35 year old male, married, father of two, full-time job, binge drinker 3-4x per week, 50+ units per week, 3-4 Alcohol Free days per week (USA). Drinking affects my health, family, finances, and career. Two outpatient rehabs, DUI, dozens of books, counseling/therapy, etc. Been drinking since I was 14 with problems/issues for the last 8-9 years. Nothing has worked up to this point.

I made some initial posts in the introduction thread and thought I would copy and paste them here to give some background. I have two weeks of TSM under my belt.

POSTED Monday, April 18, 2011:
I just joined the board (although I've been lurking for a while now) and happy to say I started The Sinclair Method on Monday, April 11th. I logged 37 drinks Monday - Sunday with two alcohol free days. Although it's most likely the honeymoon effect, I was able to have two drinks at lunch yesterday, pay my tab, walk home past three familiar pubs, and enjoy the rest of the afternoon/evening. I honestly did not want to continue drinking (very, very, very rare me!!).

I took 25mg each day I drank this past week and will now move on to the full 50mg this week. I plan on an alcohol free day today. I'm a 35 year old married guy with two kids who has read various books and done the traditional outpatient programs with very little success. I came across Naltrexone a couple of years ago when I was in a rehab program that focused on cognitive behavioral therapy combined with anti-craving medication (naltrexone) stressing total abstinence. Looking at my current state of affairs, that approach didn't do the trick.

I will say that I experimented with TSM about a year ago and eventually threw in the towel and quit taking the medicine before drinking. I don't remember the exact reason why, but I'm sure it was more or less out of wanting to get the maximum buzz I could get from drinking. I'm now 100% focused on TSM for the long haul. I'm curious and excited to see the results.

Like most, I'm at the point where it's affecting my family, health, finances, and job. I'll keep you updated as the weeks progress. Happy to be here!


POSTED Friday, April 22, 2011:
Thank you for the encouraging posts. I will definitely keep you updated on my progress. Historically I'm a 50+ weekly drinker with at least 2-3 alcohol free days. Those days I did drink lead to massive hangovers, missed work, arguments, bar scuffles, embarrassment, you name it. My first week had 2 AF days, but I'm going to say 3 total because one day I had a beer at lunch and that was it.

Anyway, I'm having a great week so far. No drinking on Monday and then a concert on Tuesday night. I took 50mg one hour before leaving for the show. My friend drove to the venue while me and another guy shared a six pack of beer. He drank 4 beers and I drank 2. Pre-naltrexone I would've been pissed he drank more than 3. This time I couldn't care less.

We stopped at a bar before the concert and I had 2 beers and a shot. Again, no major urge to drink as much as possible before the show (like usual). The concert lasted about two hours and I had 2 beers. I was actually laughing at myself and my lack of desire to drink, drink, drink. After the concert we drove about 20 minutes toward home and stopped at a bar. It was an early concert so it was only around 9pm or so. We sat there for almost two hours and I ordered 3 vodka/soda's. At this point I was thinking about the next day and because I felt so good - and aware - I decided it was in my best interest to limit the alcohol consumption in order to avoid any kind of hangover. We drove back to the city, talked about what bar we were going to drink at, and I asked them to drop me off at home. They were shocked!!!! I was NEVER the guy to go home early - EVER!!! I was always the last one standing. It felt incredibly awkward, but at the same time, I was excited about going home and getting some sleep.

I woke up on Wednesday morning feeling fine. It was a successful night out. My wife woke up when I got home and was totally shocked because I was home early AND coherent. She's 100% on board with TSM and already a believer. I showed here the letter to a spouse/parent of an alcoholic that was featured in this message board and she completely gets it. She marked 6 months down on the calendar, I'm going to keep track of my drinking, and ALWAYS take Naltrexone one hour before drinking.

Wednesday night I took 50mg and went to the bar with some friends. I found myself waiting for that initial euphoria that comes with alcohol, but it never really happened. I noticed at about 8 drinks that I was chasing that feeling. Is this the reason so many people increase their drinking levels a few weeks in? Are they trying to get that 'high' that nal takes away? I was certainly guilty. Overall I had 11 drinks and actually poured the last one out in the bar bathroom because I just wasn't interested in drinking it. I'm not kidding. I dumped out a $7.00 vodka/soda after taking only one sip. I like where this is heading.

I have a big day planned today. One of my biggest drinking buddies is meeting me out at 3:30pm and we plan on drinking all day. This has been on the calendar for a while and he has been sending me text messages and emails all week about how excited he is to get totally wrecked. It should be interesting. We'll most likely grab dinner somewhere, but most of the afternoon and night will be spent going from one bar to the next. I plan on taking Naltrexone (50mg) at 2:30pm. I'll be sure to update you.

I definitely had some side effects last week and a little this week. Wednesday night I didn't notice too much. I don't care about side effects at this point. I'm going full strength with TSM.

Friday was a success. I ended up having 16 drinks from 4:00pm to 1:00am. That's less than 2 drinks per hour. I took the 50mg at exactly 3pm and never once felt like the night was getting out of control.

I had a certain level of awareness that I don't normally have. There are still some minor side effects during the first hour (anxiety, biting fingernails, pacing around), but the worst of it is over. The weird thing is that I don't want to go too long before taking naltrexone again because I don't want the side effects to come back (double-edged sword). At the same time, I didn't have any ambition to drink on Saturday, Sunday, or today so far.

