I have been using naltrexone (Kiwi Drugs-Revia) since the Atlantic article. I didn't use it "right" so it hasn't worked for me. So! I am taking the med 1 hour before drinking and keeping a diary.
I haven't had any SE at all--I am expecting an order from River Pharmacy (cheaper) which will be a different brand. Since I have been measuring the alcohol (gin) in my drinks, I am appalled by how much I have been drinking. 5 units (125 ml) per drink! Always at least 3 drinks--can't remember anything past that. In fact, I don't trust any numbers I post after my 2nd drink. My current goal is just to remember getting to bed. Amazing I don't have hangovers. This has been going on for a long time-I'm worried about health issues although nothing has cropped up so far. I drink every night (except 8 AF days per month when I work.) I started the diary April 18 and so far haven't seen any progress. I think this site will help, especially the advice to use your conscious brain to think about what you are guzzling. I am an expert at "Magical Thinking" and expected it to just work without any effort on my part. Of course.

Thanks for all your advice and accounts of the struggle.

Good deal, StL! Welcome to the forum and thanks for posting!

Keep in mind that it only covers you for about 12 hours, so if you're drinking beyond that, or drinking when you wake up, then you'll need to take another dose and wait an hour. What brand are you getting from River Pharmacy? It seems the Nodict brand may have a tougher coating, so you might need to wait 90 minutes or break the pill and take both halves.

Are you taking any other meds?

Thanks for the welcome! I only drink in the evenings so the once daily timing is convenient. Haven't received supply from River yet so I don't know what brand I ordered- seems like there were 2 choices. Will definitely keep the 90 minute interval in mind. As for other meds, just the usual fat American ones- blood pressure, statins, etc. Someone posted a depressing observation that the unsuccessful 20% were characterized by lack of SE from taking the drug and still experiencing an almost audible relief while drinking. This would be me so far, but here's hoping.

Yeah, I don't know about that post. Plenty of people don't have SE's from Nal. Usually how it's broken out is (of the 20%) half aren't compliant and half do comply but it simply doesn't do anything for them. I've read plenty of posts that say "something is missing", but then I never noticed anything missing myself. I still get the relaxing feeling and still got toasted if I drank too much, but I've dropped from about 84 units/wk to the low 20's. Looks like I'm on course to dip under 20 this week. Even if it turns out that it doesn't work for you, there are other meds you can look at. Something for everybody out there, for sure.

I'd suggest making another run at recording your drinks. I have a spreadsheet I cooked up that tracks my daily numbers and I just rigged it to give me a running total for the week. Now that weekly total is popping into my mind when I reach for the next beer (a welcome intrusion of conscious thought), so there's a little fight at the 'fridge (ahh... yeah, naw... I don't really need to open another.), kinda helps me out. Let me know if you want a copy.

If you haven't read The Cure for Alcoholism, we can get you a free PDF copy of that too.

Have a look at Joanna's post, she gives some good suggestions about mindful drinking:

http://optionssavelives.freeforums.net/ ... hints-tips

Aside from that, you might try purposely breaking up the first couple of drinks, like take a sip, put it down and walk away. That helps by removing a visual cue and you're also not holding it in your hand. Come back in a bit and have another sip, just keep working that angle and see if you can expand it, so you're not hoovering up the first drink or two as ususal. I also (for instance) quit taking my beer out with me when I had a smoke. That connection was a prime example of unconscious drinking, that beer would be gone in about 15 minutes, so maybe look for where you have a similar connection (talking on the phone, watching the tube, etc.). What you're trying to do here is both break up the habit and allow so space for indifference/ambivalence to surface, so hunt for it at the beginning, towards the end, maybe it will be somewhere in between. The Nal is going to be driving you in that direction, so keep an eye peeled for it.

Another tactic is "Selective Extinction", that's mentioned in the book. It's a good opportunity to culture some desirable habits to replace the drinking habit and Nal can help you with that too.

If you're in the US, CThree Foundation has a list of physicians, the "verified" ones know how to prescribe Nal per TSM:

http://www.cthreefoundation.org/find-a-physician.html

I say that because not only is it good to have a TSM doc in your corner, but you can use GoodRx.com to get the Nal for about $40 if you're paying out of pocket.

Well, "Nal On" and let us know if we can help!

welcome. I too started taking Nal shortly after the Atlantic article last year. it's been sort of a lifesaver. keep it up!

Welcome seekthelight. Looking forward to reading about your progress. Just always take the nal one hour before drinking!! Nal on!!

Newlife

Hi there and welcome. It isn't so much that folk do not have SE's that I think was the deciding factor in being one of the 20% for whom is doesn't work - but more if they have a 'honeymoon period' or not. You said that you have been taking nal for a fair while - so it is possible that you are used to it hence not having SE's - all I had was some mild nausea for a few days - but otherwise I had no SE's really to speak of. It can take some time to work - I warn you - it took me 11 months to the day and I thought it was NEVER going to work for me - but as I often say on here - there simply was no alternative for me.

Do try to record your intake - mainly because when we think it is never going to work - or think it isn't working at all, when we check our intake, we can usually see that it has gone down - even if only a little.

How long have you been doing TSM rather than just taking the naltrexone - and how were you taking it before?

hugs, Maggie

Welcome aboard - and best of luck - it really does work and it is very simple when you think of it - take a pill and wait an hour or an hour and a half and feel free to drink -of course it works better when you do try trying to start cut back. Sometimes it takes a while before the NAL gets you to the point where you have a choice to put the gin down or have another. So don't get discouraged if you continue to drink above normal at the start.

Been a while, but I want to thank everyone for their replies and suggestions. And, I think I am doing much better. I've been measuring (Yea!) and have stuck with 70 ml or less per drink. Still too much, but my lizard brain won't allow for less at this point. Plus I stop at 3 or less. I know this nightly amount is more than the recommended WEEKLY amount for women, but I'll take this as a step in the right direction. My diary is still a work in progress--need to stop obsessing over the exact amount. Trying to guesstimate how many ml I threw out (Again, YEA!) takes way too much time. Does anyone know how to factor in ice cube meltage?? lol

Yes StL, it sounds like you're doing better indeed! Keep logging those drinks and keep inviting your conscious mind to notice what's going on for you.

Another tactic is to change your start time by a bit. Take the Nal 15 min later than you usually do and so start drinking 15 min later than usual. Once you get comfortable with that, maybe push it out a bit further.

All in all, you seem to be off to a good start, so keep it going and keep posting!