I am glad to hear what happens if one increases the dose. I am still on 12,5 mg, but if needed might go up in the future. I think that Nal works as an initial mechanism that suppresses the urge, but then learned techniques need to come into place. I do not think that Nal does the job of changing ones habits, but only helps with craving. From my own experience, I can attest that it is very important to keep control of how many drinks one orders, whether one drinks water or not and what kind of alcohol one consumes. Beer is better than wine when one is starting with Nal. I did not yet drink hard liquid while on Nal and I also do not have desire for it. Mostly, I like small amounts of beer or wine and then I am happy. I now never drink alone at home and when I am out with my kids, I often order juice and do not envy other people at other tables who drink wine. This is quite a change for me.

TamTam

Exactly. Naltrexone will not "cure" anything, all it does is makes drinking less pleasurable so you won't enjoy drinking to excess.

Dose is likely irrelevant, unless you are for some reason drinking excessively. If you're continuing to do that, why bother ?

Change your habits and you will change your life.

Agree. 50 mg Nal blocks opoid sensors for 24 hrs. More won't get more. Less gets blockage for less time. And you get endorphin activity when Nal wears off. The rest you have to do. Sorry.
Big applause, Tamtam. Sounds like you are fully utilizing the tiny miracle that is Nal.
Steve.

Je,

I was just wondering how things have been going for you. I hope to hear an update soon.


Jaba

jaba, thanks for checking up. It's always great to feel as though other people are genuinely interested in the progress of others!

After a few days of trying out the 100 mg dose I decided it wasn't providing any noticeable benefit over 50 mg, so I am back to 50 mg now. The last few nights I've been drinking somewhere between 8-12 drinks a night, which is what I was usually doing during the first 2 months of TSM. I guess when I went on that binge it kind of reset the whole process and it's as though I'm having to start over or something. Last time it took 2 months to go from the 8-12 a night pattern down to the < 15 a week goal. I'm hoping it won't take that long this time because I start school very soon, but I am trying to remain hopeful that it will work again since it worked before. I'm going to try to make today an AF day so I can clear my head a bit.

Je - maybe you had an extinction burst when your intake went up ? Just a thought ......

Hugs, Maggie x

Je,

Maggie has a good point. Do you get any nal. overs from drinking so much? And are you pacing you drinks?

I am afraid to go over 3 drinks at this point in time and after 3 is usually when I start feeling slightly buzzed.

This process will work again for you. Do not worry about that. Sometimes we have to work at the process to help it along.

We will be here for you if you need anything.


Jaba

Je, I think you will be better off and that it's not like starting all over again. You have already put a lot of work into it. I think it's also important to understand that alcohol is still alcohol. The Naltrexone will block the opioidergic response but alcohol still affects other systems in the brain and body. I think that what we who practice TSM might be doing is equating that response to what it was like to drink before taking Naltrexone. Even when I am on Naltrexone I still 'enjoy' drinking. Interestingly enough now I actually enjoy it for the taste, that common lie I'd use in the past to have more. But for me 'the chase' is clearly gone though I still feel the physiological response to alcohol. So there is still a buzz present though I don't feel the urge to chase it into oblivion. So I think we tend to confuse those two issues and perhaps our brains even though blocking the endorphin rush are still trying to get us there by drinking more and feeling the body buzz.

What he said!

Yeah. I find Ocean's assessments usually true to my experience and understanding.