Hi everyone,
I've just begun lurking here and am already amazed at the wealth of information available!!! I hadn't heard of Naltrexone until two days ago after an intense session with a psychiatrist..

A little bit of background I guess, as I suppose I am wondering if Naltrexone really is 'for me'. I've had trouble with alcohol since I was about 18 - I started out with a severe eating disorder at 16/17 which developed into bulimia, and alcohol proved to be a panaceum which solved my social anxiety and bingeing (on food) issues and replaced the ED (to some degree at least) for a while. I quickly progressed from weekend college partying to everyday 'comfort drinking', don't really count units but it would amount to several pints a day or at least a bottle or more of wine a day. It went on like that through college.. through my year abroad.. through a year off (I worked in a bar ) through a failed attempt at law school.. increasing in amount, getting to the point of sort of sipping on vodka throughout the day, coupled with the eating issues, a variety of meds, etc...

Anyway.. overall a bad scene which ended up with me in a year long sort of secluded weird bootcamp style therapy program which sort of eliminated the issue for a while. I had periods of abstinence but always broke them with some sort of binge. Until about 3 years ago I started intense therapy a few times a week, found a stable job, started exercising, and somehow things normalized. I still would have a beer or two every evening along with half a tablet of Ambien which I suppose is not good - but I functioned extremely well for a while - sort of stasis.

Fast forward to now - I'm 33, and although for a while I felt I had the booze issue kicked to the curb, it has somewhat resurfaced due to.. Gosh, I'm not even sure what! Change in relationship (positive change, but scary in some ways), job, living situation. But I haven't 'gone off the deep end' so to speak. Sure I like to drink socially, and am actually a real huge fan of craft beer and the craft beer scene which has really kicked off in the country I'm currently living in, but I rarely touch the hard stuff, eating issues for the most part resolved..

The problem is that I still have "episodes" - especially if I mix booze with sleeping pills, which has been catastrophic. I fall, every few months or so, into some sort of binge precipitated (usually) by some sort of stressful life event (arguments, work stress - but nothing DRASTIC like a death in the family). It's generally an escape attempt - an attempt not-to-feel-anything fueled by alcohol and pills and ends up in a couple day 'rampage', causing me to take sick days off work, completely wrecking havoc on my body and sleep cycle. (massive sleep issues when drinking more - completely eradicated when AF/limited social drinking)

And it was sometime after one of those episodes, a severe one which culminated in an overnight stay in Frankfurt airport toilets (don't ask ) that I ended up consulting with the psychiatrist. The episodes were a few months in between (with either abstinence or really low beer drinking in between (e.g. 1 or 2 beers a few nights a week). But recently I had two within two months and sort of panicked. I've gone back into therapy, tossed the Ambien and any other pills almost entirely, and swore off hard liquor (which I'm not THAT much of a fan of, anyway).

I know, with my history, total abstinence is probably the safest way to go.
But I just don't see it happening..
I love craft beer/tasting new styles, exploring it, reading about it, etc (half the time I get more kicks out of READING about the beers and buying them (insane amounts of cash spent on this hobby ) than actually drinking them. Attending festivals, trying out new pubs, that whole scene.

I have some social issues (anxiety, low self-esteem) and I live in a country where NO social gathering happens without alcohol - I don't want to become a hermit! Even my family events are riddled with wine and booze (and my family is obviously aware of my issues). Also the trouble is especially enhanced by the fact that I am in a relationship that I really, really value.. but my boyfriend has his share of alcohol-abuse tendencies (nothing close to my history, but definitely a little too fond of his beer). Being a tee-totaller just doesn't fit into my lifestyle right now, and I'm not feeling the right level of social support. Maybe someday I will go for it?

Anyway, the psychiatrist wanted to chuck me into rehab again. I am not prepared to go that route.. what I want, is to be able to function "normally" as far as alcohol goes. I realize the psychological/therapy side of things is important, getting in touch with myself and kind of learning to deal with emotions, stress, social situations etc.. and not 'escaping' into alcohol or pills or eating freakouts or whatever.. So that's a whole other side to things.

But I wonder if TSM will work for me at least to eliminate the risk of those 'episodes' where I flip out and get wasted and fall into a vicious cycle? Or will it just totally take away any enjoyment I get out of a fine crisp IPA on a Friday night? And the psychiatrist said to take the pill every day - but here I see that's not the case? Or maybe he was assuming I drink every single day to excess (I don't...)

I guess I'm just looking for some advice or answers or support.. and wondering can I ever get back to normal?

Well I guess I will take the first crack at this. Taking Naltrexone (NAL) every day is what the docs usually prescribe but if you are going to do the The Sinclair Method (TSM) then you take it only on the days that you drink and at least one hour before. Most everyone will tell you to start with a half dose or 25mg because it may take your body a little time to get used to it. But you probably know all this from lurking around - but it is always good to see it again. Especially the part of taking it one hour before drinking. Oh, and read the book if you have not already.

Although it is only my opinion, I think TSM would work for you as it has for most others who have followed the rules and given it time to work. There is absolutely nothing to lose by trying it. It is easy. Take a pill, wait, and then drink your drink. You sound like someone who loses control after a certain amount of drinking which is where I started out about a year ago. You may have a few of those episodes if you over drink in the first couple of months but what I have found is that the longer I am on it -the less those occurrences happen. The book or others can explain the science behind it - but I like to keep it simple. Take the pill at least one hour before you drink and try not to get down if you have a few or a lot to many at the beginning. It takes time for the science to work.

It is certainly good to "drink mindfully" but people can plan on having only one or two and end up passed out with no memory on what happened. After all, who ever says " I am going to drink until I wake up in an airport bathroom"! TSM has worked for me in amazing ways. I still have an issue here and there but many others are able to go from heavy drinking to totally abstinence in a short time.

So give it a try and welcome aboard!

I am a little gun shy about writing long posts as I seem to lose them into cyber space way to often. But to answer your question about getting back to normal - you most certainly can. And once you get control of the Alcohol (AL) issue you can deal more effectively with any other issues you need to face.

As far as support comes - there is plenty of it here!

Thanks for the replies!! I am giving it a go.. for now I'm kind of annoyed at the side effects (stomach pain/cramps, sore throat, insomnia/weird dreams..) but it does say everywhere that the side effects pass.. I had a few beers on friday night but nothing crazy, then yesterday I took half a pill ans latrr planned on having a few beers but I just wasnt really feeling it/into them so ended up drinking only like 1,5. Could barely sleep though which is a HUGE trigger for me.. oh well work week ahead and I hope to spend the majority of it AF and so med free as well. Thanks again for the support reboot!!

Eternite - just wanted to say welcome and say that I agree with all that Reboot has written - I am a success story - it took me nearly a year but I have zero interest in AL any more - I sometimes wish I wanted a drink but cannot bring myself to force it on me! What a 180 that is for me! The main thing is to always take the nal at least an hour before drinking. I am sorry that you are getting sleeplessness (possibly from the Nal - but you said that you used to take Ambien? Isn't that a sleeping pill?). Take half a tab for a few days - or even a couple of weeks although it is suggested that you do eventually get to 50 mg. Some people have had success with taking half or even a quarter but I would suggest following the guidelines initially before you try gong down in dose!

I only ever drank Draught Guinness - in the can with a widget over here in USA so understand your liking craft beers - I cannot to this day believe that I would turn down a Guinness if offered one - but I do! I have no interest whatsoever in AL.

I wish you all the best with this - just stick to the Golden Rule and be patient.

hugs, Maggie