Hi Team!

First full workweek while on Nal, and I'm pretty nervous. I have a big week at work with a deadline at the end. Then I'm flying back east to hang out with friends for the weekend. This has the potential to get ugly...

My first two nights on nal were ok, one glass of wine each time (vs. typical bottle). I think I'm in the "honeymoon" phase. Does anyone have insight on how long this typically lasts? My hope is to have little interest in drinking this weekend although I have two huge triggers coming up.

The "honeymoon" typically wears off when the side effects of naltrexone wear off. If Naltrexone makes you sick or tired, most people lose interest in drinking. But Naltrexone only makes you sick or tired for a few days for most of us -- maybe a week. Do NOT be disappointed if you drink like your pre-TSM self on your impending trip out east with friends. Drinking buddies are a huge trigger for all of us and it will take a long time to defeat a big trigger like that. Good luck.

Hi 80's - Yeah, the honeymoon effect pretty much leaves after the side effects of Nal wear off, but your honeymoon effect is pretty huge if you drank a bottle of wine and now you are only drinking one glass of wine at night. You never know, you might be like Gain Control and never see your numbers go back up again. Even if you do, just ride it out. In the end you will get there.

80s -- My side effects (and honeymoon) lasted 13 days, but the side effects were unusually strong for me. I barely remember those 2 weeks, and not because I was drinking a lot -- I was a zombie. I would caution you that when you come out of that honeymoon, you might experience a temporary loss of control and drink your head off -- I know I did. (I think you read my post about passing out on the phone).
It frightened me how out of control I felt where drinking was concerned for a few days. That out of control feeling quickly passed, but I was really shaken for a week or so. You might want to try to be cautious this weekend and put some safeguards in place for yourself (like don't drink and dial, or don't drink and drive or something).
Minneapolisnick warned me about this possibility and I didn't think it would happen to me. I'm paying closer attention to him now.

****.

After 3 days of only one glass of wine and passing out for 10+ hours, I decided to take 1/4 of a tablet. I knew the second I started drinking that it felt a little "too" good. I'm now on my second glass, the end of my bottle, and fighting going to the store to get more.

The theory behind TSM is that I should drink through the craving, but I feel like I screwed up the dosage, and everything is wrong now.

Hopefully I can gain control soon or figure out what to do.

Help
-80s

Went to the store and got more, two glasses into the second bottle. I feel awful. I hate myself for losing control. I let myself down, again. I don't know that there is hope or a finish to my problem. I feel an awful sense of self loathing already, and I haven't even gone to bed yet. I took a bath while my dog watched me pittingly from the bedroom. Even my dog feels contempt for me. How will I ever have a human understand me?? I hate myself.

This is a rant board, but I need somewhere to put my feelings.
I'm so sorry I messed up.

=80s

Losing control is what alcoholism is all about but the good news is that NOW you are doing something about it. This is part of the roller coaster we are all warned about. Things will get better, tsm hs helpd the vast majority of people here and you will be no expception but it will take time and there will be times of loss of control. PS I dont think the dog was really looking at you pitifully, he probaly wanted a walk or a treat lol.

You've come to the right place because we all specialize in two things: uncontrolled drinking followed by self loathing. But from where I sit, the news is all good. You clearly had the honeymoon (three glasses or so in the first three nights) which means TSM will almost assuredly work for you -- it's impacting your brain already. Your tally of 4 glasses of wine last night (as of your post) is still considerably less than the one to two bottles you pounded pre-TSM. I see good things for you ahead but the TSM ride, by definition, is a roller coaster. Patience, young lady, patience. You didn't get addicted in a week and you won't get reconditioned in a week either. Think 3-4 months minimum. If you were in your 30s or older, I'd say think 6-12 months minimum. But it WILL work for you, I'm very confident of it. The formula requires patience. Naltrexone + drinking + Patience = cure/controlled drinking.

My best,

Nick

Wretched hangover from four glasses of wine. Nal side effects strike again.
I feel awful, and will waste a good portion of the day in bed. What a vicious cycle.

It's not a waste because you are reconditioning your brain to no longer process life as an alcoholic. You could not be spending your time more productively. Get better soon.