So I finally got away from Corpus Christi Doctors who told me to go to inpatient or that Nal is for opiate addicts.... My trip to San Antonio to see an addiction psychiatrist was very good. He perscribed Naltrexone and started me on Topamax, which is what I was hoping for. I've been taking Nal for the past 2 weeks from ADC but wanted the actual perscription. Both with refills! I'm excited and will keep posting my progress.

good deal! I just got NAL prescribed. what does topomax do? curb cravings? is that a good thing to combine with NAL?

From what I know and what my psy doc has told me Nal works by blocking the high - the dopamine endorphins released from drinking. I know that I love this effect. This is probably one of the reasons I drink until I black out. What Topamax does is help your gaba receptors to start to respond normally, which gives you the calm feeling, or anti-anxiety feeling of drinking, much like a benzodiazepines like klonopin, xanax, valium would do. I am no medical doctor, so take heed with what I write. I think I have a dual diagnosis. I like the endorphin "high" from AL as well as the sedated anti-anxiety low. That makes me a person who would respond to the sinclair method as well as topamax or baclofen. Both of these drugs work on your gaba receptors much like a benzo would (xanax, klonopin, valium, etc.....) Topamax + Naltrexone has curbed my drinking substantially. I'm only taking 25 mg topa right now, Most docs taper your up on it, in 3 weeks I'll be taking 75mg a day. I have a strong anxiety disorder that I take benzodiazepines for. Hopefully the combination of Topa and Nal will allow me to decrease my AL intake to normal or none at all. As far as I know I have gone from a daily liquor drinker to a few glasses of wine or beer a night, to none at all, which is incredible for me. I hope this helps some. - Much Love

V -- you may want to read Eskapa's book. You will find pdf files of it here on the board index. Naltrexone does block that first-drink effect, which for some of us is noticeable, especially in the early days and weeks. But its significant clinical effect is the gradual dismantling of the neural pathways in the brain that cause addictive drinking. This takes several weeks and months and cannot be felt.

Your may want to read the "benzo bunch" thread if you're presently taking them. For some, benzo's have interfered with TSM progress. Some of us have slowly tapered off them. Baclofen and topamax seem not to share many of the harmful properties of benzos.

Quite a few have had success with a combo of naltrexone and either topamax or baclofen. I'm happy you've found a doctor who respects your right to direct your own treatment. Keep us posted about your progress.

I am shamefully among the benzo bunch and have posted on that... I've read eskapa's book, that's what directed me towards this site

No shame -- We didn't sign up for all these problems!