Day one: I will be taking Nal for the first time today - my shipment finally arrived!

I'm really excited about the timing. I away on a work/study program for the next three weeks and I was worried about making an ass of myself during it. I'm kind of hoping I coast through the honeymoon phase while here.

Pre-TSM my numbers were about 6 bottles of wine per week, sometimes more. I have AF days already, I tend to do them mid-week (Tuesday-Thursday), and spent January not drinking at all. What I'm really looking for is to get this monkey off my back - and also to get rid of that feeling that once I start I can't stop.

Tonight is a work dinner so I'll be taking my Nal an hour before and trying out some white wine - my favourite. Wish me luck!

Welcome Art, be sure to take a half dose at first with something in your stomach in case you have initial side effects. Be aware that many get a little spacey feeling and you may feel more drunk on less alcohol. So take precautions so as not to put yourself or others at risk. I had the luxury of my first couple of doses at home but I could have handled being around others as well. Best of luck. TSM has changed my life I hope you have similar success.

Totally agree with Saint V. More and more I'm reading about terrible, initial side effects on the board. They can be reduced by taking the pill on a FULL stomach and only take a half or quarter pill the first few times.

Good luck!

Welcome Artagogo

All the best with the beginning of your TSM journey. I'm a white wine lover too. I'd also recommend half a nal for the first 2 or 3 times you drink on it. My side effects only lasted a week or so. The first night I felt exhausted and had some nausea.
Looking forward to hearing about your progress.

Cheers
Sticky

Day two: Last night our group went to a restaurant for dinner. Someone ordered a lot of wine for the table and many 1/2 litres appeared in front of each group of two. I didn't want much so of course I would like to think the Nal kicked in that fast, but it was most likely because it had been a long day travelling and dealing with the time change, etc. I was extremely tired and just wanted to go to bed. I had about 2 glasses of red wine then switched to water. Before going to dinner I had bought a bottle of white wine that I had put in my hotel fridge. When I got back to my room the only think I wanted to do was sleep, which I did.

Today was harder, it was a tough day personally, very tiring and trying. By the time we got to dinner and white wine showed up I was really wanting it. I didn't gulp though, but I was also conscious of being around others who didn't seem to be in a hurry to drink. I can put that down to maturity - I'm more able now to slow myself down in public but then when I get home to my own devices I'm quick to make up for it. I had about 2 glasses again. I'm now back in my room with the bottle of white still in my fridge. I will open it but it's been 30 minutes since I got back and I haven't jumped at it yet. I have a lot of work to do yet tonight to make up for my hard day so I want to have a good brain about it.

Many thanks to you all for the suggestions - I made sure to eat something before taking the Nal and so far I've had no side effects. It is only day 2 though so we'll see.

Fingers crossed!

So how is the bottle going? Is it still in the fridge?

I really hope this goes well for you - I know how dangerous work trips can be. You're tired, there's peer pressure to stay up late and have a good time. It's a great bonding envrionment too - just as long as everything is in moderation.

Please let us know how it goes - we're all rooting for you

Andy.

Thanks Andy - the bottle is still in the fridge but it is minus two glasses at most. So that makes 4 glasses for me yesterday, maybe 4.5 - its so hard to judge! I was happy that I managed to put it away and focus on my work. No more self-sabotaging I say! This morning around 11am I was hit by a huge wave of nausea and had to excuse myself from a meeting. I managed to return about 15 minutes later and stay for the rest of the meeting, but this afternoon has been painful. It could be the Nal, but it could also be jet lag, sun, time difference, stress or the fact that I started taking iron supplements two days ago. Or, hey, how about all of the above?!

What feeling this crappy means is I'm not going out tonight with the group for dinner - I'm really not hungry for anything but crackers anyway - and I will not be drinking tonight. So, is this how the Nal works? Ha ha.

Sorry you're not feeling so good. You'll find that the side effects go away or reduce after a few weeks. Can I check, did you take a full tablet or just half?

I find I get tense when I have 50mg - and 25mg is just enough to give me the self restraint to stop drinking after 2 glasses of wine when away with work.

Hope today hasn't been too exhausting. 3 weeks is a long time to be in a hotel... so take care with all that temptation

Thanks again Andy, I just took a half. I took another half again yesterday and went out - I had one glass of wine at the table and 3 in my hotel room. I felt a bit icky again today, not hungover icky, it's different. I'm very tired too, but there are a lot of factors involved in that. 13-14 hour days with a group tend to do that!

I will continue with just the half for now and see how that goes.

If 25mg gives you the control you need then stick with that... though long term most increase the dose to 50mg.
Keep up the good work - it sounds like you're in control. Well done