Hi all,
I guess I will start to post my progress. I started tsm on March 29 with a 1/2 tab and 2 pints of beer. I had really terrible nausea so I have been nervous about it ever since. As a reminder about my typical usage of alcohol, I am almost always only drinking on the weekends.

I am worried about how nal will work for me because of this. My nausea was so bad that first time that I am still only taking 1/2 tab. I feel the effects from the tablet within about 15 minutes after taking it, still.

March 29 - 1/2 tab and 2 pints
April 1 - 1/2 tab and 15 beers (normally I would have drank on Saturday night too but I felt too poorly)
April 8 - 1/2 tab and 14 beers (same- didn't feel up to drinking Saturday night following that)

I am off tomorrow - the 15th - so have already taken a nal (1/2) and will drink tonight. I really do not like how this makes me feel. I don't want to give up. I want to regain control.

I don't see many postings about those who only drink on the weekend. I thought I would post so that others can read about my experiences and also to get support from anyone who might have a case like mine. The book says it can work for anyone who wants to change their drinking habits. Previously I would drink every weekend night and black out almost every time I drink and hate myself each time until the next buzz. I have not been able to control the amount I drink once I start. Beer and wine are what I usually drink but I can't even stomach the thought of wine now. I have no problems with having alcohol in the house and not drinking - unless I have already had a drink - then I can't seem to stop.

That's all. I will try to update occasionally.

Hi Angela,

Hi Angela,

Welcome! Thanks for posting your story.

I'm one of the lucky ones that didn't have any nausea on Nal - but from what I understand, this is termed the 'honeymoon' period. I'm not qualified to give any medical advice, but your body will soon (1 - 4 weeks) adjust to the drug and the nausea will go.

Stick with it. The positive effect on your life most certainly outweighs the temporary nausea.

Can I ask if you are taking it on a full stomach? That can make a big difference.

Don't give up. There is no other method that will help you regain control like this one

Best of luck for this weekend. I'm a binger - maybe we're worse as we store it all up during the week then go crazy chasing "the buzz."

Take care,

Andy

Hi Angela:

I'm a former weekend binger whose binges started to creep into Thursdays. No worries, TSM will work for you even if you do not drink daily, assuming you are in the 80% or so whose brain reacts to it. The initial feeling of being sick goes away after three or four sessions for most of us. The temporary decrease in drinking goes away when you no longer feel ill. Since you are only drinking on the weekends it might take a little longer for you, but you'll get to the point it doesn't make you sick fairly quickly. At least that has been the experience of the vast majority here, including me.

Post often and ask questions.

My best,

Nick

Hello everyone! I wanted to give an update on myself.

I have been doing 'ok' using the nal+al... have still only been drinking one day per week. I can really tell a difference in how I am while I am drinking and also how much I am drinking on my binges. Drinking about a 12 pack, but some days only 10. However, there again, it has only been one day per week since the end of March.

I have still been so sick from it though, that now I want to quit using it. I am hoping for some support from you guys to keep it up. I absolutely hate how I feel when I take it. I am still only taking a 1/2 tab and last weekend because I wanted to go out in the boat the next day I only took a 1/4 tab.

This weekend is a huge trigger for me. Hanging out with family Friday and Saturday night and then have to drive for 7 hours Sunday morning to head back home. I know I will feel miserable - headache, nausated, dry heaves. I have not hung out with my heavily drinking family since starting nal and I want to extinguish so I know it is important to take it, but I am almost wanting to cancel out and sit home and drink alone instead. But this is kind of a big deal...a big family reunion and always a huge party. I am nervous.

So prior to nal I was drinking at least a 30 pack per week of beer and now only 10-12 per week. I have absolutely NO CRAVINGS until Friday night and for the past 3 weeks I really don't have cravings then, but just do it out of habit. I have not had any blackouts since nal.

One night when I took a 25mg tab, the next day I had dry heaves so bad that I think I caused myself a small abdominal hernia!

