Coming up to the 4th week on Nal. Have been drinking heavier and heavier over the last few weeks but after a particularly heavy binge at the weekend (a bottle of scotch a day still on Nal) I can't actually stomach alcohol at the moment. The thought and smell of it makes me queazy. I didn't drink yesterday, the first day in a very long time, and can't imagine ever wanting to drink again the way I feel at the moment . The thought I'd feel better for a drink has been smashed albeit probably temporarily. I know this isn't the Sinclair Method as such (it's not aversion therapy) but my liver is having a well earned break. I took a tranquilliser to help me sleep last night which took the edge off the shakes and nausea/vomiting which is gradually subsiding.

Progress of sorts?

Hi Ashl, sorry to hear things haven't been going so well for you. I will let the experienced members jump in with advice, etc. Just wishing you well.

Thanks Shasha. It is perhaps progress in the sense a couple of days of feeling poorly has got to be worth it if it sets me on the right path.

Though not to your extent, I seemed to remember a distinct uptick for a period.

Remember, you are following your pattern. That is how Nal works. Keep going forward.

I have noticed that hang-overs are more pronounced on Nal or at least our desire to drink on them is more abated. Whatever the case, as long as you are only drinking on Nal, you are doing it right.

Yes Springer, thanks for this. I suppose everyone's individual journey on the Nal is different but the end result is at least 80% the same for all of us. I've never missed a dose of Nal whilst drinking since starting the program. A few days or even weeks not drinking won't do me any harm. Just have the Nal ready when I do drink (which I can't bear to think about at the mo )

Hi ashl,

I think your experience is common for some of us. My drinking level decreased at first, then rebounded slightly, and for the past several days has gone nearly back to what it was. I've been doing a lot of entertaining. . .and most of our good friends (and me) are true wine lovers. I had a small group over for dinner last night, and drank 10-12 units - can't say for sure how much, as I went to bed and for the first time since starting Nal, don't recall the end of the night. (The upshot? I got to watch American Idol this morning, and it was like seeing it for the first time! )

Today I'm feeling crappy, and am planning my first Alcohol Free day for nearly two years. For some reason, I'm confident I can do this! Guess we'll see. . .if I don't manage total abstinence tonight, I'll at least cut back - and will not get down on myself. It's still early in the game for most of us!

This seems to be pretty much par for the course for all of us.

I also overdid it also at the weekend ashl.

The funny thing was I only had 6 beers- not so long ago, pre Nal, I would have considered that quite a good night, as most nights I would drink around 8 beers, but did I feel rough the next day.

The hangover started as quite mild, but as the day progressed I felt crappier and crappier, I was sick, couldn't eat, and was pretty depressed.

Like you I did not have a drink yesterday- it wasn't too hard.

It seems to be part of the progress- maybe we have extinguished a big trigger?

I do hope so.

Thanks all for your support.



I do too! Just the realisation for me that drinking no longer helps a hangover -I felt much worse for it and my body was physically rejecting the stuff. That's a step in the right direction. Just need to retain that bit in the sub-concious and I'm away...

That is exactly what happened to me. I tried a hair of the dog, as I said to start with, the hangover was not the most extreme. The hair of the dog did not help at all. I tried another and was sick for the rest of the day.

At least the same thing is happening to us all it seems.

Hey all!

For the past year, I can recall two AF days. One when I white-knuckled through, just to see if I could. One when I had the flu so badly that I couldn't get anything down.

Yesterday, after just starting week 4 (checked my calendar, and realized I miscalculated before), I decided to try. Guess what? It wasn't even an effort. I thought about it once or twice, but didn't get any real craving. Watched TV shows like a normal person, and went to bed. Did wake a few times during the night, and had a little bit of sweating going on (TMI? LOL), but nothing serious, and went right back to sleep.

This might not sound like much to those of you who aren't daily heavy drinkers - but it was a real breakthrough for me! I'm noticing that my thinking about alcohol is changing, ever so subtly. Knowing I can have it, or not, just so long as I take Naltrexone, makes me feel more in control of the process. Alcohol doesn't control me, but (even though I'm still addicted) I control IT. Nice change.