So I have been taking naltextrone (50 mg) since March 3, 2015. I have had ups and downs. I still drink 5-6 times per week. However I drink MUCH MUCH less than I previously did, rarely get drunk anymore, but still have had this nagging feeling in the back of my mind: has it really worked for me when I am still drinking almost daily?

I have been 100% compliant. Until last Friday.

Last Friday afternoon I was rushing around to go out of town, nothing unusual. If that had been all that happened I would not have forgotten to take the nal. Then my daughter was in a car accident. She is 16 and just got her license about two weeks earlier, she is OK but it was still very scary. We got it all handled, took her car in to be repaired (entire front bumper came off), and headed off on our two hour car trip to meet some family. But I must have been very rattled because I just forgot all about nal. I arrived at my destination, a beautiful B & B in Gainesville, Florida, but after a stressful phone call with my husband about the car accident when I got there I thought, "think I'll open some of this champagne I brought."' I didn't intend not to be compliant, I just completely forgot that I had not taken my nal.

Well to make a long story short I started INHALING that champagne. I didn't think anything of it, just thought, Oh, it is because of the stress. We socialized over champagne and cheese and then got ready to change for dinner. Suddenly in going through my suitcase I saw the nal and I thought "Oh, I forgot" oops.........I swallowed one and went off to dinner, thinking that it probably wouldn't make a big difference. After all, I had had nal the day before (I think, cannot remember if I drank the day before or not), etc. etc. We went to a steakhouse. Everyone else got wine, I ordered a stiff martini (Remember, I'd already had a good part of an entire bottle of champagne in a short period of time). I drank it, even though it had NOT been an hour since I had taken the nal. I quickly drank that and then had another. I didn't finish the second one, but still, this was A LOT of AL in a very short period of time (I am a small boned female, approx 120 lbs.). I cannot remember a lot of that night and I felt awful all night and was getting up at 3 a.m. to take Alleve. This was like my old life coming back to remind me just how far I have come. I don't really do that anymore, and it was striking the way the urge to just drink more and more so rapidly overcame me.

So I learned two things: (1) yes, nal has worked for me. Maybe it hasn't worked perfectly or magically like it has for others, but it has given me a NORMAL life back. (2) If I am going to drink, I must take the nal and wait an hour. No more exceptions, ever again.

Newlife

You're a trooper for hanging in there, Newlife!

Check out the web for alcohol craving and hormone imbalances too, I've seen some reports that levels/ratios can have an impact on drinking. Progesterone has an effect on GABA receptors, for instance.

Oh Newlife - I am sorry about this for you. It is really good though that you have now known how the nal has affected you re your drinking and that although it hasn't worked as well as you had hoped, your life (drinking) is a lot better than it was. I am also sorry about your daughters car accident - very scary - and especially for her as she had only had her license such a short time - I too have daughters and remember my youngest's first accident!

I know that you have always been compliant as have I - but that is scary how our body reacts when we do not take the nal. Glad things were not worse for you, and a lesson for us all.

Hugs, Maggie x

Thanks, Maggie. I can always count on you to be my cheerleader. Actually I don't think that I can say that it hasn't worked like I hoped it would. It hasn't worked like it did for you, in that I still drink, but when I really think about it I don't want to give up drinking and I never did. What I wanted is to drink like a normal person, and in my family/friend/social circle, I have to say, most of us drink almost daily. I wanted to be like my husband, who drinks 4-5 times a week but only has one or at most two drinks. I still drink a little more than he does, but not noticeably more. I actually have gotten almost EXACTLY what I wanted when I started all of this. I do sometimes worry about all this nal in my body, but I don't have any side effects, so I'll take it. What I know now is that I really do owe my current drinking habits to nal.

xoxo Newlife

Aawww, what a lovely post Newlife! Thank you for letting me know! I am pleased for you. Ironically enough I too wanted to drink like a 'normal person' but just cannot forced myself to drink! SO funny!

Hugs, Maggie x