Pharmacologically enhanced learning, receptor upregulation

misskris76 · **Joined:** Sun May 03, 2009 11:34 pm **Posts:** 104

I am a little confused with the selective extinction. I understand it, but like, if one drinks everyday, and therefore is taking Nal every day, must they avoid endorphin releasing behaviors while drinking? As far as the receptor upregulation, I definitely experienced that as I went off naltrexone and went to a 'rehab' and started drinking again and holy mole! But, my question is, IF one is drinking and taking NAL everyday, must they avoid pleasurable /endorphin releasing activities or not? Does engaging in such behaviors ENFORCE drinking?

Saint Vincent · **Posted:** Tue Jul 05, 2011 9:42 am

MissKriss you can search the term selective extinction as this has been discussed in the past. Here were my thoughts on this back in Sept. 2010. I still agree with what I wrote then.

Saint Vincent wrote:

I would not get too caught up in selective extinction until you get your drinking down to safe levels. Think of it this way, if you were in a car accident and broke your arm and leg and fractured your skull would you treat these things first before fixing the front tooth that you chipped on the steering wheel? Selective extinction is the chipped front tooth. Alcoholism is the broken arm, leg and fractured skull. I have seen a lot of discussion about selective extinction in the past. The most important thing is to achieve extinction of drinking alcohol. Once you are able to have alcohol free days then concentrate on selective extinction.

The important thing is to concentrate on getting rid of or reducing the alcohol. If you become slightly less fond of exercising or holding babies or eating spicy food you can always reinforce those behaviors later.

minneapolisnick · **Joined:** Tue May 19, 2009 2:17 pm **Posts:** 1793

TOTALLY agree with Saint V. And no, engaging in positive behaviors will not enforce drinking. Selective extinction is fine in the world of academia, but in the real world when we are drinking every day, we don't have the luxury of selective extinction. And not one person has reported that alternative, healthy behaviors have been extinguished by naltrexone when drinking daily. As St. V says, if you are going to concern yourself with selective extinction, wait until you are late in the process and aren't drinking daily.

misskris76 · **Joined:** Sun May 03, 2009 11:34 pm **Posts:** 104

thanks so much guys. i posted this because, i really do believe that naltexone HAS CURED me. I went off, bc of a lot of reasons, if you all want, i will post in personal stories, maybe later as I have the LUXURY of reading another chapter of The Chronicles of Narnia to mt 6 year old tonight:):):) You all don't KNOW the HELL I went through going off NAL, going through a rehab, then a OMG, TRADITIONAL REHAB, and THEN, drinking without NAL! TALK ABOU RECEPTOR UPREGULATION! don't mean to shout, but just being on NAL again is HEAVEN...I'm in HEAVEN:):):) I just sooooooo wanna do it right this time....this is why I am asking these questions, I did it half-assed last time, personal reason, which, when I have time, I will fully disclose lest it help others, in personal stories, but just being on NAL again, and getting control again, you don't even know...drinking without it, especially after a period of forced abstinence (outside forces and complied plus AA) it was textbook! Wow, just wow. Anyhow guys, thanks for the help, love this forum. Always (almost:) so positive and ALWAYS so helpful.

Pharmacologically enhanced learning, receptor upregulation

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