All,

I have posted this for the Dr. but I thought maybe someone might have the answer.

I am a binge drinker. I can go days and weeks without drinking and not think about drinking. For the most part I try very hard not to drink during the work week. When Friday night comes I will drink until Sunday night. This past binge was 90 units in 5 days.

My Question is:

If I take my Nal on the days I know I'm going to drink then stop drinking on Sunday night and go M-F night not drinking and not taking NAL do I still take 50mg or do I take the 25ml again. What if I don't drink for a few weeks?

Thanks,
Em

Hi Providence and Welcome!

Some of us seem to be very sensitive to the nal and have bad side effects at first, whereas others don't.

When you take your first 25mgs then up to the 50mgs, you will probably know what category you are in!
My personal advice is, if you are a sensitive type, when you have had a few days/weeks of the nal, go back to the 25mg.

If you find you don't have much reaction to it, just keep taking the 50mg.

I have come to the conclusion if every time I have some days off Nal and drinking, I have to go through the whole side effects thing again, I am putting my chances of success at risk, therefore my opinion is only based on personal experience.

I hope Dr. E comes soon and gives you a more informed answer.

As an experiment, I'd go ahead and take 50mg without taking 25 the day before. See how you do. It didn't bother me a bit - I never took 25 first.

If 50 doesn't bother you, then don't take any at all until you are going to drink, then take 50. If you are drinking all weekend, you might consider 50mg twice a day, about 12 hours apart. Check with your doctor first, though. 100mg is still well within the safety margins and I think especially so if taken 12 hrs between doses.

RE: 50 mgs 2 x a day go to the post 24/7 Drinker (In the Ask The Doctor) if you would like to read the Dr's comments about upping your dosage. I do it, but I have been on nal for 3 months now, and although I am chemically sensitive, I have not had a problem, just added thirst, and that usually calls for water. In the beginning I took the med at bedtime, helped me adjust to the med.

As someone who had a most unpleasant intro to nal by starting at 50, then no problem at all when I re-started at 25 for two days then back up to 50, I want to put in a word for the 25 start. It will only cost a couple of days. Just my two cents. But by all means consider the 50 every 12 hours. We have at least two here who are 24/7 drinkers doing that at Dr. Eskapa's suggestion and doing well.