viewtopic.php?f=6&t=4632

Hi All, I am just beginning this journey and the above linq is my old post from the Introduce Yourself forum.

I'm off to see my GP in about 1hr to hopefully get my script for Nal!! The last week has been a real eye opener for me! I've been going pretty hard as if I'm saying goodbye to AL!! Waking up feeling lousy but then looking at posts on this website and truly feeling inspired & hopeful!

The wife caught me sneaking a cocktail on Sunday while she was putting the kids to bed and I then decided to be open with her about what I'm doing...I even showed her my original post. She is well aware of my issues but as we're very lacking in the communication department, has only voiced them at times when we're in the heat of the moment arguing.

I know that I have to do this for ME and no one else. Life without or controlled AL is soooo much better!!

for the past week I've been really trying to learn how my thoughts, routines and feelings are about AL. I realize the warmth and comfort I feel it's giving me to only have it be overtaken by the urge to get my next drink before I'm even done the 1st one. I tend to binge pretty quickly to the finish line!

My plan of attack for tonight is as follows...

1) take 1/2 (25mg) of a pill at dinner (approx. 6:30pm)...I then have a 10pm hockey game (I am Canadian!) which I never drink before hand anyways but we tend to have beers in the dressing room afterwards. My plan is to really see how I'm feeling to the pill and through that 1st beer. I'm really going to see if I can have just a couple (In the past I would get home and have a bunch more either with my neighbor who plays on the team as well or by myself)

For the next few days I want to take the pill and just try to have 1 or 2 cocktails and see how it's affecting me. I'm thinking I will probably take 25mg for a week or so and see where it takes me.

Any thoughts or advice would be welcomed and everyone's support has been truly amazing!!

ttc -

I can relate to your anticipation about getting your hands on the Nal, hope all goes well with your GP. If there's any problem then BC Doc just posted about a program from the Interior Chemical Dependency Office. I guess they offer telehealth sessions and at least the doc listed in Find a Physician on the Cthreefoundation website understands TSM. BC Doc was indicating that any Canadian can avail themselves of this service, whether it's to get the Rx or just get support from a Doc that knows TSM.

I would suggest taking your first dose at home, when you have at least one day off the following day. The side effects can be rather difficult to get used to (I've been fighting that for 3 weeks) and being on the road could be a problem. You may be one of the lucky ones that takes the pill and doesn't feel a thing, but best to play it safe, believe me.

Congratulations on your forthcoming launch, I'll be looking forward to your posts!

My GP is AWESOME!!!

I went to see her and have had 2 previous visits where I told her I was concerned about my drinking. She entered the room and I told her that I was looking for a prescription for Nal as I had a buddy (meaning everyone on this forum) that uses it and has had great success. She looked at me and "no problem, I know you've had concerns and I think this is a good way to go..." WOW!

I almost broke down as we discussed the medication. We discussed how I had looked at Declinol and one that sounded like Abstinth, but she felt this was the best for me. She went on to tell me that she has 2 other patients that she prescribes it too, although 1 is doing the AA path and the other SMART with good results. I then told her I was going to do the TSM and she said she'll look into it. She told me not to avoid AL outright and to ease off of it...her words, not mine.

I told her I wanted her involved as if it can help me, maybe it can help someone else. She gave me a 3 month prescription and wants to see me regularly. I asked about the cost and she believes it should be covered, then I left.

One hour after leaving, the DR. called me to say that she may have been wrong about it being covered and that if it is not covered, to let her know and she'll write an exemption for it to be covered to my provincial gov't!!!!! I live west of Toronto, Ontario.

I feel so empowered having my GP in my corner!! She said far too many people are doing what I'm doing and do nothing about it!

JSP...after reading about all the horrors of SE, I think I may wait till the weekend to start and actually begin with 1/4 of a pill.

Question...are people getting the SE because they take 1 whole pill then drink their normal amount?? I plan on taking the 1/4 then just having 1-2 beers then forcing myself to stop...Could I still get the SE???

ttc -


Yeah, your GP sounds like a great doc! Congrats on finding her!

I took a whole pill the first night, but dropped to a 1/2 pill from then on, but still dealing with the SE's. They're getting better day by day and last night was the best yet, though I did feel them more this morning than usual. I'm going to make it through them, it's just going to take longer for me than most folks.

JSP...Did you drink your normal amount the first few days?

ttc -

It dropped from 9.3 to 8 on the first day, then bounced between 8 and 5 for a week and a half, with one run back up to 9.3 in the middle of that period. Right now it's bouncing between 6.3 and 4. Before TSM I spiked to 15 units, then pushed that down to 9.3 over about one and a half weeks while I was waiting for the Nal.

TTC - I started with half a pill and took that for a few days - make sure that you have food in your tummy when you first take it. Some folk do not get SE's - you might not. I think severe SE's are unusual. But I would probably wait to take it on a night that you are not going out. And the idea is that you drink as usual - do not force yourself to stop drinking - I mean try and not go overboard, but the idea of TSM at least for the first few months, is take the pill at least one hour before drinking, ALWAYS, and then drink as usual. As far as the reason folk gets SE's - it is like any medicine. I did get slight SE's, as in slight nausea for a few days. But that was it. Newlife had NO SE's, so please do not think that you will automatically get them - SE's such as those that Joe is having are unusual.

Hope this reassures you a little .....

hugs, Maggie

I agree with Maggie that SEVERE side effects are relatively rare. I had almost none. as Maggie said, don't force AF days at this point and see how it goes. good luck!

Thank you all for the feedback.

I think I will wait till the weekend to begin...I think because I had such a big go at it for the last week, I'm just feeling too tired to drink plus I have some stuff to handle, so want to be clear headed.

I tend to binge for a few weeks, then take time off.

In talking with my GP, I came to realize that after drinking, my self esteem and confidence in myself goes to hell, so I always have some AL free days to get it back up! But guess what, I then think I have everything under control and I fall back into my destructive pattern...hence why I'm beginning TSM.

Will keep you all posted...

Good luck TTC- Im really new here. Im starting my fourth week on NAL. I started on 50mg but felt really tired and had weird flu like symptoms so then I went down to 25 mg. I had a response to the drug I didnt feel the rush at all in the beer and didn't want to drink much. I know it's early days but still
have tiredness and sore throats.

The people here have been supportive -hope your first week is SE free!