Hi Folks,

I discussed my future plans for TSM with my therapist a couple of days ago. I have decided to continue with TSM until the end of the year (2009!). So, on (or near) 1 Jan 2010, I will take a decision to either continue further, or pull the plug on TSM. I plan to continue using 100 mg naltrexone one hour before drinking. By the end of the year, I will have been on TSM for a total of 40 weeks; of this, 16 weeks will have been on the 100 mg naltrexone dose.

Over the next few weeks, I will investigate the alternatives to TSM. To this end, I have an appointment with the local arm of the NHS [*] Alcohol Specialist Service on 15 October. This is a new service, so I don't really know what to expect.

So, it's onward and upward and sideways (!) and downward.

V.

[*] NHS = National Health Service

Hi WTE,

I will certainly do that.

Thanks for your continuing support; I really appreciate it.

Hugs to you, too!

V.

Absolutely delighted to hear you'll be sticking with us V

Thanks, 8...........V.

Here's hoping your commitment pays off. It's certainly our gain to get to keep you. Let us know what the ASS says. Couldn't resist.

Virgil ,
I see what you say there . Clearly there must be limits but until that time , as ever
I'm keeping fingers crossed for you .
This week we had a TV evening on alcoholism here . Dr Ameisen who is french was interviewed and there were a couple of interviews of people doing good on Baclofen
They were quite dire cases but one has been astiinent two months and theother has to go slowly to build up as he had bad side effects but drinks substantially less .
The doctors who prescribed swear by it such that they broke the rules to prescribe as it is not considered sufficiently tested .
No direct mention of tsm but a researcher mentioned new ( unspecified ) drugs that work on the reward system brain chemicals . ...bit of a gloss over that wasn't seized on .
Take care. The best from Elfern .

Hi Virgil - glad you are sticking it out at least until the end of the year, that sounds like a very good plan all round. I was coincidentally thinking the same thing that 8 asked about your anxiety when I read your post. Wonder if it's due to backing off of the benzo (congrats on that!). Wanted to also put a recommendation in for GABA in addition to amino acids. It helps me with tremendously with anxiety. As does hypnotherapy, when I have time.

Elf - interesting bit about the tv show. I wonder if it's available in the states...

All my best,

Hi Folks,

Well, it's been an eventful week. Last Thursday, I saw the NHS [*] psychiatrist that I mentioned just one week ago and it was a disaster. As soon as I brought up the topic of alcohol, he treated me like dirt. My wife also attended the appointment at his request. Following some discussion about my current medications, he suggested that I reduce my dose of Seroxat, which I have now done. After the appointment, my wife and I were both upset - indeed so much so that I was fighting back the tears. The only positive outcome was that he wrote me a 'prescription' to have another liver function test (LFT) carried out, which is scheduled for next Monday. I am supposed to book a follow-up appointment with him three weeks from now but I have no intention of ever seeing him again. I'll take a decision following my appointment next Thursday with the NHS specialist alcohol service.

But it's not all doom and gloom. On the contrary. I appear to have undergone a psychological shift of some kind. It's as if a light has been switched on in my head. Funnily enough, it may be due, in part, to the appointment above. It has made me more determined to address the alcohol problem. I appear to have bounced back. I have also been doing a lot of reading about addiction over the last few days and I feel confident that I can succeed. Just hope this feeling stays with me and that it's not transitory.

Having reduced my dosage of Seroxat, I appear to be having some fairly serious side-effects. These include sudden bouts of sweating and light-headedness. But, I intend to keep the Seroxat dose down. In fact, the psychiatrist gave me instructions to quit Seroxat over a period of time and that's what I'd like to do. G-r-a-d-u-a-l-l-y. With the help of amino acids and other supplements, I want to get my brain back to how it was many years ago - before I started messing it up with alcohol, benzos, Z-drugs, SSRIs and a few other anxiolytics thrown in for good measure!

Here's to the future!

V.

[*] NHS = National Health Service (what a euphemism, if ever there was one!)

Virgil it is absolute wonderful to hear of your renewed hope, determination and spirit, I am so very happy for you!

It's ironic that that awful appointment with the psychiatrist has perhaps had something to do with that, but I would consider making a complaint and demanding to see a different one (there are procedures in place for this). Nobody should ever be made to feel like that by a healthcare professional, and while in your case it eventually led to a positive effect, similar treatment could send someone else in a completely different direction.

As you know I too have recently started taking amino acids and other supplements, in my case for preparation to taper my benzo use and also for general mood. I'd be very interested sometime to hear what you take and what effects they have. I'm going to start that thread I've been promising about amino acids, it would be great to hear a little from you either here or on there.

Again, wonderful news. Onward and upwards my friend!

8

Virgil it sounds great to hear that you are in with more power and hope!

What amino acids are you taking?