Mario -- I know that past TSMers have posted about using benzos to control anxiety and panic. You might want to search a few variations of the word. Best wishes for getting through this.

Mario you seem to be going through a rotten patch of life. I'm so sorry. You are absolutely right in your suspicions - the xanax WILL prevent the nal from working properly. I'm not entirely sure of the science behind it, but I know that my doctor said to NEVER take nal and things like alprazolam together. PArtly because the nal won't work, but also because you should NOT drink and take xanax together, ESP if you are going to blow through the nal and likely binge. I hate to sound preachy but it really worries me that you are doing this right now. Is there any way you can JUST take the xanax and not drink? Or just drink and not take the xanax? Either way you should go see a pyschiatrist and talk about this extreme panic and anxiety you are having - there are solutions and medications that are not as addictive as xanax, and don't have as many possible contraindications with other meds. Please keep us posted.

I agree with El about the need to seek a professional, preferably a psycho-pharmacologist. I'm not a doctor, but I've read many places that the problem with most if not all benzos is the fine line between anxiety relief and the rebound anxiety that can happen when the drug wears off.

Let us know how you are doing.

Hi Mario, I am sorry to hear you are going through a bad time. I am also sorry that I cannot give any advice on the situation as I would really like to be in a situation where I was able to help as you helped me during my last bout of bad drinking. I really hope the situation improves for you soon. Hugs xxx

Mario. I havent been around in ages - just on and off to send a pm. I am sorry about the way you are feeling right now. It sounds awful. You have had 2 family friends die in a very short space of time - which at the best of times is tough - but at Christmas - it is just so tragic - especially with suicide in the first case and a young man in the second case. I have nothing to say that will offer you any solid or practical help. I know how hard it is to get a good understanding Doctor/counsellor in Ireland who will 'treat' you and 'care' for you - not label you. I have learned this from experience. I just hope you can work through it - maybe the bad thoughts of this man will fade and you will be able to cope a bit better - then you can go back to nal - which really seems to be working well for you in normal circumstances. You just have to remember these are very sad and unusual times you are going through at the moment. Let me know if I can help in any way.

Mario--Benzo's are pretty much just Al in a pill and will keep the Nal from working. That said, Dr E says in his book that you should take Benzos if you have to go in the hospital or dentist for their pain control. I went into the hospital and told the DR what I was doing and that I needed high doses of Narcotics to overcome the NAL. They were very curious and helpful. There are other anti-anxiety drugs like Busiprone that do not work on the same pathway as NAL/AL

Thanks folks for droping in, I know I must have sounded mad in my last few posts.

Ok things are getting a bit better. This bloody thing happens to me everytime someone close to me dies. I think it stems from being very close to my grandmother when I was a child. I was the only one who would sit and listen to her tales and stories of ghosts she had seen and heard of, communications from the other side and all that nonsense. She would always say to me that if I wasnt good to her she would come back and scratch my toes during the night. Its something that has stuck with me right through my life and I will even search out books and stuff that frightens the crap out of me but I still do it. My husband goes mad if he sees me watching anything about physics or stuff like that.I dont blame him, he get the brunt of it as I will often shake him to stay awake with me.

I havent drank in a few days and have cut the xanax in half. So far Ive taken none today. Im also back at work. I think it was a combination of me feeling like my mad family had taken over my life, I always want to say no but then feel bad that it could be my mothers last christmas and I will forever be guilty. ( wouldnt mind but this woman didnt even rear me)a couple of deaths even though they werent family didnt help and then the xanax and extra nal and alcohol all conived to make the prefect storm.

Anyway Ive told my mother and brother that they would have to order in food for this week as I was in bed with flu, my other sister has moved back to her own house so its just me hub and daughter and it feels just so good and normal. Im also back at work which helps. Our 20th anniversary of meeting is Friday night and Im looking forward to that so hopefully the worst is over.

Great to hear things are back on track for you Mario. I promised myself Im going to get away from family, fighting and the rut of Christmas next years!!!!! Will pm you later.

Hi Guys,

Im still not back to where I was with nal and tsm since I got stressed and started taking xanax. I havent taken xanax in about 6 days now and Im still drinking quite a lot. Its back to the stage where Hubby is making comments like "so are you getting drunk again tonight" when I get home from work. Its feels like the stop swithch that nal used to provide has gone and also Im not having anything close to the amount of alcohol free days that I used to have. Its back to the scheming ,lying and planing. Im just praying that it kicks in again but with the cravings I have now and the amount Im drinking its hard to imagine.

I havent experienced this level of drinking or craving for over 4 years as I started tsm straight from a three year abstinance. Im awake everynight in the early hours and last night I seriously considered quiting again. I dont want to but even puting up with a few weeks of this has me drained and worried.

It doesnt help that life is still throwing the odd curve ball at us. Sunday my brother who is schizophrenic called us to say he woke up at 4am vomiting blood. He was manic on the phone. Of course I panicked and looked it up online and came up with nothing good. He went to his gp yesterday who said that once may not be any harm especially as he has a bit of a cough. He put him on antibiotics and told him come back in two weeks or immediatly if it happened again. My brother is not well at the moment with his schizophrenia anyway so myself and a sister are trying to get an appointment to see his main psychiatrist without him knowing it. She is interested in talking to us ist just a matter of getting an appointment.

Anyway Im hoping and praying that tsm kicks in again in the coming week.

Wising you the best, Mario. You're going through a lot of rough seas.