Progress so far:
Pre-TSM: 50+ units, hangovers, missed work, guilt, etc.
Week of 4/11: 37 units (USA) with 3 alcohol free days
Week of 4/18: 40 units (USA) with 4 alcohol free days

Sobotka

Sobotka, don't know if this helps, but my SEs with the nal have been decreasing even though I only take it at max three times a week, and sometimes go four days without taking it - so I don't think the side effects come back like in the beginning if you take a little time off.
EL

I'm definitely feeling the honeymoon effect or something. I didn't drink Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday of last week. I didn't take any Naltrexone and I had no real urge. I actually felt the opposite. I was more interested in not drinking all week. Needless to say I had a productive week at work, got lots of sleep, was able to exercise daily, and ate fairly well.

Friday came and I decided to go out and have a few. I consumed 7 drinks from 7pm to 11:30pm. I felt a bit nauseous throughout the night and was never gung-ho like the past. My typical drink count pre-tsm would have been around 12.

Saturday I went out for lunch.. drank 3 bloody marys and came home. Later that day I went down to the local bar where I had 4 beers and came home. After dinner I went down to a different bar and had 4 more drinks (total 11). Pre-TSM would have never found me at home in between drinking sessions. Old days I would start around lunch time and drink into the night - binge style. Then I would wake up on Sunday morning with a hangover, walk to the liquor store, buy vodka, and drink throughout the morning/afternoon to alleviate the hangover and 'feel normal' again. That would lead to a horrible night of sleep and horrible Monday morning at work. Feeling horrible, I would then eat junky/greasy food to fill the void until possibly drinking again that night to finally end the cycle. This past Saturday was a drastic change for me. I once again felt a little nauseous and spacey. It wasn't too overwhelming. I also noticed that I wasn't really hungry on Saturday. Usually booze = eating at the end of the night. I wasn't too concerned this past weekend.

So far...
Week 1: 37 - 3 AF Days
Week 2: 40 - 4 AF Days
Week 3: 18 - 5 AF Days

So far, so good.

Sobotka

Great start.

Your numbers and drinking history are almost identical to mine. It took me 36 weeks to regain control. Since you are starting ten years ahead of me, you should see major results sooner than this. That is, if my theory that the longer you've been drinking, the longer it takes for extinction to occur, is correct.

My initial experience on Naltrexone was similar to yours. I had the honeymoon. My numbers went back up as yours will too -- probably. But the increased clarity I had with drinking on Naltrexone never went away, even as the numbers went up. It's a rollercoaster ride but you are well on your way. I've read almost every post on this board and I have never seen someone have the honeymoon and then conclude that TSM did not work for them.

My best,

Nick

Another solid week. Stayed alcohol free through most of the week, went out for 3 drinks on Cinco de Mayo and another 8 drinks on Friday night at a sports bar. I've been focused on getting healthy as well so it's been psychologically easier to abstain because I've been enjoying the morning workouts.

I noticed that most of my side effects occur when the nal wears off about 24 hours later. It seems that I'll feel a bit nauseauted or anxious. Nothing too serious.

I don't know if I mentioned this before or not, but I was taking Vivitrol (the naltrexone shot good for 30 days) for 3 months about 3 years ago. About a year ago I did a couple month run with naltrexone pills using TSM. Do those eras of my drinking have any positive effect on where i am now? I know I should expect to hit a phase where my drinking increases, but does the 6 months or so using naltrexone in my past play into to faster success rate? I don't know. Just something I was wondering.

All is good. On to week #5.

Hmmm...good question. I'm not sure that medically (physiologically) the past naltrexone will have much impact on your drinking and triggers now, but any behavioural changes you made or insights you had could very well carry over, bringing you increased awareness a bit faster perhaps.
Good work so far!!!
EL

Still truckin' - I ended up going out with a hardcore drinking buddy on Tuesday night and had 15 drinks between 6pm and 1am. He met up with me around 10pm and said, "I thought you would be completely wasted by now!" Yes, I had been drinking pretty steadily, but I still had that sense of awareness that kept me grounded and in control.

The night ended with me leaving him at the bar around 1am. I live just down the street and, in the past, ALWAYS stayed until the last drink was served... usually missing or showing up late to to work the next day. Missing work had become a chronic issue and I was always fearing the day I would be 'found out' and fired. I purposely don't do facebook or twitter because I'm afraid I'll post something stupid while out late at night and live the regret it the following day when I don't show up for work.

Since TSM I have not missed any work (or been late). Like I said, I left my buddy at the bar and walked home at 1am. I went inside, took a multivitamin, and fell asleep on the couch. The next morning I felt a little groggy, but 10x beter than i would without TSM. My friend was shocked when I told him that I was done for the night and going home.

The other day I had 2 beers at a pizza joint for dinner. I was tempted to drink more because I had taken a naltrexone and didn't want to 'waste it.' I decided to pass and just call it a night (more rare behavior).

Then on Saturday I went out for dinner and eight drinks. All in all, a successful week when compared to pre-TSM.

I'm still getting feelings of guilt and remorse the following day -- something that usually lead to more drinking. I'm working on seeing the positive side of things as I continue with this.

Have a great week!

This is great progress, so relatively early into the experience. This will work for you -- you are on your way!

Hi Sobotka

You are off to a great start. Well done! The fact that your wife is on board and supportive will really help too.

All the best
Sticky