Hi All,
It has been awhile since I have posted so I thought I would take a minute to update my progress. I am currently into my 16th week and it has been truly a roller coaster ride. I was very encouraged at the beginning with the honeymoon period so, as you can imagine, I have become very discouraged with my recent intake. There was a period of time that I was not keeping my numbers due to the fact that my laptop was out of commission and I didn't have my handy-dandy spreadsheet to record on. I should have kept it elsewhere, but I didn't. Anyways, one of the questions I have is it really necessary to wait a whole hour before drinking after taking Nal? There have been times when the occasion has happened that I have not had the luxury of that time before I started drinking. I always would take Nal before drinking but it wouldn't always be a full hour. Just wondering what your thoughts are on this? I am hoping that it still works and that I have not jeopardized my progress by not waiting the whole hour.
I have been looking at others progress and it appears that many seem to have their drinking under control around the 33rd week. I really can't wait to see if that happens to me. My husband is really starting to question TSM and Nal as a solution to my drinking. He is still supportive but I think he is really starting to doubt the effectiveness. I suppose I am too. I was feeling really good about myself in the beginning thinking I was really starting to take control of my addiction but now I am starting to get afraid that this will not work for me. I am still keeping up on everyone else's progress and I pray that I will start to see some improvement soon.

Bless you all for your insights and courage!

Dancer, you are where a lot of people have found themselves after 4 months. You had an initial drop in numbers (honeymoon) and now they've spiked back up. Classic extinction burst. This is where you need to persevere. Are you drinking purely out of habit? Have you tried a little effort? Recording your numbers gives you feedback and let's you see progress so good that you are recording again. If you are drinking everyday just go ahead and take your nal earlier so you don't forget and make sure you have it everywhere: car, purse, work, home, keychain pill holder etc. The concentration of nal rises over time so at 30 minutes you are getting some receptor blockage. The studies show peak plasma concentration of nal after 1 hour so it's better to get it in as soon as possible. If you are drinking over 6 hours you're better taking it with your first drink than not at all. You'll get there be patient, take your nal, apply some effort to reduce numbers, try for some AF days and good luck.

From my personal experience, 45 minutes to 1 hour is necessary, yes. When I have not waited that long, or taken the nal with or after my first drink, it simply has not worked as well. You're doing yourself a disservice if you continually skip the hour (though a slip here and there isn't a great setback). I also tend to metabolize drugs very quickly, so it might even be longer for other people. (I usually feel the nal kicking in about 20 minutes after taking it). Like SV said, if you are drinking every day, just take it earlier in the day to cover yourself. No big harm done if you take a nal and don't drink in the end.
EL

The only rule in TSM is to take Nal one hour before your first drink. Anything short of that, will not be as protective and will potentially slow down your progress. However, without a doubt, if you take Nal after your first drink, it will kick in and push out any opiates that have taken up residence on the receptor but your CNS will have gotten a jolt of reinforcement.

BTW, I am aware of others on the site who turned the corner around 33 weeks. Nal on!

Thank you all of you for your reply to my post. I took some of your advice and decided to take my Nal around 3-3:30 p.m. even if I decide I won't be drinking. That way it will cover me and I won't have to worry about the time-frame. I do believe some of my problem is I drink out of habit, so I'm going to work on that. The other is I think I subconsciously think that the more I drink the faster this will work for me so I don't work at it cutting back like I should.
How long does the Nal last after I take it? I heard that it should last at least 12 hours. Is that what you have found?

Thanks again for the encouragement! I truly appreciate it.

To be completely out of your system (in terms of safety issue, like having an operation) it's 48 hours. But in general experience, it's out of my system by24 hours. And after 12, I feel no effects whatsoever, either positive or negative, if I'm not drinking.

Thanks, Electralou. Do you feel you have gained control at this point in time? I just had 3 vodka tonics and don't feel the need to have any more. This is a first in a long time. I usually drink wine and usually drink a bottle-bottle and a half. I just want this to work for me so badly.
Thanks for your post and listening!