Thanks Babs. I have been drinking tonight. 2 small bottles of beer and a bit less than half a bottle of red wine. That about 8 UK units. The last glass I really could have done without. Its really odd its being 'normal' in a way. Friday night, few drinks, not out of control. The thing is, I have had so many drinking sessions when I have lost control,it doesnt feel like a great victory. I am glad that this is working but I am really hoping for the 'cure'. I dont want to be thinking about booze at 3pm at work. Ive lost too much of my life to alcohol, it has to go. Well 99% of it has to go. I can live with the occassional session on nal but i dont want nal + booze every week. I dont know if it is working fully, too early to tell but the compulsive feeling i normally have was definitely different before i started drinking. As i am following TSM it was more like i felt like i had to take my medicine. I didnt feel the dilemma of having to stop myself, but i wasnt massively into the idea of drinking. Just a feeling of going with the feeling knowing its part of the course. I dont think i am giving myself enough time between taking the pill and drinking - the last time it was about 45 minutes, tonight it was a bit more but less than an hour. I am also only on 37.5 mg. Maybe i should be on 50mg. It feels like its doing its job though. Maybe it would be a bit more effective if i took the full dose. Its an odd experience, thats for sure. I feel a bit other wordly and I hope i get to the cure sooner rather than later.

Hi Cosmo. Yes, I think you might try .50 to see if the side effects are ok. From what I have read some people have tried to stay lower but don't get the full coverage.

And in my opinion it's very important to wait for the full hour, or even a bit longer. Give the nal a chance to help you Can you take it earlier, before you get home from work? Anything that will help in that direction is good.

And I hear you - none of us want to be on these drugs for longer than we have to especially when they make us feel 'other worldly'
but what's the alternative? If you had a disease you would be happy to take your medicine - well this is just the same - you've got something that you need to change - and taking nal will help - so ?????

Stay the course - you are doing very well. It's nice to get to know you

I am not sure this is working. My drinking days have increased slightly and the amount on each session is mostly the same or more. It seems I can now tolerate drinking more. It seems to work on some occassions as it should and be fairly ineffective on others. Some of this is down to bad personal management - taking the pill and then starting to drink in the hour. Its been a month now and I feel I have stronger cravings between drinking sessions. I didnt have that before, just a compulsion every few days that i gave in to.

You must follow the golden rule.

Read the link in my signature to find out what happens when you dont.

Wait the full hour. You can't expect the protocol to work if you don't follow the protocol.

Most people need at least 50mg. Judging from the stories here, there are more people who need a higher dose than people who are fully covered with a lower dose.

It's not that unusual to see an increase in drinking at first. If we were struggling not to drink, finally having "permission" to drink can lead to a temporary increase because not a lot of curing has happened yet. In your case, though, you should probably just take the full dose and wait a full hour -- i.e., actually follow the protocol. Sideeffect2 may be right about your having strengthened the addiction.

If you've strengthened it, you can still extinguish it. You do have to follow the instructions, though. I can explain why in more detail if you like, but the why doesn't really matter to the end result. Just do it.

Thanks for the feedback. I suppose it can take a little while to get in to the swing of it. Day 4 AF today and sat with someone who had a beer. I was slightly tempted but hadnt taken a pill so i think that is progress to be making that association.

Big thumbs up.