I'm an alcoholic and had been drinking a minimum of 375mls vodka per day, often wine on top. I had a week detox 2 months ago and started on Campral, and then Naltrexone, aiming for the SM. I was expecting an immediate result but nothing, cravings just as bad and up until 2 weeks ago had slipped back into the vodka at the same amount, still taking the mess. However all of a sudden drinking is become unpleasurable, I am not binging and vodka is disgusting. I'm forcing it down as I feel like my body is playing tricks on me. I feel like I won't bother with vodka this week....I hope I can stick to that?!

is this normal?!?! To feel the results further down the line?

Mum, it's totally normal. Some people post the number of units of alch that they drink per week (and/or per month). Some have an immediate drop (a honeymoon period), then they go back up to their pre-Nal levels and then slowly drop back down from there. Others don't notice much for a month or so. Some drop, then have a hard time getting it down further (like Maggie1929) and then all of a sudden, their numbers plunge.

At two months, it sounds like you skipped the honeymoon period and you're beginning to get some choice in the matter. I think kicking the vodka to the curb is a grand idea and a good way to flex the new "muscles" that Nal is helping you develop. You might even consider switching to beer. It only takes one drink per drinking session on TSM to get the Exctintion effect, where you slowly erase the neural pathways that urge you to drink. Now keep in mind that you always want to have that Nal blockade of your opioid receptors in place before alcohol touches your lips, so keep the Golden Rule and take Naltrexone 1 hour before you drink. If you drink without the Nal, it would be like putting the car in reverse and mashing the gas pedal to the floor.

Are you familiar with how the Alcohol Free Weekend works?

Welcome, by the way and congratulations on finding TSM! Post often and let us know how it goes, good, bad, same old or even if you just want to rant. We're here to help you however we can!

mum - take a look at the other posts and you will get an idea on what is in store for you. I usually go straight for the "view active topics" button as that gives you the latest posts. Then I have a tendency to read from the beginning of the person's posts if they are unfamiliar to me. Great way to follow people's journey to the cure. Of course there are not all success stories but it is not a magic pill - you have to do some of the work by deciding to slow down and/or stop when you no longer feel like drinking. Common saying around here is that NAL cannot knock the drink out of your hand - but it gives you the ability to put it down.

Good luck and keep posting

Hi there

Thank you so much for responding

I have had a brief look at some of the posts and intact I stumbled across this method myself, my GP had never heard of it but is very supportive. I haven't heard of the AF weekend? I had a an AF day yesterday (felt very very proud), and today had a couple of instances of craving which I was able to get rid of...but I asked my partner to bring home some wine this evening. I've had 2 small glasses and he drank the rest....tastes funny and my head is starting to hurt...I did consider not drinking it but I'd already taken the Nal. I've started a diary too to monitor my intake, there are a few events coming up in the next few weeks and I can't cancel, I'm nervous about those.

Is it recommended that you aim to drink most days, if you're craving it? Will that optimise the extinction method better? I'm confused there.

I feel like I could really take or leave this wine......is this stuff really working finally?! Please do be!!

Oh and I realised I had my first 'Nalover' last week, man that was some headache!!!

Sounds to me like you are on the right track. This is very normal. It's been my understanding that if you are practicing TSM that you should not force anything. That means that you should not force yourself to drink, nor should you force yourself to NOT drink. The process of extinction only works when you ring the bell but do not present the food (Pavlov's dogs). Your bell is the bottle and your food (reward) is the endorphin. When you drink and there is no reward then the process of extinction is taking place.

So especially in these early stages if you crave alcohol and want to drink then by all means drink but only an hour after you take 50mg's of Naltrexone.

Having said all that, once you start to see results with TSM then you need to exercise a little bit of mindfulness. Start to think about planning alcohol free days or weeks but don't force them. If you still feel like you want to drink then do it.

Ultimately TSM is about freedom. It may take you 3-6 or even 12 months but at some point drinking is simply a choice. But you will always from here on out and forever have to take Naltrexone before you drink.

Mum -

Ocean has some good guidance for you. I'd thought that it was best to get in as many Nal + drinking sessions as one can, but the latest news is that there's no evidence to back up that technique. What's important is to respond to the urge to drink by taking the Nal and waiting an hour, then if you still feel you need the drink, go ahead and have it .

Here's a link to a PDF copy of The Cure for Alcoholism by Dr. Eskapa. It talks about the Alcohol Free weekend and has a lot of other really valuable information.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/60fs7gmvbyzs1 ... m.pdf?dl=0

There's a window that pops up prompting you to create a dropbox account, but at the bottom of that window there's a link that lets you skip that. At the upper right, you'll see a link to download the PDF to your computer. It's usually most convenient to download it to your desktop so you can find it easily, otherwise just put it in your downloads folder or your Documents folder.

The upshot of the Alcohol Free Weekend is that you let the Nal wash out of your system for a couple of days, then on the 3rd day you engage in an endorphin releasing activity you find pleasurable, like brisk exercise, eating a spicy meal (hot spicy), watching a comedy and getting a good belly-laugh, sex, hiking, I even saw one article that said making music will do it. Well, have a look around on the web and see what you can find. This programs the brain with a desirable habit that you want to learn in place of drinking. Your opioid receptors will be much more sensitive without the Nal and that gives you the chance to get two uses out of the same medicine. As Ocean says, don't white-knuckle it, if you feel the urge to drink, then take the Nal, wait an hour and go ahead and have the drink. The book says the earliest you might be ready for this is after 3 weeks on the Nal, but it might take longer as we're all different.

Thank-you for the support and advice!

I thought I may have been able to manage 3 AF days this week, however it was just the one - the last 2 days I've had to tip the remainder of my 2nd glass of wine way unheard of for me....

Tonight will be a challenge, dinner with friends, I'm craving alcohol now actually but feel I can delay it longer...I don't want to end up feeling sick tomorrow as I have plans. Usually on Saturday by this time (3.30pm) I would have a few vodkas down me....I'm proud to say I haven't touched vodka this week!

Thank-you so much again

You bet! Thanks for letting us know about your progress.

Come back soon!

Just an update on week 8 - 37 units in total that's down from 70-100

The last 2 days have been quite boozy due to social events...still I have managed to stay away from Vodka and stick to wine.

I'm planning 3 AF days (starting today) and scheduling a massage on the 3rd day.

I've found keeping an alcohol diary super helpful!

You. Are. Awesome!!!

That's a really stellar result! Finishing up your AF days with a massage it a great idea, hadn't heard it mentioned before.

Mum shows us how it's done!!!