Badger, I am so glad to hear that you upped your dose and finally feel yourself regaining control. Good on you!! YAY!! Nal on! XOXO Newlife

Hi Badger, glad that upping the dose is making a difference and I am going to do the same next time I drink. I just have to make sure I have enough Nal to support this double dose.
Nal On!

Badger - I am so happy that you have upped your dose and are feeling a difference - and although it might feel like you are starting over, it really isn't - and even if it is, well - as long as it is working now that is all that matters - right ? I am so sorry that you have had to do this - I could tell how discouraged you were getting. hopefully now, things will start moving for you much faster !!

Hugs, Maggie x

week 42 update:

I rather lost my way over the summer & hadn't had an AF for over two months. I really struggle with sleep without AL & just hadn't been able to make the mental leap to get back into having AF's until a few weeks back. I managed 1 AF in week 40, & then 3 AF's last week, with virtually no craving, which was a pleasant surprise. I'm off work this week, so I'm going for at least 5 AF, with the hope of getting my sleeping back into something approaching a normal pattern

I read recently about "sleep restriction" as a way of dealing with insomnia, which kind of made sense to me, so I'm giving it a try:

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/aug/28/sleep-restriction-therapy

-badger

Are you still at a higher dose Badger ? I was just curious .... and how long after you went up did you start finding it easier to have AF days ? Really pleased for you that things are starting to get better ..... it has been a long road for you (and is turning out to be a long road for me too - I am right behind you ).

Hugs, Maggie x

yes, still taking 100mg. it took me a while - 4-6 weeks - to get to the point of having AF's, but that was far more about making the mental leap to break the habit/belief I wouldn't sleep than about cravings

I'm still, unfortunately, more than capable of drinking "through" the Nal to excess, although, again, that may be more habit than anything else. it'll be interesting to see how I drink after stringing a few non-white-knuckled AF days together

-badger

Hey Badger - did you have many side effects when you upped your dose to 100mg? I don't really think I need it myself right now - but on those days I know I am drinking through my NAL I have been taking a half pill. It has worked for me (I say that because i did not end up blacking out on those days) but other days I have out drank the second dose. I have been hesitant to take a second 50mg pill on the same 24 hours.

Just wondering?

Congratulations on your AF days and best of luck trying to sleep.

I didn't have any issues when going to 75/100mg, but I've been pretty lucky with SE's. I only ever got a bit "spacey" the first few times I took Nal, never any nausea, etc.

Thanks badger - maybe I will try going up to 100 when I know I am in for a long week-end. A few side effects may make me stay away from trying to be the last man standing at the party. Thanks

weekly update:

rather a good week. 5 AF's, one fairly moderate night & one not so moderate, but still not ridiculous night. no real cravings for most of the AF's; got a bit twitchy not drinking on saturday night, but not enough that I got close to giving in to it

I really feel like I've turned a corner. last week's levels feel sustainable with not much effort - definitely no white-knuckling involved. there's still some work to do on how much I consume when I do drink, but I was under safe levels for the week, which is an enormous step forward

I'm also sleeping a lot better, always a big issue for me, which is helping a lot. still some pretty vivid dreams, but it's early days & they should calm down with time

-badger