I am sitting here at my computer(obviously) after taking Nal and drinking 2 double vodka matinis and a lite beer. I do not feel drunkl at all. I've just finished watching Donnie Darko and my wife has decided to go to bed. It is 10:35 PM. I could go to bed but I would toss and turn for hours. I am not that excited about drinking but I don't think I would sleep.

So here I sit. I can go to bed and flop around or sit up and drink two more doubles and pass-out. That is my nightly delema. I do wish I had some sleeping aides. I have taking a couple of naps today, which does not help. Early this afternoon I napped and later while watching TV, I drifted out.

That is the cycle.

I come home and want to nap but struggle to stay awake. I take Nal and am nearly knocked out but even if I fight it, once I begin to drink, I wake up. If I go beyond three drinks, the drink desire takes over.

Actually, just writing about this seems to work. I am sleepy now and will go to bed. Thanks for putting up with my insanity.

Hey SR, it's more common for women to have problems with sleep - must be your feminine side comes out when you drink .

Your story is identical to what mine was. Now if I feel wide awake a half hour or so before I want to go to bed, I drink an Alka-Seltzer Plus. Then I go on up to bed and either read, or watch TV, with my last glass of wine. This really works great for me - very often half the wine is still on the night stand in the morning. It might be worth trying.

SR,

My experience with Nal is almost identical to yours. Taking Nal in the afternoon/earlier evening is definitely a sedative for me. Add a drink or two, and I struggle to keep my eyes open. In fact, recently I've almost dreaded drinking a couple drinks because I hate being totally zapped all evening. I also find that Nal really disrupts my sleep.

Also, like you, once I get 4-5 drinks in me I wake back up and desire to drink more.

I asked my Dr. for a prescription of Ambien. I take 1/4 tablet and it lets me sleep through the night. However, Drs don't like to put you on Ambien long term as it is habit forming.

I thought about the ambien but was concerned that it might interfere with the Nal.

SR, I have the same problem, in regard to napping, waking up, and drinking more than I would have, had I not taken a nap - and I am not even taking Naltrexone as of yet, although I did pick up my prescription today.

This is my recommendation for the problem. Exercise, plain and simple. Walking four miles daily, or its caloric- equivalent in cycling or swimming if you prefer, will help you sleep longer and more deeply. At a daily consumption level of 10 beers, I still sleep seven, and sometimes eight hours a night. If I walk less than that, then I sleep less, the quality of sleep is dimished, and the next day I feel tired, and am compelled to take a nap. As a result, I drink an extra beer, and sometimes two extra beers. Consequently, on the following day, I feel like drinking earlier in the day!

Avoid naps like the plague, SR. You might not need four miles of walking a day - you might need less, or more. I am not sure how old you are - I am 55, by the way. Experiment with it for a week, or so. Always do whatever you have to do to increase the length, and quality, of your sleep time.

francophone

Very good advice there.

I have been idle all winter but am ready to get started again. Last yeat I lost 44 lbs but put half of it back on. You are so very right in that rigorious exercise makes world of difference. I managed to lower my resting heart rate and blood pressure to "excellent health levels" so I know it is possible.

Thanks for the reminder.

When you are ready, join us on Nal.