Greetings,

I started the nal last night and am so sick I can hardly say hello to the bb. If 10% of people are not successful on this method, I can surely figure why. I understand that the side effects are supposed to diminish over time and that we can start on 25mg and work up. My big concern right now is if I get to the point where I drink once or twice a week, a month, will it make me this sick?

Do the side effects only diminish as a result of ongoing consumption of nal?

For what its worth, the nal worked - I was so sick within an hour of taking the nal I had 3 oz of wine and prayed for sleep.

On a cheerier note, I am hopeful. I have also posted the name/addr/number of my psychiatrist in Westchester County, NY.

Welcome!

Sorry about the nausea. Most people get that and some have said it may be a good indication since you know your body is reacting to it.

Regarding sparse drinking, I know that at least one "old-timer" that does alcohol free (AF) weeks and has not had any problem with nausea. Once your body gets used to it, the nausea will pass and it's likely that when you reach the stage where you are drinking infrequently, the nausea will not return when you do take your Naltrexone.

Bob

The nausea disappears as quickly as it hits. When my naltrexone first arrived I forgot and took the full 50mg the first day. I found myself wondering if they had sent antabuse by mistake. It took some courage to take even the half dose the next day. I did, and had no trouble. None when I went up to the full 50mg. No nausea at all. None since.

My experience seems to be very common, although for some the nausea takes a few days to subside.

It's not your typical queasy-stomach nausea from a medication. It's like being run over. I recall Sinclair wondering if the nausea might be related to a mild opioid withdrawal from the sudden blockage of opioid receptors. Makes sense to me. And it would also explain why the nausea does not reappear when we are to the point where we are drinking/using nal only occasionally. Our bodies are no longer used to the constant endorphin rush from constant drinking.

The important thing is, it passes very quickly.

Thank you both.

I don't think the nausea is from withdrawal as I've been white-knuckling it for a few months. I've only binged three times in the past 2 weeks - real doozies.

And I'm horrified by the thought of taking nal again tonight. So, thank you Lena, I was seriously thinking about not taking any. I slept fitfully last night, on occasion I woke up because I was clenching my legs so tightly. I got out of bed this morning long enough for a conference call and then went back to bed until about 2pm (I went to bed at 10:30). It's a good thing I was planning to work from home today. The nausea has subsided enough I could have some thin soup and rice.

I have to travel this week and give a presentation, someone else on the bb had the same thing in his/her first week (travel + presentation). And s/he just didn't take the nal. I'm thinking that I'll take 25mg tonight, if I get the Lena experience, I wont hesitate over the weekend, but if I feel like death has crawled into my clothes with me, I'll just wait till after the weekend and just not drink (my family will be with me so that will make it easier). Oh, God, please let me not get sick again. I want TSM to work so badly. I have this whole life I'm trying to live.

I am looking forward to being a more active member of the bb and sharing more about me in the weekly progress section. I first need to experience pharmacological extinction as it relates to Nal!

Yep, that's it. But again, it passed for me. I'm quite confident it will for you too but I'm happy you have the window to be sure before you travel.

Some who have had the nausea persist more than a day have started at 12.5 and worked up from there.

Soon all this will be inconsequential -- a dim memory. And you'll be well on your way to reclaiming your life.

Keep us posted.

Welcome and yes, I totally relate to the nausea and sleep disturbance. If you read my earlier posts I was quite upset about it two months ago when I started. And as Lena accurately states, it goes away almost immediately and almost always within the first week. The same thing has happened to almost everyone here. Trust me, the nausea goes away after three doses of nal; certainly within one week. Sleep disturbance may last a bit longer but diminishes. I had WILD dreams for a few weeks but now can't remember my last nal nightmare. I just took it as my body getting acclimated to the nal.

Good luck and welcome.

Nick

Just another voice here to chime in with "hang in there." I am *very* new to this and indeed the first week was harrowing and was all about the nausea for me. I retreated back to 25mg for a few more days, then on the 10th day went back to 50mg and have been cruising the past week and a half with no ill effects, exactly as had been foretold.

Thanks all. Today was much better, I even went for a jog this morning.

I took 25mg last night, had 1 glass of wine and crawled into bed. Woke up at 1am, futzed til 2am, took a lunesta and slept til 6. Not so bad.

nausea is still tickling me, but I think I'll be ok at 25mg for a while.

I read on another post that 25mg covers you for 12 hours while 50 covers you for 50. So, I may just stay at 25 since I drink exclusively in the evening.

HI Alifetime,

I feel for you on the side affects thing, I was hoping not to get any myself. I took .25 last night, cut the pill in half, just in case. Nothing really significant as far as side FX go, but today, not sure if its from the drink last night or not, but I feel a bit sleepy and hard to focus on things, and things seem really bright. By now though, the NAL should have worn off I would think. Normally at this point I would be pacing around feeling horrible about myself and drinking too much coffee lol.

Hopefully yours passes quickly and its not somthing you have to deal with much longer as we push forward on our journies.

Looks like we started about the same time.

Yeah, I actually went for a jog this morning after some fits and starts with getting to sleep. I definitely feel nausea and sleepy and I find myself worried - but nothing like the first day. It's a darn good thing there are so many people on the bb to tell us that the side effects go away quickly.

I have business this weekend and I'm thinking that I will hold off on the nal for a couple days while I take care of that. Of course that is contingent upon there being no drinking. I think I can hide in my hotel room. Business trips are some of the worst in terms of heavy drinking.

Did you notice the alcohol tasting different or feeling different?

-Alifetime