Week 1 had its ups and downs. The upside was my units (which in my case are 100ml glasses of Red Wine and the occasional bottle of beer) were down by 23%. Great.
The downs were the initial nausea, which disappeared after a few days, the feeling of being a bit spaced out and the one off feeling of being "Stoned". My eyeballs felt like they was pressure building up inside them. I also had some sleep disturbance as in, hot flushes, cold sweats and frequent waking.
On Day 7 I started taking 50 mg (I've been on 25 mg for 6 days) with the effects being feeling tired and not wanting to drink so much. Apparently this desire to drink less is common in the early days and is referred to as The Honeymoon Period. All I know for sure at this stage is ... my units are down this week from 105 to 81.
With your support and that of my Doctor, I live in hope that TSM will be the cure I need. I have already worked out my Goal and I've written it down. I think it is important to write Goals.

My Goal is ...
I want to be able to drink 2 glasses of Wine/Beer and have NO cravings for more afterwards. I want the ability to get through the day without Watching the Clock. I want to have Alcohol Free Days without effort. I want to be able to Take It or Leave It.
Cheers.

If that is your goal then that is what basically things are like for me. Because of this method I can usually take it or leave it. I also always just have a drink or two at any party or function I go to now. It took me at least six months to get there. I am happy tho. The only time I run into a problem is under extreme stress situations. otherwise I am fine. It worked very well for me and it can work for you. Best of luck.

I agree, goals are a good thing. That being said, remember this: you are extinguishing "triggers" when you continue to drink on naltrexone -- things that happen in your life that make you want to drink. When you are triggered to drink, you should drink through it on naltrexone, as opposed as to trying to abstain in order to reach your goal. In other words, "drink as you always have" and don't try to force your will against your desire to drink, in order to reach your goal. I know it sounds funny, but the best way to reach your ultimate goal is to continue to drink as you have in the past in order to extinguish your triggers. That's the paradox and the miracle of TSM.

Cheers!

Nick, I am steeling this thread for a moment. I am really hoping that what you are saying is true. It is the first time that it really hit me about the triggers. I have a hell of a trigger going right now, it's a gloomy day here on the East Coast, my triggers are raging, I have several mundane tasks to accomplish and this is a time when I would drink so I am allowing myself to have a very early glass of wine at 3:00 p.m. and hope I kill off a hell of a lot of triggers with it! I will try not to feel too guilty about the early hour or the fact that I wanted this to be a better unit week with several AF days. That ain't gonna happen! It's like driving in a snow storm and going with the skid!

Eskapa and Sinclair repeat over and over again, "take naltrexone and drink as you normally would." We would normally drink when triggered to drink, so I'm just repeating their mantra. Besides, it makes sense under extinction theory: you are triggered to drink, you drink and your brain is blocked of positive reinforcement by receptor blockage, and you eventually extinguish that trigger.

Best always,

Dr. Nick

LOL

Great advice, though!

Benzo Bob

I asume that some of us block things and for me it was the explanation of triggers. In your wording Nick it finally made more sence to me personnally! I saw the trigger and now realize that if that is no longer an issue
I will not be compelled to drink for that particular reason. Worded that way my tricky brain accepts and looks forward to the result.

The Honeymoon is over.

Like in real-life relationships, "the honeymoon" on naltrexone almost always ends for all of us. BUT, the good news is the naltrexone impacted you initially; it will work for you, just be patient. Welcome to the rollercoaster called TSM.

Two things happened today.
1st, I visited my G.P. for the first time since starting NAL.
He tells me that he has not heard of the Sinclair Method and I, being a little anxious about supply, decided to not tell him about it, yet.
Suffice to say he is happy that I am taking the NAL and that my consumption is down.
He also made sounds like he would support me in a 4 month treatment.
Here in Australia, one script carries a repeat so it covers me for 2 months.

2nd thing to happen was that my copy of the book "The Cure for Alcoholism" finally arrived in the post.
I have of course started devouring it with gusto.
I have a lot of time on my hands at present as I have hurt my wrists/arms playing silly computer games and am destined to spend a couple of weeks doing nothing much at all.
Thankfully I can still turn the pages of a book and do some light typing.