I am a new member. I started Naltrexone on 3/25 and it is now 5/1...so about 38 days. The first two-three days were rough. Wish I had read about the side effects and easing onto it. Now I don't notice a thing. I noticed a difference right away, that the first sip didn't give me the same buzzy feeling. So far, I don't notice that buzz anymore but I do still often continue to drink. I am always compliant and I am hopeful for results eventually.

I was happy to find this drug. I have had a problem with alcohol for about 4 years and I am 62. I spent the last two years avoiding AA but trying other kinds of ways to heal or change. Finally, I was doing a job skills inventory and thought, what the hell. Why am I spending all this time and money looking for 'what's wrong with me" when the problem is this tiny piece of the pie chart of my life? I have a wonderful life, a husband who loves me, lots of friends. I don't need fixing.

I am happy to have found this forum. What a miracle this could be. I am somewhat sad and angry that the information about Naltrexone is not available to more people. I had a brother who died two years ago of the effects of alcohol. He might have been helped by this. Instead he was forced time after time after time to AA. Maybe he would be alive if someone (a doctor?) had told him this was available.
The doctor I see what happy to prescribe it for me but I went prepared. I had done a lot of reading, I knew the research, I knew the method. Even though the FDA approved it for use with abstinence, she had no problem with me using it the way I described. She was going to go home and do some reading about it. Bless her heart. She didn't hand me an AA pamphlet.

I have not been good about charting my progress. Some nights I start to count and then quit. I don't know how helpful this would be...except that I would see I am making progress. I am interested to know if others do this.

I was a little discouraged yesterday so came here to register and read the stories of other folks who have been successful. I also participate in the Options Save Lives forum.

Thanks for being here and for reading.

Welcome Othila. I am only a little farther in than you. Sometimes get discouraged too. I like your perspective: alcohol is only a little piece of our pie charts. We are not irretrievably broken lost souls. This is just something we have to deal with. And Thank God we have found something that can help us.

Good luck to you and keep posting so that we can see how you are doing. Nal on!! Newlife

Thanks for your reply. That's the paradox, isn't it? That alcoholism is a disease but the things we are taught will fix it, are spiritual. How does that make sense?

It's easy to get discouraged some days when I wake up hungover, again. But I am trying to focus on the days when I have 2-3 and stop. Or the weeks it takes me 4 days to go through a box of wine instead of 2 days. There is hope.

I will keep posting my progress. You, too! Best wishes!

Welcome Othila and please keep posting and also yes it is a good idea to track your units - it does show how we are doing! This is not a quick fix but things will not change if I do not do something - so I intend to keep on with Nal until it works no matter how long it takes!

Hugs, Maggie x

Othilia makes me think of the sons of anarchy. Total fan I am.

LOL .....

Othila is a Nordic rune. It's symbolic of a time of separating paths. Old skins must be shed, outmoded relationships discarded. Othila is a rune of radical severance. I chose it as a symbol of my saying good-bye to old garbage in my life...old pains and resentments and emotional baggage. I went through treatment for breast cancer and it was symbolic of my reclaiming my life after that, too. The past few years have been a time of many changes for me...most of them good...and I count my efforts to leave alcohol behind as one of the good changes.

Welcome, Othila.

I started taking Nal back in March and almost immediately cut my drinking in half.

From reading and posting on these forums, I've learned these 2 things:

1. Always take your nal an hour before drinking alcohol.
2. Be patient.

Most feel that they've kicked alcohol after following this method anywhere from 2 to 6 months; some take even longer, a year or two.

Everyone's journey is a little bit different.

Best of luck to you. Stay strong, stay vigilant, and good things will happen.

Sincerely,
Kevlar

started TSM: 03/07/2015
before TSM: 90 - 100 US units/wk / 0 days AF

wk1 - 59 / 0 AF
wk2 - 36 / 1 AF
wk3 - 64 / 0 AF
wk4 - 59.5 / 0 AF
wk5 - 56 / 0 AF
wk6 - 56 / 0 AF
wk7 - 54 / 0 AF

LOVE the reasoning for your name ! I too am a BC survivor !! I often wonder if it was 'cos of the amount of AL that I drank that I got it - but I guess we will never know! I have PM'd you .....

Good luck with the Nal - we CAN and will do this !!

Hugs, Maggie x

Today is my 41st day on Naltrexone. I have been absolutely compliant...never having a drink less than an hour after taking my pill. On Saturday night, I had a drink before going to a bar to hear a band. I had three drinks in the bar over about two hours. I remember going home! I didn't stumble on my way out! I had two more glasses at home but I was in better than usual shape. On Sunday, I had a glass of wine at a picnic, then two more at home. Then I was done. Today, I have a strong feeling, could be my first alcohol free day in a while. I looked at the box this morning and almost had an aversive reaction. In the past, it didn't take long in the morning before I was plotting how to have a glass of wine in the afternoon. I am hoping this means progress is being made in my old brain!

So good to hear from all of you!