I have been taking Nal since the beginning of May 2015. I experienced a brief honeymoon phase and then continued on through most of the summer with no apparent change. Did not make me want to drink less and certainly did not help me stop. Pretty much drinking every day. Then, in late July-early August, I started to experience a strong desire not to drink but would still do so each evening. I determined that Nal had helped me overcome the physical craving, but I skill had to kick the habit. When the kids started back to school this year I had to be up at 5:45. I figured the schedule change was a great catalyst to stopping the daily drink and I made a committment to not drink on school nights. Since mid-August, I have been highly successful with this effort and I have LOVED, LOVED, LOVED, being sober.

Here is the catch though...

I have had two weekends in this time period in which I decided to drink on a Friday night. I took my Nal and drank as I typically did the first time. The next day I thought I was going to die I felt so bad. Normally, I don't have hangovers, even when I was drinking daily. This was the worst. So bad, I was in bed all day. The following weekend, I thought I woud be a bit smarter and really watched my drinking. I had less than before and was even sicker than the previous weekend. I finally determined that it must have something to do with both the extended ABS (6 days) and taking the full 50mg. Nal.

I opted for Nal because I wanted to significantly decrease my drinking but not necessarily stop the rest of my life. Certainly I have a few options:
(1) Don't drink...ever
(2) Reduce amount of drinks on an occassion even more significantly, but always take Nal first
(3) Reduce Nal from a full tablet to maybe half dose + reduce amount of intake

I am committed to the program of Nal and the golden rule, so stopping the treatment plan is not an option. It is clearly helping me.
Interested in hearing from others who may be experiencing this as well.

Hikergirl,

I am right there with you with those nal. overs. I am trying to string along af days to see when I finally have to a good endorphin rush, for I haven't yet. The only thing that I have noticed with drinking after being abs is disappointment, like waiting to ride a rollercoaster and it being a total let down after riding type of disappointment. This is the second week of me being able to achieve an af day without struggling and I am trying to hit 4 days (last week it was 3). I know I had to watch my limit before I could even do an af day, for I didn't want a nal. over (no more than 3 glasses of wine). So if I do have issues I will post it here. It is funny for I tried to find out why I felt so bad after drinking and I couldn't find anything about nal. overs either.

I did read in T.I.P.S. (which there is a link here somewhere on this forum) that a maintenance dose can be 25 mg; however, that is from an al. rehab for abstinence. (You may want to consult the options saves lives forum).

So, when you drank last weekend, did you start to feel buzzed or did you stop or spread out your drinking so that buzz feeling never happens?

I think it might just be the amount of al., but I could be wrong. I think I remember UK blonde saying the nal. overs would be unpredictable, and I hope she will chime in here.

I do hope you can figure this out soon, for TSM isn't about being abstinence, at least I thought it wasn't.

Jaba

Hikergirl - I too now get Nal-overs - but they vary with the amount that I drink. I have had one with as few as 2 drinks - and have never had more than 5 drinks with Nal - but had a doozy with the 5 drinks ! The Nal-Overs do not always hit - but when they do - WOW. I did not get them for months - and never used to get hangovers either so the Nal-Overs were a rude awakening for me. I honestly do not know what to suggest - I cannot see any rhyme nor reason for them - the most AF days I had was 3 and did not get one that next day when I drank ..... maybe someone else can offer advice ?

Sorry you felt so bad - hang in there as you have been doing SO well,

Hugs, Maggie x

It could very well be that a period of abstinence has lowered your tolerance to Naltrexone and so it's almost like starting over again. If in the past you were successful with 25mg then I'd say go for that after abstinence so as to ween back on to the Naltrexone. But that's just my personal educated guess based on many years of alcohol and drug use and knowing what works for me. Unfortunately it's different for everyone. I've not ever had a Nal-Over <knocks on wood> and 12.5mg has been good enough for me so far.

My question for you is, when you take Naltrexone and wait an hour does that first drink give you a euphoric endorphin buzz like you remember pre-TSM? When you take a first drink does your mind and body demand that you take more or are you just wanting more and acting on old habit?

As for the options you listed number three sounds like the right one to try for now.

Another day lost to a terrible Nal-over. I took .25mg of Nal last night. One of the things that Nal does not do for me is curb the amount that I drink. Thinking I was on to something by taking less Nal, I was not as diligent on managing my intake. Today, I am thinking the whole drinking thing is not really worth it. Yes, I do still get a buzz on Nal, but I also get drunk too fast and loose sense of when it is time to stop. Think I might shoot for a much longer period of ABS this time around. I had so many things I had hoped to accomplish today and did not get a single thing done. I really do like my ABS days. It is amazing how much energy goes into planning the drink, thinking about the drink, drinking, and feeling guilty about the drink. On my ABS days, I am free of all of that. I have enjoyed my ABS days much better than I did my binge last night and certainly much more than how I am feeling today. Maybe this whole situation is a blessing.

Hikergirl,

I am so sorry to hear that you got another nal. over and you are right about them not being worth it. I know it is hard and you will figure out what is going to work for you, so please do not give up hope.

I had a really hard time with them, but I limited my intake and stop before that buzz feeling and I haven't had one since (well, in about a month). I have noticed that the very first drink after being abs is disappointing, and it is easier for me to quit before I get to that limit. If I have more than 3 I would keep on drinking and regret it in the morning. You will need to find your limit if and/or when you drink again.

I do hope you feel better soon,

Jaba

Hikergirl I don't have any advice because I haven't had the nalovers. I have been still drinking ALMOST every day but just cutting back and right now that seems to be working for me. I don't think it could hurt to cut down the dose a few times and see what that does for you. Also, if you could stop altogether and be happy, why not? You'd save money, time, etc etc.

Really sorry for what you've gone through, though. It sounds awful. But I am proud (and envious) of all your AF days. I want to increase those myself, though I have to say things are going well for me. Last night (Saturday), I slowly drank one glass of wine and later had one delicious cocktail while watching a movie. I could never have done that pre-TSM. So it does work, we each just have to figure out what is best for us.

Let us know how things go for you!!

XOXO Newlife

Be proud newlife, for I know I am of you! Bravo!

Hikergirl, I have not had a Nal over and not too sure what it is, but I hope yours get better. Doesn't sound fun.

I'm going to PM you regarding my experience with my drinking and the nal, so I don't get off subject here.

You are amazing to the AF days. I can't get one yet )

Nalovers are horrendous hangovers which happen during TSM for no apparent reason. It's not related to intake or stage of the process.

I would have said reducing the dose runs the risk of increasing intake.

I used nalovers to put me off drinking, which by the time I had one, with the aid of TSM I could achieve but later on when I did have some heavier sessions I didn't experience one - I did however feel really rubbish both during the drinking and afterwards.

Hangovers, no I didn't get them pre-TSM, I only vomitted for 8 hours and had a splitting headache.