All week I have been trying to plan out what I am going to do. Drink only on Friday night? My usual amount? I worry though that I will not be able to do that..the 'big night' is Saturday. Maybe try to split my weekend 12 pack between Friday and Saturday? But still there's the nal effects and the drive home on Sunday. I have a feeling that in this situation a 12 pack even just in one day will be hard to stay under.

Any advice appreciated. It seems like most people do not have this extreme sickness after a period of time. I've been using it for almost 3 months and see huge differences, but man I just hate how I feel. I guess I will hate how I feel worse if I make an ass out of myself in front of loved ones. I remember how much I used to hate wondering what I said or did the next day. I will try to keep remembering that feeling.

Regards and thanks for being here,
angela

Your situation is so atypical it's hard to offer advice. Almost no one only drinks just on the weekends and almost no one has such a severe reaction to the nal. About the only thing I can think of is continue experimenting with the dosage. But since I'm not a doctor, I can't reliably say that. Sorry I can't be more help. Good luck.

Hi angela,

I did have severe reactions to NAL and I did vomit many times, as well as experience many other side effects. I never was able to get up to 50mg, and stayed at 25mg the whole journey. Now I find I don't drink partly because I don't want or need to, and partly because I don't want to deal with all the NAL side effects. So why did I keep at it? Well, I was a very heavy daily drinker and I wanted a change more than I wanted to stop taking the NAL. If you really want the change, you may have to decide to suffer through it. The side effects will lessen over time, and I found that taking the NAL while eating some carbs, crackers, a granola bar, etc., will help with the nausea. If you are really sick the next day after taking NAL, that may be because many of us suffer more of a "buzz" on NAL and the side effects of heavy drinking seem to be exacerbated by the NAL. I always thought it was NAL's way of telling me to drink less. You have to decide for yourself what you can put up with. For me, it was so worth it! Good luck and hang in there!

Hey Angela,
I can relate to your situation. I'm mostly a weekend binger (if i have drinks during the week they are generally a couple moderate glasses of wine with dinner, and that has really only started happening as I've "allowed" myself to drink more often on nal). I also have serious nausea on nal. Not every time I take it, but a lot. And I find that I vomit much sooner and much more often when drinking on nal. I think that's partially related to lower tolerance, but some of it is definitely the nal effect. Yesterday I had about 15 drinks, and vomited a bit probably 10 drinks in (and kept drinking...what an idiot). Then vomited when I got home. Then vomited today after lunch. That is QUITE unusual, pre-nal anyways. I think it definitely makes my body treat alcohol like the poison it is....
Hope this helps.
EL

Hi Angela, sorry to hear your getting severe side effects to Nal, especially the nausea. Your case is certainly atypical as Nick pointed out, in terms of only drinking once a week. With the nausea there is always the option of taking an antinauseant such as metoclopramide (Maxolon, Pramin, heaps of other brands) or prochlorperazine (Stemetil, stemzine, et al) preferably half an hour before the Nal. These medications are relatively cheap and they don't interact with Naltrexone. So for you the formula may be metoclopramide + Nal + Al + patience= regained control. That may sound a little extreme taking ANOTHER medication so you can take a medication to help control your drinking but I agree with server in that you have to decide for yourself how much you want the change. The other thing about nausea caused by Nal (and other medicines) is that generally it goes away after you have been taking it for a while but in your case, because you are only taking it once a week, that may take a longer time. Hope this helps and good luck

Hi Angela,

Try to stick with it. I've tried 1/4 tablet (12.5mg) but that didn't quite have enough 'power' to quash the endorphin buzz. However I'm 220lb so a lower dosage may work for you. I've now settled at 25mg.

I was absolutely a binge drinker and Nal has really helped me. MattF on this forum has also had great results from Nal and stopping or at least curbing his binges.

Looking at your first post, you said, "I would drink every weekend night and black out almost every time I drink".

What has the past 3 months been like for you? Have you had any blackouts?

Ultimately you have to decide if the unpleasant feeling is worth not blacking out. 12.5mg may work and then you can always take another 25mg if you feel like you are losing control.

I wish you all the best - please keep us updated - we really want you to succeed.

Andy.