have had a couple of nights where I was able to stop drinking at one glass does not mean I am in any way near where I should be before I attempt that.

I guess I am just confused about what you are saying. Have I read the book? No. Have I read a lot on this forum? Yes. Should I read the book? Yes. Will I? Yes, probably when the honeymoon phase is over and I am back to drinking larger quantities.

I understand what he means about pharmacological extinction and how it will take awhile. Am I going to enjoy this time right now while I am drinking one drink a night and feeling great in the morning? Damn straight I am. It would be just plain weird and odd if I didn't. First time I have been sober in years, a lot of years! I am just enjoying the right now, right now. That's it. Thanks for all the good info. I really, really appreciate it. Yours and others with Nal. experience is what keeps this board going and gives hope and valid information to us newbies. Because of people like you I am trying this.

I also need to keep grounded. Oh and I do dread the days when my consumption will/may go up but I am going to stick with this. And I am also going to try to stay positive whether I am ultimately let down or not. I've been let down by a million other things and still got up and kept on going, this will be no different. Besides this is the only hope I have for my alcoholism right now. I have to stay positive.

Maenads, I think you misunderstood what Lena was saying. She's not saying to drink more but to expect that this period your in will be short lived and when that happens you should be taking 50mg Nal to ensure the right strength of the med for increased drinking and you should always take Nal one hour before drinking. The extinction comes not in the amount you drink but the ritual of when and how you drink (triggers) that make you go to the bottle.

good luck
corkit

Thanks Corkit, that makes more sense. I am still wondering though, what part am I not doing right. I am still drinking exactly as I normally would except less and I take the pill one hour before I drink. The only thing different I have done is almost every Saturday I go for lunch and a beer with my friend and this week I didn't drink because I wanted to save the Nal. for the evening because that is my real weakness, evening drinking. I ended up taking the Nal. only half an hour before a drink because my friend was on a bender and was drinking all day, I could only take so much and broke. So far I have consistently taken it 1 hour before drinking every evening when I would normally be drinking.

I am sure Lena can further explain what part I am not following properly. If I am screwing up on the program in some way I'd like to know. I just checked and the book is available at my local library, I just put a hold on it and I'll pick it up after work. Maybe reading the book will help . Thanks again for all the support.

You are doing nothing wrong. Lena, who can and will speak for herself, wasn't being critical of what you are doing. She was just warning you that true extinction takes months and that your immediate decrease in drinking is probably the "honeymoon effect", which will be temporary. She wasn't trying to rain on your parade, but instead, was trying to protect you from false expectations. Congratulations on the immediate control! I had the same thing happen and it was great. But after a few weeks, I, like most others, jumped back up to pre-TSM levels. It took me months to get back to lower levels, which is typical as TSM is a roller-coaster ride.

There is only one rule: take the nal an hour before drinking! You are doing it so just be prepared for a non-linear journey.

Nick and Corkit are right; I just don't want you to think "It isn't working anymore" if (when?) your consumption bounces back up.

Thanks Lena, I am picking up the book tonight so I'll have a better understanding of all the ups and downs. I was mostly talking to myself in the long above post. Just trying to stay positive so I don't give up. Thanks for the support.