I have been drinking for a long time, very long time. I drink daily, usually two bottles of wine. I would be considered a high functioning alcoholic. I am mildly successful, live okay and have friends lol. I decided to ask my doctor for naltrexone a few months ago and got the usual "heres the local AA". I am quite familiar with AA, my mother has been in AA for literally 40 years and quite successful.
I decided to look on my own for Naltrexone and found a site that would ship it after having a doctor review the application. I started taking it a few days ago at half dose. (25 mg). I was taking this dose first thing in the morning. Since taking, I have been experiencing some side effects. Some nausea, a bit of a headache and a few hours after taking the meds, I feel extreme exhaustion and the need for immediate sleep. Once I sleep a couple of hours I am fine for the rest of the day. So on day three, I took my half dose at nite instead of in the morning. Although I still woke up groggy, once up and about (and had some coffee) I did great the rest of the day. Including walking 4 miles.

Will these side effects diminish at all? Im nervous about increasing the dosage and not being able to function at work.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Welcome Guido.

Yes the good news is that the side effects decrease for most people withing a week or so of use.

Do you drink at night or during the day?

If you are only drinking at night, and work during the day, taking it at night should reduce daytime side effects, also reduced alcohol consumption may offset the tiredness.

Yes I drink at nite and work days (exception being weekends), Good to hear that the SE will reduce, sleeping thru the nite has been a problem for me for years, I normally drink my second bottle of wine between 1 am and 4 am, if I could sleep into/thru that time period and get up at 530 am, my consumption would be cut in half lol. FYI I ONLY drank slightly more than one bottle last nite, Im up now and going to exercise. Im a bit groggy but coming out of the fog now. Thank you for the help.

Welcome Guido and keep posting to let us know how you are. Hopefully your SEs will go away soon. Newlife

Do you take nal during the night?

I am thinking you need to make the most use of the grogginess to help you sleep. Once you knock that second bottle on the head I am sure you'll feel much better during the day. I'd also bet that bottle in the middle of the night affects you far more than Nal will.

Definitely take nal in the evening and use that sleepiness to go to bed.

When do you guys think it would be advisable to begin my 50 mg dose?

Im a bit nervous starting it during the work week, as performance at work is a big issue for me. I like to be at the top of my game. I have done one more dose of 25 mg and three nite time doses of 25 mg and Im feeling pretty good.

Also, in reading so much on the internet, I read that some guys have hair loss issues and others have erectile dysfunction issues. Im 53 with a full set of hair and full balls, neither of which do I want to lose lol. Thanks again.

I would consider taking your Nal at the end of your work day - just before heading home or part way through the commute depending on the length of commute. However long you need to get home safely without getting drowsy.

Sorry, never heard of the hair loss. I know you can cause extinction for other, positive behaviours as well which is why it important not to take Nal on AF days. Once you have some AF days it is advisable to exercise/make love and other positive endorphin causing activities once your system is Nal free to help keep (and increase) your desire for those activities.

Welcome & hope this helps!

Jephiner

Guido: I am laughing at your post!!! Not to make light of it but the way you phrased it is funny. I have not heard about hair loss or ED. The most I have heard about sex is that some people find that it is not as pleasurable without the endorphin rush, not the same thing at all as ED. For me, I have noticed no change and I am lucky to enjoy a good life in that regard, it has been fine. (I should say that I am female!) It would seem that if you are taking the nal at night it will be fine to go up to 50 mg and it should not affect your work life. Good luck!! Newlife

I would agree that 50mg taken in the evening would be your best bet.

The side effects you mention I have never heard of being linked to TSM.

I have heard of those side effects in relationship to other anti-alcoholism medications so perhaps that is what you have been reading?

I just thought I would post an update, so here goes.

9 days ago I started to take a full 50 mg dose, also at nite, as it does seem to still make me drowsy. I have noticed that my SE have basically gone away. I have also noticed that I have very little urge to go out to the bars and have a bunch of drinks. My nite out may include just one drink to a maximum of four (I usually drink vodka and tonic when I go out) , prior to Nal, it was easily four and most times six drinks. For that Im grateful for sure. I have noticed when I drink at home (I drink wine (mixed with tonic water) at home), that I usually don't drink more than a single bottle during weekdays and two bottles on a weekend day. Prior to NAL the consumption was double that figure. Again I am grateful.

It has been pointed out to me that I seem to have a shorter temper, that Im commenting on things in a negative tone that I would normally not do. Has anyone else noticed this?

Also, since I started on the full dose I seem to have a lower stiff back ache, it seems to be lessening but its still there. Does this sound familiar to anyone?

Thanks again for the input and support, you don't know what it means to me.

Guido