Okay... below is my weekly progress.

Prior to TSM I did not keep track, but it is safe to say, the number is well above my first weeks average. Easily 90 realistically closer to 100. I used to start drinking between 11am and 2pm. Sometimes as early as 9:30.... Was usually done early during the week... towards the end, I would pass out during the week about 8 pm a couple of times a week. Weekends drank all day and into the night.

Number of drinks (standard units) per week and Alcohol Free Day..... Editors 10/30/15
Week 1: 78.83. 0 Alcohol Free Days
Week 2: 57.13. 0 AF
Week 3: 57.93. 0 AF
Week 4: 40.66 0 AF
Week 5: 39.73. 1 AF
Week 6: on progress

Average daily since starting TSM.... 7.82 Standard units per day

I don't believe this QUICK drop will be sustained. I expect an increase before dropping again. And I am interested to see what happens when I go see the in-laws over the next few holidays. We drink a LOT. I will probably up my dose. Right now, I take 1/2 pill if I drink in the daytime and the other 1/2 if I am still drinking in the late afternoon. But if I anticipate heavy days (holidays and vacations, I may bump that up to one whole pill an hour before, then another half or whole going into the evening.

I keep pills in all my vehicles, at home, at the office, in my girlfriend's purse as well as a couple in a pill container on my key ring. At this early stage if I am having a great day, I get an urge to drink, If I am having a crappy day, I get an urge to drink. However, the urge to drink has diminished if I am having a productive day.

I use ALCOHDROID app to track my drinking. Very easy to use and allows me to put in notes regarding cravings, how much of a pill I took etc.

Ben

Sounds like you are on the right path ONM. A 50mg pill ought to last you for 24 hours which for most of us is good enough for one night drinking. But you seem to have a good plan in place. A booster may be necessary if you continue to drink through the pills half life.

I used the Alcodroid app too. It works great doesn't it? So easy to use and that is very helpful keeping tabs. My family came for a visit a few weeks ago and we also tend to drink a lot. My father and I especially. I had about 4 glasses of wine but had to help my father up the stairs to bed because he was too drunk to walk. So you can do it!

Ben,

It sounds like you have a plan and are on the right track. You may be correct in stating that your intake may go up again until you start to see another decline; however, some don't. I think it is depending on that chase..if you are ready to completely give it up or not (I was, but I wasn't...if that makes sense).

Your progress looks awesome to start, keep posting!

Jaba

Sounds like you are off to a great start!! Nal On!! Newlife

I don't like this. You can take half doses after your cured, or a half dose after a full dose if you're on a bender, but right now, 50mg before you drink buster.

You need to block all of the receptors.

So does a half pill block all the receptors half the time or half the receptors for all the time. This is very important question.....

But tonight, I did not drink until 730.I knew I would watch the series. So I took half a pill at 615. From 730 on I drank four pints.... Beer go yucky and I came home and drank two Miles Margaritas cut 50/50 with gingerale. Still ended up being g above my 7 day average. However it was only 5.33 drinks for the entire day.
I have been doing the half pills since about day 10. I'm reluctant to do a whole pill if I don't need it so that I can build up a cache of a couple extra pills in case I need more than a whole one, and because I don't like the idea of having asmuch NAL in me the next day.

I think my progress has been great.

I will consider going back to one whole pill ( which now only do if I know I will be out an extended amoi for time).

.....advice? Thoughts?

All the research and studies use a dose of 50mg's so that is what is recommended and that is what has been proven to work. When I first started TSM I was scared quite frankly. I even put it off for over a month after getting my Naltrexone in the mail. I finally decided to give it a go and took 1/4 tab. I responded instantly to it and since that very first dose going on about 5 months now I have not been drunk once. I take about 1/3rd tab now an hour before I drink. I've never taken more then a half. IT's different for different people but I say if it works for you then there is no sense in taking more.

In general though it's probably best to play by the rules and for new comers to start on one quarter or a half for the first week and build up to a full dose. I was just lucky.

Thanks Ocean. That is good insight. I notice that a half is very effective. I am meeting g a couple of ladies for happy hour now and am confident that I will only have a couple. But I have some down time tonight during kiddos confirmation so I will take another half and watch a couple of innings of the world series.

Ben,

I think it is a choice that you will have to make by looking at your progress. I knew the dangers of taking a lesser dose, and I didn't want to take any chances, but there are a few on this forum that have progress on a lesser dose.

Only you can tell if your receptors are being blocked, and your desire is down...BUT be aware of how that stupid lizard booze brain works, for it wants you drunk and will try to deceive you to get you there, and it wants that endorphin rush really bad by now.

I think the theory is 50 mg last 24 hours, and 25 mg last 1/2 of that; however, not everyone receptors are blocked with the 25 mg or even the 50 mg for some cases, so please be careful.

Have fun tonight,

Jaba

Lot of good information here. I think that keeping it simple as discussed earlier is a good idea. So I will take a full pill unless I don't start drinking until evening, then just a half. I don't drink late into the night.

My concern is that I may be blocking receptors, but if the medicine wears off, then the alcohol creeps in. So then the NAL taken later has less receptors to block because alcohol has filled the void. That would be bad.

Thanks for the thoughts.

Ben