It seems like I read about Naltrexone causing some pretty nasty hangovers during the first four days or even week. I am well into week four on Naltrexone. I used to be an 8-11 beers per day drinker. I hadn't gone to bed sober in years. But ever since the day I popped my first Naltrexone, I overnight became a 2-4 beer per day drinker, and haven't really climbed much higher than that. In the past four weeks I had one night where I drank 6 beers, and one night where I drank 5.

After both of those nights I woke up to splitting hangovers, as if I had drank 12-14 beers. Last night, I calmly drank 5 beers over the course of 5 hours. I never even caught a buzz. Went to bed as I have been, completely sober... and yet this morning, I feel like I got run over.

Is this normal? Are these super hangovers part of TSM to condition me to not want to drink more? If so it is working. I almost reached for another beer last night, but remembered the last time I drank 6, and just went to bed. Glad I didn't go for that last one, or else I wouldn't even be able to type this.

pisces7378

I have experienced the same hellish hangovers with naltrexone. LOL isn't it nice to think like a "normal" drinker, like wow if I have this next cocktail I am going to pay...lol I never cared before...now it's like I have to re-think that next drink.

Still waiting for my Nal to arrive. I forgot what this hangover thing is really. I mean I remember but can't feel it anymore. 5 beers, 10, 15 ... who counts? Wake up, feel like s***, 20 minutes later you are on your feet. I'd feel lucky to have real hangover again.

I dunno, never happened to me. I got hangovers sometimes, they never seemed better or worse with nal.

Like everything else with TSM, reports vary by individual regarding this issue. Many of us report worse hangovers on naltrexone, including me. However, they are only an issue for me when I drink a lot -- ten or more -- and are a non-issue if I have less than ten. TSM works by removing the positive reinforcement for drinking (blockage of the endorphin rush). There is no mention in the book or in any study I've seen of the additional effect of learning via punishment (negative conditioning as opposed to the removal of positive reinforcement) via stronger hangovers. But in the real world I do think more severe hangovers are an added incentive to reduce our consumption for many of us.

I've had the terrible hangovers, too. And that's after drinking half of what I used to drink, or less. I get migraine-strength headaches in the middle of the night that will only go away after taking Excedrin Migraine and drinking coffee. And I never had migraines before. So somehow the Nal+AL combo is causing the blood vessels in my head to constrict, which is why the caffeine helps. Sounds like I'm complaining, but really I'm close to being cured, and the headaches and hangovers were a small price to pay.

The hangovers are definitely far worse on nal. But think of it as a positive: as the grip of alcohol loosens and you are able to make a rational cost/benefit analysis when you drink, you will inevitably think, "I don't want that nal hangover. I'm going to cut this short." So naltrexone works two ways: it eliminates the positive reinforcement for drinking by blocking the endorphin rush and it adds in a little punishment in the form of a hangover if you drink too much.

Nick,
I agree, totally. A carrot and stick approach... without the carrot. Not only do we get zero reinforcement from drinking, we get that negative end result that makes us think twice about picking up another bottle. Like I said, even a terrible headache is a small price to pay for being cured.

Hi Pisces - Just wondering if you've had any luck with the hangovers getting better? I'm experiencing the same problem and it's horrible... I don't want to take the nal because I know what's coming (as opposed to not wanting to drink instead ) But I'm wondering how everyone else who's experienced this before and posted about it is doing with it. Lifeofpie?

I'm wondering also if Sinclair has broached the subject anywhere as it seems we're not the only ones...

all my gratitude,

Es

I experienced worse hangovers with NAL. Sorry to say, they never did get better.

On the bright side, eventually you won't want to drink anymore so you won't need to worry about hangovers.

Q