I am really sorry but I think I must be missing something. I have read the book and also many posts, but just dont seem to get it.

I understand the NAL+AL = CURE bit, and how the NAL blocks the opoid receptors. However it is the bit about increasing the amount of Opoid receptors and the fact that ANYTHING that you do that is endorphinous, can become extinguished. The way I read the book was that we should not undertake anything that produced endorphines whilst taking NAL. eg, exercise, sex, spicy food, high adrenalin sports. Not just because we may not get the same amount of pleasure out of them, but because those activities may also be chemically extinguished aswell.

I am terrified of the thought of not curing my drinking problem, but I am also terrified of extinguishing my desire for sex, exercise etc. I think I would have one very unhapy husband if I could only partake in sexual activities every month or so when I had an AL free weekend. In fact, I dont really like exercise, but my doctor says I must exercise 60 mins every day because I have an underactive thyroid gland. I find it hard enough to do this as it is, but it is imperative I do.

Can anyone explain this to me, and if and when would be the best time to do my exercise.

I am hoping that this is still for me, because I have just bought my NAL from river. Help!!!

For my part, I still love sex, enjoy exercise, and only WISH I didn't like spicy food so much!

When you're on Naltrexone and drink, you still get a buzz. When you do other pleasurable things, you still enjoy the experience. Your desire for alcohol will decrease while on Nal, to the point where you will seldom drink, or take the Naltrexone. However, your other activities will become MORE pleasurable, once the use of Naltrexone is lessened. In this way, you will become 're-addicted' to the good activities, while blocking the pleasure receptors ONLY when you drink.

Hope this helps.

Goin4more- that's about the most encouraging thing I've read to date. How are you now? I am just beginning.

I wouldn't worry about it. Since starting TSM (about 3 months ago) I haven't had any decreased interest in exercise (actually, more interest since I drink less) or sex, or spicy food, or anything else. I wouldn't actively take nal and then exercise, just becuase the nal still sometimes makes me nauseous, but I have no problem exercising the next morning after taking it.
Good luck, EL

Welcome Don

I've been on Nal for nearly 12 weeks and like Going4more and EL, I have not had any lessened desire for any activities I previously enjoyed before starting TSM.

I believe the half life for Nal is 4 to 6 hours. I usually take a Nal, wait an hour or 2 and then drink for an hour or 2 or 3, anything that happens after that is technically not under Nal's influence, as in opioid receptor antagonism, I think.