I have searched throughout the forum and can't find an answer to this problem. I have started TSM a few times and each time I throw in the towel because of the side effects. I am on day 8 this time and seem to tolerate a small dose (12.5 mgs) but as soon as I up it to 25mgs I wake up with severe headaches. Any suggestions would be deeply appreciated. I'm going to try the 25mgs again tonight, but am deathly afraid of the headaches. Please tell me they will eventually go away....keek

Hi kekede, I personally have not experienced a problem with headaches whilst on Nal so can't give advice on that matter however it sounds like your body is just very sensitive to this medication, depending on how determined you are perhaps just stick at the lower levels for a couple of weeks then slowly taper up, it doesn't matter if it takes you longer to get up to higher doses perhaps that means it will have a stronger effect on your drinking as well, you may never be able to tolerate 50mg but if it takes away the endorphin rush and slows your drinking then its doing its job regardless:)

Cheers

Wintyr

Thanks for the encouragement wintyr. I think I am finally past the initial side effects. I tested 25 mgs last night and drank probably 6 drinks. I kept the headache at bay by drinking lots of water and cocoanut water and I gradually increased the Nal. AF today as my husband is afraid that I am drinking more because of the Nal. Maybe I am, but it is because I want to be able to take a couple of days off and not have to start at square one. I told him to give me two weeks to acclimate and then I'd try and limit my consumption to two or three days a week. I said I was never going to be able and work TSM if the headaches were as bad as they were the first couple of days, so he is on board with my personal recovery program... Who knows, perhaps I am one of those super responders. One can only hope. Nal on! Keek

Hows it going now Keek, headaches gone? I understand that our support systems are afraid about the necessity to drink when taking Nal obviously being alcoholics this can be an excuse to get right on it! however we are encouraged to drink as we normally would so in the beginning of your journey whilst its good to have AF days remember that whenever you are taking the Nal and drinking your effectively unlearning the euphoric effect of alcohol, my point is that everyday you struggle through an AF day its not going to be as effective as actually taking Nal and drinking (if your craving... if your not that's awesome!) as time goes by and you are not feeling such a strong need to have a drink, those are the days that you go AF, its unbelievable that you actually need to drink (with nal always of course) until we unlearn the desire to drink! but hey that's the science behind this program. Keep in touch.

Cheers

Wintyr:)

The severe headaches have gone away, but I haven't quite got myself to take a full 50 mgs. I am still taking 25+ and plan on 50 this weekend when I can afford to be hungover. I'm still trying to figure out if 3 to 4 days AF in a row is helping this process or hindering it. Ill post my thoughts on my journal page. Thanks for the response wintry. Keek

New side effect? Numbness of skin: feels like I got a small dose of novicaine on my arms and legs. I tried to research the forum to determine if anyone else has experienced this, but to no avail. Keek

Keke,

I have experienced both headaches and numbness in my hands as you have. Although I was experiencing numbness prior to starting TSM. For me, Nal has definitely heightened my hangovers, especially the headaches. I have tried to take a lower dose and have had some success with that. Also, vodka and whiskey seem to cause the worst type of hangover. for me. Oddly enough, tequila doesn't seem to cause as bad a hangover. However, now I am just choosing to take 50 mg and suffer the consequences. I think it is added incentive to not drink on a given day or not to drink too much when I do. I hope this helps.

Thanks JMS, If it doesn't go away after a week or two, I think I will get a drs appt. I googled the numbness and found that alcohol can cause this, but I don't have any of the other symptoms that suggest it is a Vitamin B1 deficiency. I'm trying to give my liver a much needed rest and am taking a powdered vitamin just incase. Who knows, maybe a good scare is what I need to turn that "not really caring about alcohol" corner. Hugs to all. Keek

I know it's been a while since you made this post, kekede, but I just wanted to mention that I too had some KILLER hangovers when drinking with the Naltrexone - terrible, splitting headaches and nausea like I never experienced before Nal. I found that wine in combination with the Nal seemed to be the thing that took my hangovers to epic levels, so I pretty much avoid wine now and stick to mixed drinks when I drink. Now any hangovers I get are just regular instead of horrific. I'm not sure if it's the no wine thing, or if my body just got more used to the medicine, but there you have it.

Are you still getting the headaches? Hopefully you're feeling better!