Hi all, and thanks to those that have posted with useful info. I've now taken two half-doses on consecutive days just to ease into things, but no nasty side effects so I'll hit a full 50Mg tomorrow.
I'm quite intrigued as to how this will go for me, as I'm fairly sceptical but at the same time open to anything. Tried AA, hypnotherapy, willpower, various books and pretty well nothing worked (had 18mths up with AA, if that counts). My problem is a compulsion around alcohol -- when I'm drinking I'm noticeably always looking for where the next drink is going to come from and don't want to stop. While I'm not a daily drinker, I notice even heavy drinkers find it easier to stop at some stage compared to me once I have a taste for it.
My strategy (after reading some comments) will be to just let the pharma/science do its stuff. If it works it works, and if it doesn't i'll be quite open about it. In other words, i don't want to force it or go looking for an early cure. The hardest thing is not trying to keep drinking beyond a certain point because I'm waiting for the TSM to do its stuff!
So anyway, that's my intro.
If I could throw in one question now that you've got this far: As someone that combines good food (home cooked and restaurant) with alcohol, how come the TSM doesn't dull the enjoyment of the food as well as the alcohol ????
-Aree

Don't know.

It just doesn't.

great stuff ArealNalCo, sounds like you have the right attitude, best of luck!

regarding food, I suspect that little of the pleasure comes via the dopamine/opiod path, so Nal doesn't affect the enjoyment

I haven't experienced it myself, but I have read about a few foods known to use the dopamine path - chocolate, chile, etc. - taste especially good on a non-Nal day when the receptors are up-regulated (ie more sensitive than usual after having been suppressed by Nal)

all the best

-badger

Because you're taking a half-dose. Or possibly because you're choosing food which doesn't rely on endogenous opioids and pleases you simply via taste and smell. I guess you'll find out.

Welcome to the forum.

Welcome to the board!

Are you keeping a journal? If not, I'd recommend it. It's helpful to track your record daily and it keeps you "mindful" of your behavior.

I'd venture, because eating is a complex pleasure that has evolved to make sure we keep eating, i.e. it's useful to survival. Alcohol is a "dumb" pleasure and, thus, is much more simple. Plus, it doesn't necessarily decrease the pleasure -- some people feel no subjective difference on or off Nal. The "magic" works behind the scenes for many.

My problem is a compulsion around alcohol -- when I'm drinking I'm noticeably always looking for where the next drink is going to come from and don't want to stop.

I think most of us can relate to that feeling (addiction + lowered inhibitions after a drink = wild monster looking for more), so don't think you're a hopeless "freak" of nature! If you're one for whom Nal really, really works, or if you're psychologically at the point where you really, really want to actually quit, you might find it near impossible to drink heavily.

Thanks all for the warm welcome. I'll be sure to report back on any progress . . .