Hello Keke,

Welcome and good luck.

Do you think you could switch to a non-opiate painkiller? I don't know all the details, and I'm certainly no doctor, but I do know that Nal will interfere with opioids. If I'm not mistaken, the Sinclair book recommends carrying something in your wallet that says you are taking it.
Also, the research suggests that you should avoid "forcing" AF days, as this only leads to higher craving levels (as was evident in some of the responses to your post). You'll see the "golden rule" posted often here (it varies, but its usually "Nal+1 hour+drinking+patience=cure"). Keep to that, if nothing else.
The one thing missing from my golden rule formula was patience. This is my third attempt and I'm only in week six. You can see by my numbers that I have a long road ahead, but I am completely committed.

Keep the faith. I am trying to do the same.

NJ

Ok, so I had my first visit with a Psychiatrist and he is aware of the Naltrexone protocols, but after a long emotional discussion, he said he wanted to work on the mood disorder first (thinks I'm self medicating). I agreed to try an anti-seizure med while at the same time reducing my alcohol intake. The medication is called Lamotrigine and is suppose to work on the GABA receptors. He said that alcohol works on the same receptors in a much "sloppier" way and that it is not uncommon to want to use alcohol to feel better. He also said it was going to take some work on my part and wants me to TRY to limit my alcohol to 2 drinks. Apparently, it takes a good six weeks for the med to stabilize. Last night I drank six. I told myself it was my goodby drunk......also the med had not been called in, so I used that as an excuse. We will see where will power gets me. I feel really good today and am actually going to do a three day detox while visiting with my son. I went to pick up the med and it cost $160 for a month supply. Fortunately, my insurance covered it and my official diagnosis is Bi polar disorder. I have another visit in two weeks and HOPE< HOPE<HOPE I can get these demons under control. I'm planning on staying on this forum so that I can Journal my experiences and truly hope I can find a solution for myself and others who continue to battle the same demons. Sending good energy to all. Keek

Best of luck keke. Shows how different doctors are. Was diagnosed by two shrinks as bipolar and was on Effexor and abilify for a while. Stopped cold turkey. Started drinking again. That was a couple of years ago. New shrink won't make any diagnosis until I get sober so he gave me naltrexone.

Hey Keke,
glad you're back on the board (and hopefully soon back to taking nal). It may sound dumb, but TSM won't work with you taking nal. Every time you drink. Forever I udnerstand you've got the pain killer issue right now but it does sound like your doc has hit the nail on the head with the alcohol to treat bi polar mood swings diagnosis (I was diagnosed exactly the same way). Hopefully the Lamictal gives you some relief. I was allergic to it, so it didn't end up being helpful for me but I've heard great things.

It has been about 10 days on the the new med, but my alcohol consumption hasn't gone down. The weird thing is that last night I had a glass of wine at a volunteer reception and decided to buy a bottle on my way home. The first glass was ok, but the second didn't taste very good, so I poured it back in the bottle. An hour later I was back drinking until the bottle was 3/4's down. Hmmmm. I'll have to admit that I haven't REALLY tried to control the drinking except for a couple of days. I can do good on the two days following a bing and can cut down to three drinks on those days. The doc asked if I could cut down to 2. NOPE. not yet. Maybe if l try starting a lot later, I can just down a couple before bed.

I have to admit that the medication is helping with my mood swings and I'm hoping I can get up the courage and strength to actually reduce my alcohol consumption. The thought of entering a rehab has been floating around in my mind, but they are just too damn expensive. Besides they seem to all be twelve step programs. Perhaps I'll just magically want to quit drinking one day! Wouldn't that peachy. Hugs to all. Keek

@EE....sorry about you being allergic to the Lamictal. I'm keeping a close eye out for that rash. How is the Nal working for you? Do you find it makes you more depressed and are you still working with a doc? I will give up the pain meds if my new doc ends up prescribing Nal. I think will once the other med stabilizes.
@ poink, Are you on any other meds? How's the drinking thing going and is your doc helping you? Also, why did you quit the Effexor & abilify?
@ NJ.....I hope we both can find the patience to let the Nal do it's magic. Keep it touch y'all. Keke

Day 1 - 6 drinks
Day 2 - 4 drinks (actually 4 am on Day 3
Day 3 - 2 drinks (that night)
Day 4 - 3 drinks
Day 5 - 3 drinks
Day 6 - 3 drinks
Day 7 - 5 drinks (26 units for week one)
Day 8 - 2 drinks
Day 9 - 2 drinks
Day 10 - 6 drinks

Second visit with the Psychiatrist today and he said he is encouraged by my response to the Lamictal. I had 2 cocktails and a glass of wine Friday and when the urge to ask hubby to stop off and get more to drink on the way home hit, I decided I had had enough. When I asked the doc his views on alcoholism and whether he believed one needs to completely stop, he said that every human body has the capacity to become physically addicted to alcohol and that he is hoping that I haven't quite hit that threshold. Apparently, the Lamictal is suppose to help with impulse control and lengthen the window of opportunity to make a good decision. I still have days when I drink right past the point of no return, but I am on a very low dose of the Lamictal. He wants to give this a good 6 weeks before deciding if and when to ad Naltrexone to the mix. Also, he wants to see how I respond to a higher dose.

My husband is happy that the doc didn't suggest rehab and I am happy to experiment with the idea that I might just be able to control this beast.
Still hopeful.......keke

Keke,

Here's to control. That's really all I am looking for.


Mike


P.S.: Say hello to Elton for me.

Hi Keke,

Was checking out your latest post and saw that I hadn't answered your questions from Friday. Sorry about that.

Right now I am not taking any other meds. I do take a bunch of vitamins but no prescription drugs except for the nal and the bac.

My psychiatrist is prescribing the nal but am doing TSM without his knowledge. It was after my last appointment with him that I gave up on abstinence. Have never discussed baclofen with him and almost certainly will not.

I still drink too much every day, but I cut my drinking on weekends/offdays in half, and no longer drink during the overnight hours so am doing better. Not good, but better.

I quit the abilify because I had gained about 30 pounds in 30 days and that was unacceptable. I quit the effexor for a couple of reasons. I didn't feel like it was helping, I was in an AA group that didn't believe in taking anti-depressants, I was just mentally in a very bad place. Instead of going to my Dr and discussing it (my psychiatrist at that time was no longer available to me) I just stopped cold turkey, which was a bad decision. Within a week or so I was drunk. Tried to get a new shrink but the only one I could get an appointment with wouldn't agree to treat me until I had a month of sobriety. Gave up on that route after a few months.

Anyway, that's where I am. Hang in there Keke. Good luck with the Lamictal and hopefully the doc will put you back on naltrexone.

Today I am starting a new post - Doctor on board.