Hi Virginia,

Wonderful stuff!

Again, you concur with Q and AJ_ regarding the buzz issue - so, I guess that's now a case of QED.

As regards feeling the effects of alcohol sooner, you and I are singing from the same song-sheet. And, just like yourself, I'm unhappy with the feeling of being 'out-of-control'. Maybe that's what is also causing me to slow down (and/or reduce number of drinks) in order to compensate.

Thanks, Virginia.

V.

Hi Folks,

I just want to thank those that I haven't already thanked for your much-valued contributions to this thread. I sincerely hope that other members are getting as much out of it as I am.

Now, I need to stop posting until tomorrow or, otherwise, I am in danger of breaking my self-imposed rule of posting after having had a couple of drinks.

Good night everyone!

V.

P.S. I'm now going to watch a Pink Floyd video that I bought earlier today - heaven!

Hi Virgil,

Interesting answers here...I was cured but am not really anymore, fighting my way back, but felt I should chime in. (fyi - I did manage AF last night, thank you again for the incentive ....it was not as easy as I thought, but not as hard as it once was so that's fair enough.)

I lost the first buzz right away when I started Nal. I used to feel a slow burn through out my system from the first drink - that went away immediately with me. When I was re-addicted (or whatever happened to me, still not sure), that burn returned. Before, when I felt I was cured, the thought of alchohol started to be repellent to me. The smell of wine was no longer something that interested me. AND as the pleasure from it subsided I started to feel the pure effects of the alcohol instead - made me very sleepy right away and I couldn't for the life of me figure out why I would ever want a second drink. So, I think you are on to something here - it is starting to kick in.

This second time around for me, I am starting to feel the same thing - I went to a party of the weekend and stopped drinking cold halfway through because the smell of the wine just made me sick. I switched to water and was very fine with that.

Hope that helps - from what you describe, I think it's the Nal working.

I have to agree with BGH and happy4once. The buzz has really disappeared for me. From my first glass of wine, I used to feel a slow relaxation beginning, what I think was the release of endorphins and my body's response to those feel good chemicals. Now, what I think of as my "buzz" does not happen anymore. I don't get that warm, relaxed feeling at all anymore. I still eventually get inebriated, as the Nal is not blocking that, but I can't get to my numb, warm, happy place with alcohol anymore. So far, it doesn't stop me from trying

Happy4once, you said that you were cured and then you were not - what happened?

"Happy4once, you said that you were cured and then you were not - what happened?"

Thats what I want to know as well. My bro who is on TSM for last 7 months has seen a nice drop in consumption and cravings between the 5th to 6 month, but it seems to have fizzled out and is back to pre-TSM levels now.

TSM does not reduce the buzz that alcohol gives you. It reduces the craving. Over time, TSM reduces your desire to start drinking or to continue to drink large quantities once you do start. However, when you do drink you still get the buzz and ultimately intoxicated.

Q[/quote]
I agree, I still "get the buzz" but I do not continue to get inebriated. Now that I am decreasing my intake, I actually "feel" the AL and the way it gets into my blood, and the relaxing "bubble" that surrounds me.

I definitely am not physically craving, but still mentally. When the craving comes, I ask myself, do I really want AL? The answer is no. So sometimes I can stave it off successfully.

With what mimir said about her brother now drinking more after 7mo. than pre-tsm is really concerning me. How can someone be cured and come back and say they're not cured now? Did they stop taking Nal? Could someone answer this please?

corkit

Naltrexone doesn't diminish the AL "buzz" (for most people) as previously stated in numerous posts. It does progressively diminish cravings over time. Eventually, you just don't feel like having a drink any more. And if you do, you don't really want to continue your drinking session beyond reasonable limits. For me, I don't really care for the first couple of drinks and the 3rd one gives me the buzz, if that is what I'm after. Anything beyond that is just not pleasurable any longer.

Bob

AJ, Bob and Q (and others) are correct: extinction happens at a subconscious level and has nothing to do with the buzz factor. And some people get more buzzed on naltrexone, some less; the experience is not the same for everybody. However, the buzz is NOT the positive reinforcement for drinking alcohol, it's the endorphin rush. And yes, the two, although seemingly the same, are in fact two distinct events. The endorphin rush occurs on a subconscious level and is eliminated by naltrexone. Ultimately, the craving to drink is reduced or eliminated by continuously drinking on naltrexone as the endorphins are blocked. And once extinction occurs, not drinking is pretty much effortless as the craving to drink has been eliminated.

This is a confusing and somewhat counter-intuitive issue. I initially thought that blocking the buzz was the reason TSM works. It isn't; it's the blocking of the endorphins that happens on a subconscious level is what eventually leads to extinction.

Well, this appears to be more complicated than I first thought. I'm not getting the buzz and not feeling good at all when drinking one, or two, and certainly not at three. In fact have not had three in about 2 weeks as the hangover was severe. So I'm in a bit of a bind. I don't want to drink because of very bad history. Have cut back in past 10 years to very little, but still have to have that.

Now on Nal I'm conscious of extinction BUT: now I'm stuck with the anxiety and stress without the "release" of drinking!!! I still want to drink because of its numbing qualities, but can't on Nal because I don't like how it makes me feel physically. I can see now why some people do not "comply."

This is obviously what AA means about working on other things in our lives - the "why" we drink. I wish I had not started Nal to be honest. I really have to take a hard look at things in my life - sheeeeessshhhhh I hate this s__t!!! I guess I'd better get off to a friendly therapist.