Wow, 100 mg following "the golden rule" is quite the thing. Side effects were no problem. Last night was the first time I have really felt like it was "working" in that I just didn't care much about wanting another drink, and that the alcohol wasn't doing anything for me. Held it to 6, and it wasn't difficult at all. Would have been less had I not gone out to a bar with some friends. I am optimistic for the next few days.

And man, it feels nice to start off a day with almost no hangover at all. This almost never happens.

Ives,

I am glad to hear about your progress. I do know that some feel the benefit of using more nal, and if it is working for you that is all that matters.

I forced my intake down because of those hangovers (or nal. overs) for I could not bear another one. They were so bad for me that I thought I would need to go to the E.R. I am glad you are not waking up with one.

You are doing great, and keep up the good work!

Jaba

Listened to a podcast and watched an interview with Roy Eskapa a couple of nights ago, helped inspire me to continue my recent trend of firmly sticking to the 1-hour rule. http://www.recoveringfromrecovery.com/m ... very-blog/

Eskapa says taking naltrexone during the day, not when drinking, is bad because of opioid receptor upregulation. I suppose the amount of naltrexone I've consumed over the last 4 years has probably produced a lot of that. I hope 100 mg is enough.

Ives,

I think it is enough for you are seeing progress. I think you are doing great, and keep it up!

Keep posting,

Jaba

Yup that's it. Only take it when you need it which is one hour prior to drinking. For me and many others 1/4 tab works just fine. In theory and according to the tests 50mg should cover it.

I've not had a hangover in 4 months now, it sure is nice isn't it!

Good luck.

Watching football...one of my favorite activities, and unfortunately one of my biggest triggers. Lost count last night. It is amazing how at the time, standing in front of the fridge, chugging wine from an enormous bottle, already too drunk to speak clearly or remember what I just said five minutes ago, the thought of "oh man, I'm going to be really hung over from this tomorrow" never enters my mind even once. It's not even that I realize it's going to hurt me tomorrow, and I do it anyway, but the thought literally doesn't cross my mind. At a certain BAC level, more alcohol = good, no further thought required. Just judging from my hangover today, I would guess I had 10. Came into work late and felt shitty all day. So ready for this to stop happening.

9/30 was the first day where I took 100 mg according to proper TSM protocol, and I have been been strictly following the 1-hour rule since then. I am counting 9/23 through 9/29 as "week 0" as I was not following TSM correctly prior to 9/30, although I was taking 75 to 100 mg of naltrexone each day during that time. I think that probably the reason I have had such poor success with TSM in the past is that I haven't been following the "golden rule" strictly. Now, at the higher dose, I am committing to actually practicing TSM correctly from here on out. No cheating, no washing the pills down with the first drink of the day, no breaking up the dose throughout the day.

I got home from work about two hours ago, and found that I only had four beers left in the fridge, there is no wine left (thankfully), and of course no liquor. I am now drinking beer #2 and wondering whether a walk to the store to pick up more beer will happen in a couple of hours. The memory of today's hangover is still fresh in my mind, but at the same time, the knowledge that I can usually have 6 or 7 without a significant hangover is also always lingering in there, too.

Week 0 (09/23-09/29): 60 (8.3/day)
Week 1 (09/30-10/06): 6, 8, 9, 8, 7, 10 (8.0/day) - in progress

Sorry if I've missed something, if you weren't complying why don't you try 50mg with compliance?Or is it only at the higher dose that you are able to comply?

Part of TSM is also having some time at some point without nal and without alcohol in your body, this then reinforces drinking less often and provides an unconscious incentive to moderate.

Whilst it's great you are now taking it 1 hour prior I'm concerned that you aren't able to be mindful regards drinking and I hope that you do develop a sense of when you've had enough.

Ives have you read Dr. Eskapa's book? It will be of great help if you have not. If you have then re-reading it may help too.

I'm not saying that you don't need to take 100mg's or not but the studies have shown very clearly that anything over 50 is generally not necessary. I have read, perhaps in the book or maybe it was elsewhere, that in some cases some people were put on 75mg's so it's not unheard of to up a dose but in situations like that it's typically a booster dose and not taken all at once.

Following the one hour rule is absolutely key though so it's good you are doing that. Not only is there a medical reason for following this rule, by doing so you are triggering the process of extinction, but also I believe there is a psychological mechanism behind the golden rule. Of course mind you I have not tested this nor have I read any tests done on this, it's just an intuitive believe of mine. But I think that you become more in control and more empowered about drinking when you train yourself to take the pill then wait one hour (or more) before drinking. This very act of doing is demonstrating control and that's the whole point of TSM. With it you gain control over your drinking and gain control over your life.

Good luck.

Very upset with myself as I had planned to have no more than 7 drinks last night and ended up having about 10. Absolutely miserable day. Dizzy, not thinking straight. Went home from work early so I could have a drink and stave off worse withdrawal symptoms. Trying really hard not to go over 6 tonight. So angry and irritable right now. I want to punch my fist through the wall.

Belt and suspenders. Higher dose and stricter compliance. My liver is fine and I need this to work. I can't keep living like this. I can't handle it anymore.
I have not been able to go 24 hours without drinking in over two years. I have tried many times and I can't do it. 6-7 PM rolls around and drinking is all I can think about. Literally the only thing on my mind, continuously, for hours, until I drink. Can't distract myself from it. I can only put up with that for a couple of hours at most before I drink to shut it off.
"Enough" is pretty much a nonsense word once I start drinking. I only feel like it's "enough" when I can barely stay awake. It takes a lot of willpower just to hold myself to less than 8 drinks in a night.
Yes, of course.

Week 0 (09/23-09/29): 60 (8.3/day)
Week 1 (09/30-10/06): 56 (8.0/day)
Week 2 (10/07-10/13): 10, - in progress

So if I have this correct, you haven't had an alcohol free day in over two years. You've been taking naltrexone for over four years, with no improvement whatsoever.

Why would it work now if the same behavior persists? The answer is not changing your dose, it's changing your behavior.