Hi boys and gals. A little bit about me, 34 going on to 35. Started binging in college, cooled off for a couple of year, then binged from 22 to 26, AA for four years full abstinence, picked up a drink at 30, first year ok, last 3 with quite a lot of awful binges. I don't want to be a f. alcoholic, I don't want to f. die, and I don't want this addiction, I don't like what I do when I drink most of the time, I don't like even more what can happen to me after a drinking situation.

Read dr. E.'s book a month or so ago. Started Nal a week ago. I really hope this system works because I 've had it with booze, the danger's I put myself and others into, the impact on my job and my family and the impact on my mental health, anxiety and depression.

So far I had a couple of binges on nal, about 15 units each, could be more, and once I stayed with a couple of beers on it. I wasn't supposed to drink today, but here I am on my second beer, but I 've kept up with the golden rule. So I guess it's around 35 units so far. First time I tried nal it killed off my buzz, it's not doing that anymore, I hope it's working nevertheless.

All the best to everyone. Wish me luck.

Joe,
Just remember that Naltrexone is not supposed to be a "buzz killer," although it has that effect on some people. If you were high on opioids, then it would definitely (and quickly) kill the buzz and send you into near-instant withdrawals. If it does work as a buzz killer, then it's extra useful for some drinkers because they tend not to binge while they're gaining the extinction. But, again and to reiterate, Naltrexone is supposed to "ultimately" work by removing your strong desire to drink (it doesn't give you an aversion, just brings you back to "Zero" on the desire scale, as opposed to, say, "Negative Five," which would be aversion). It's subtle but very real. The less the buzz-kill effects, the greater self-control required by a user.

Hey Barry, thanks for clearing that up. I was under the impression that you didn't get the alcohol high and that was the point, although, frankly, whatever high I get from alcohol these days, packaged with guilt and regret, is really minimal, if any. Most of the time I feel it like some really toxic **** that finds its way in me for lack of a better healthier substance. Booze winds me up these days instead of relaxing me, and it's been so for some time. I hope I make sense here.

Hmm, if I understand correctly this means, since I don't get a buzz kill I need more self control myself to not binge, whilst I actively work my way to extinction. I see. Anyway I am on my fourth beer today, and I am calling it a day, a night actually. All the best. And thanks for taking the time to post in my thread. I appreciate it a lot.

I sort of forgot how it felt to be drunk but since I had a bit of a set back I've been drunk a few times now the last week and the buzz lacks something. Maybe its in my head, maybe not. I'm still getting that relaxation that the booze brings. Probably the GABA side of things working but maybe it lacks that opiate warmth?

Joe,

I have noticed both.

I have noticed a lack of buzz sometimes, which I take as a good thing.

However, I have also had a couple big ass drunken binges that still included memory blackout.

The best thing I have noticed is that I seem to have more ability to perform "critical thinking" while drinking on Nal. I'm not saying perfect critical thinking, just better. And a lot less memory blackouts than pre-nal.

Welcome and good luck this week. Keep us updated. I like reading about other alky's like myself. Together we can do this.

Sober today, the way it should be. It might be my impression but today is a day where my opiod receptors are supposed to be sensitized, and I think I did feel it in the sense of deriving more pleasure from daily things, my pets, eating, etc. nothing major, very subtly I felt it, but I could be wrong.

Oh, and I do take the occasional baclofen too, I 've been prescribed 3x the dosage I taking, 3 x 10mg pills, but I go easy with it.

Hey flyer, Hey Chris, thanks for your chiming in guys, I appreciate your replies.

@flyer I don't get the relaxation bit with alcohol anymore, for some reason it agitates me even more, if I drink to excess I do get some calmative effect once in a while. The only way I can relax a bit is if I mix it with a small dose of benzo, which is a recipe for a psychiatric clinic or death from heart failure, god forbid, and I don't have a death wish. The only way I can enjoy alcohol these days, but really enjoy it, is if I have a couple of puffs of mj, just a couple of puffs no more and then have a few drinks after. This seems to curb my binge drinking too. But eff all that, I am not going to be a slave to any ephemeral pleasure, I am taking my nal, and looking forward to a better future.

@chis I have so far taken nal four times, two of them were binges, and one of them I didn't get a buzz, the first one. I did notice better critical thinking too, on all but one of the drinking sessions. Like you said, not perfect, but better.

All the best guys from me too.

Drinking right now, and guilt tripping about it. With nal of course. Should be about 1.5 + 1.5 + 1 =4 units when done, that is a couple of pints of beer and a 330ml one. Well at least this **** ain't going to end today with me driving under the influence and ending up in some whorehouse, literally or figuratively...

Sadly, I ended up binging yesterday and I am very disappointed with myself... The initial forecast of 4 units became +4 in one bar, +5 in another bar, and +6 in the last bar. Missed a day's work yet again, and now my stomach is a mess and my nerves are shot. My depression will deepen due to that binge too...The only positive note is that I didn't end up taking the car... Oh God...

Keep taking the pill Joe. I tripled my forecast yesterday. Today is another day.

The silver lining is no car, and no whorehouse.

thanks for the support man, appreciate it as I am on the verge of despair.