Hi all,

I wasn't able to register for the forums for quite a while. There are tons of things I'd like to discuss, but I went ahead and ordered naltrexone because I don't want to wait longer than necessary.

I don't have my naltrexone yet. It's NoDict, from River Pharmacy. I've learned (now that I am finally in the forums) that some have serious reservations about that brand. My plan is this -- if I can't feel any of naltrexone's usual effects, I'll chew it.

My biggest question right now is whether I'd make faster progress by drinking regularly or by drinking only when the urge is strong. On the one hand, every drink is perversely medicinal. On the other hand, AF days are good and in fact are needed. Should I Naltrexone + Alcohol frequently? Occasionally? Only when I can't bear not to (I think that's what my husband would like)?

I realize this isn't completely controllable, but I'd like to plan out the fastest possible plan for improvement. Being able to continue to drink is not, in itself, a big goal for me -- I'd be abstinent if I could manage it. Accordingly, it's more important for me to get to "cured" than to enjoy the journey.

I'm currently drinking 2-3 times per week. Maybe that's actually a decent schedule? Given the half-life of naltrexone, one drinking day followed by two AF days might be close to ideal.

And then, of course, I would naturally begin to drink less alcohol less often. Oh, I really hope I'm a fast responder. I just want to be cured and let my family have good lives.

I hope someone will respond, if only to say hi. This board is eerily quiet. Maybe that has something to do with whatever kept me from registering for so long. I'm sure there are others who would like some support with this new method that counters most of what we've been told is gospel.

hi melissa and welcome!

if i were you i would probably take the nal and drink 2-3 days per week similar to how you have been. the most important thing is to always take nal sn hou before you drink.

if you feel an urge to drink, take nal. if you don't feel like you will be drinking, chalk up that af day!

my drinking schedule has taken care of itself. i've had less desire to drink, so i don't!

good luck and keep us posted!

Hi! Nice to meet you. I will definitely always follow the Golden Rule.

Looks like you've made great progress. Congratulations.

Hi Melissa,
Welcome and well done for finally making it onto here. I remember when I tried to join up that it was really hard...I thought it was just me!
The advice in the book is to drink as you normally would...whatever is your normal pattern. For me it was daily, for others it's a weekend binge and for you it seems 2 to 3 times a week. Your brain has to unlearn the patterns and rewards that it has built up over time. Another person on the board (DaveAus) asked something similar and this was my reply to him...



Good luck and let us know how you get on.
Ruth.

Thanks, Ruth. I've read the book, but you know how it is . . . sometimes you want advice from experienced people who will know stuff that didn't make it into the book.

I really, really want to be part of the 70% who are cured. I can't do anything about being one of the 10% who do everything right and aren't affected, but I can do my durndest not to be one of the 20% who screws something up.

Nice to meet you.

Drink, but dont force yourself to drink as much as normal. If you find drinking less appealing, then stop.

I immediately noticed that i no longer enjoyed drinking.

Yup. I had my first dose of nal tonight, and am noticing the same thing.

Over the course of five hours, I've had three and a half beers. I'm kinda nipping at the last one every once in a while, but I'm basically done.

Nobody mentioned how frustrating it was to drink for the effect while also finding that effect blocked. Is this because I only too 25mg and my receptors are half open, thus tantalizing my brain? Or is it always like this, because the response my brain expects just isn't happening?

I guess the new plan, at least for now, is to drink enough to stave off the withdrawal.

Well. If nothing else, it's already quite clear that this method can work if properly used.

Hi melissa,
You're drinking pattern was very simular to mine. I hope TSM works as well for you as it has for me. In the beginning I do remember the frustration of drinking and not getting the effect. I have been following TSM a year now and don't even remember how drinking used to feel, prior to TSM. You will eventually get used to it and it won't seem as strange or frusterating.