I have been a daily drinker (or nearly daily) since I was 16. (I'm 53 now).

6 months ago I went through a sudden break up, moved to Florida to be with my mom—being recently diagnosed with dementia—and knew I had to do something about my lifelong daily drinking habit because I was falling into a deep depression and using drinking to drown it (and make it worse). I went to a few AA meetings which really didn't resonate with me. I needed a more logic-based treatment. I read "How to Change your drinking" by Kenneth Anderson and it mentioned Naltrexone. But then I read a GREAT article in the Atlantic Monthly magazine—April 2015 debunking AA as "the only " treatment and it highly recommended naltrexone. I would suggest reading it, you can find it online at http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/toc/2015/04/

Also, my mom was a pancreatic cancer SURVIVOR and the risk for inheriting the disease increases greatly if guess what...you drink daily. IT WAS TIME in more ways than one! So I did more research and learned about Claudia's story. Bought "The cure for Alcoholism" and read it from cover to cover. I asked my psychiatrist about prescribing it and she read up on it and prescribed it. I am really excited, but have to remind myself a lot that I am only in the 3rd month. I am trying not to be overly enthusiastic with telling people because I don't want to be one of the 20%.

ALSO, I WANT TO LET PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT www.goodrx.com

YOU CAN GET DISCOUNTED DRUGS AT ANY PHARMACY. I ASKED MY DOCTOR BEFORE USING THE COUPON AND SHE SAID IT'S LEGIT. I'VE USED IT EVERY TIME FOR MY NAL. I get it for about $40 for 30 pills.

I also got 90 days of Lexapro for $22 instead of $240. I'm not kidding...this just tells you how drug companies mark up drugs.

Also...I am still drinking almost daily because quite frankly I am BORED. I am living with my mom, whose situation is trying, and I've been grieving my divorce and am just starting to feel like a human being again in terms of socializing. I know I have to put things in the place of my old habit though. I think it's important for us to remember that there is some work that needs to be done on the part of the person too. Nal is going to diminish the physical neural superhighway that we've created in our brains but it does not completely BLOCK it. I started to go to the gym with a trainer 2 evenings a week (happy hour time).

Also, for me I only buy little shots, not bigger bottles of booze. I have gotten down to only a 2 shot purchase! I used to buy 4—just in case I needed it But would most of the time end up drinking whatever I bought. Now I just buy 2, and have light beer after that and have some NA beer on hand too. I'll mix it half and half with the regular beer with a lime and it tastes just like a regular Corona, and stretches out the drinking time without putting all the alcohol in. Feels better in the morning I can tell you that!

For me, drinking at home has always been worse than in the bar. I'm always the one watching everyone else get drunker than me. I do the glass of water in between and am much more conscious of the amount I am drinking than when at home. So, I am feeling so lucky to be a part of this discovery and am feeling hopeful!!!

Well done derien62
Yes that Atlantic article is terrific - Gabrielle Glaser is an amazing journalist and writer. Lots of respect for her...
Good luck and hang in there!
Linda

keep it up derien! you're making real progress.

Derien - it sounds as if you are really doing well - you have done a lot of research and reading and think things through so well with your drinking. I think it is admirable that you are helping your mum and so sorry about your divorce - hard at any time in life but I think it must be harder when we are older!

I understand the boredom thing too - I have actually stopped drinking - just do not want to - but found that I needed something to take the place of it - I drink a LOT of tea, but because I used to drink when I got in from work ( around 1.00 pm) and only for a few hours, I didn't really waste time drinking - I would go on the treadmill WITH my Guinness! LOL I was really happy to read about your going to the gym and having a trainer - good for you! I too only ever drank at home.

I think that even though you are only in your third month, you are doing fine - to be honest, and this is just for me, but I think it was good that it took as long as it did, simply because that way my habit thing was changed! If I had a few AF days previously as in the first 6 months or so of taking Nal, I would feel that I was floundering and something was missing - I wasn't craving the AL as such - not even sure what I was missing but something was missing - whereas by the time I was cured, my body had stopped looking for whatever it was it was looking for ... I am not good at explaining things and that is the best I can do - but anyway I think that you are doing really well. this is a roller coaster ride and you will get there in the end - hang in there!

hugs, Maggie x

OK...I just posted on another of your replies that I didn't want to wait 11 months for it to work! But I get it that you also have to change the habits and that takes time. It's kind of like a crash diet versus a small but steady change of lifestyle I guess. I just wonder if taking 75mg is bad for you? Or should I wait 90 minutes instead of 60? What will shave some time off the cure time?
Thanks!

Derien -

Perhaps try planning an AF weekend? Have you read about that in the book? It's nothing you should white knuckle about, just plan on not drinking and if the craving doesn't show up, go with the flow. If it does, then follow the Golden Rule. If you make it 2 days, then go for an endorphin releasing activity on the 3rd.

Also, maybe try breaking the Nal in half and taking both halves. If no difference, then try waiting 90 minutes, if still no change then maybe bump it up to 75mg, but like Maggie says, you're fairly early on.

I've got to say though, if you're at 2 shots a day then you're within guidelines and that's great!

OH Derien - you are SUCH early days yet - I disagree with Joe and definitely would not go up to 75mg - maybe in 7-8 months if you are still not 'there' but not now - it will not help you at all yet! Joe had a good idea in breaking the Nal in half and also waiting 90 mins - I liked your analogy of a crash diet VS a life style change - that is a good one! I know that we all want it to work NOW but you did not get to where you are overnight .... and you are not going to be cured overnight. Please hang in there and just stick to the Golden Rule ..... and trust me, if I had known something to shave time off the cure time, I would have been there like a shot!

Hugs, Maggie x

Thanks... it's 2 shots plus 2 beers. So pretty much 4 units every day and sometimes more. I mainly don't want to drink every day.

Thank you!