I took my usual 75 mg yesterday afternoon (the first time in a couple weeks) before meeting a date for drinks, which got moved to today because he had to work late. I ended up not drinking (a first for me on nal, if you don't count the time I got sick with food poisoning in the intervening hour), but I've been feeling cruddy since then--lethargic, queasy, etc. I thought I'd have sufficiently washed out by this morning to hit the gym, but I didn't get much out of my workout but pain and grim satisfaction. And it occurs to me that I haven't felt great the last few times I've taken nal and drank, though I chalked it up in the past to having a far lower tolerance than I used to.

I didn't use to feel like this, though. For a while I found it remarkable how little difference I felt other than the reduced cravings. Has anyone else started tolerating nal less well over time?

Hi Epenthesis, I've read through some of your posts and it looks like you've done exceptionally well. Congrats! I'd have to say that I worry about the sensitivity thing but am so early on in the process that I just can't go there right now. From what I've read here over the past couple of weeks, people often do develop an intolerance to the Nal. In fact, some just give up the alcohol because as they say "it's just not worth it".

Anyhow, I'm sure some others will chime in here, but I wanted you to know that I'm reading your posts. I wish you well. Keek

Thanks, Keek! I'm mostly very happy with naltrexone since it's given me my life back--better, even; I became an alcoholic before I'd built a career or started working on my appearance, so I'd never really enjoyed the fruits of any of that.

I'd be content never to drink again, but there are some occasions in my life that are much easier if I can have a glass or two to deflect questions, put people at their ease, etc. (To say nothing of the fact that one isn't too liable to get lucky after a date at Starbucks.) If this reaction is as bad as it gets, I can certainly live with it, but I'm hoping that it's a passing thing.

It's been a year. Since the pleasurable feeling after the drink isn't there anymore with naltrexone, further drinking doesn't happen.

I found I'm not really interested in drinking most days because I know that. That's good, that's what I was hoping for.

Still can drink at events, but generally just a little, or not at all, because it just doesn't seem to matter anymore.

The real question I wonder about is, what was I ever getting out of the drinking anyway. That's something to think about. Yes that is something to think about indeed.

Bumping this because, OMG, the nausea. It's 14 weeks or so now since I started with Nal and I seem to be tolerating it less well. I am on two other psychoactive drugs as well, so it's hard to identify which one's causing the problems, but Nal is the only new one. In the beginning I had no problems whatsoever. A little lightheadedness with the first couple of doses, but that's all.

Now it feels like my brain is trying to punish me. I think I had a nal-over the last couple of days when I didn't even drink all that much (for me) and it's just constant nausea, depression/crying, and one instance of actual vomiting. Weirdly, alcohol is the only thing that quells the nausea for any length of time, so I've forced a few drinks, grudgingly.

I'm still committed to this protocol and trying to look at the whole thing as a rite of passage or something, but has anyone else out there had this experience? Is it possible to do TSM on a dose of less than 50mg, or to split the dose to twice daily (since I tend to be an all-day drinker rather than confine my intake to discrete "sessions")?

For me, personally it got better. But like others are saying, just go with it and continue on your path. I haven't tried taking it and then not drinking yet. I imagine it would put a little damper on things.

Epenthesis, I had the same reaction as you. It didn't bother me at all, but once I stopped drinking and taking Nal, then when I would take a Nal, -I did not like the effect at all. Seemed much stronger than it was. Last time I did it I thought if I need to have a drink again, I was going to take a half-dose. Weird, -but no question it happened to me that way.

I seemed to tolerate it better if i took 25mgs, waited an hour, then took another 25mg, wait another hour, then drink.