Just checking for an update, Virgil. It's been a month since I upped my dose, and so far, so good. Quite a few easy AL free days in the past week. I'm really wondering if adding the 20 mg of prozac, in combination with the increased nal, played a bigger role in helping me than I first thought. *shrug* I feel good, I know that much. Thinking good thoughts for you...all of you.

Hi Folks,

Sorry, I've been a bit slow in thanking people for the positive feedback. Out of interest, does anyone know how easy it is to get a blood test for 6-beta-naltrexol? I'm going to explore this with my doctor.

V.

Anybody have any thoughts, input or experience with ibogaine, perhaps as an adjunct? Check it out on Wikipedia. Used in some countries to extinguish the endorphin effect much as Naltrexone does, only much faster. Trouble is, it can be very dangerous, potentially addictive, even deadly, and does not have the benign profile of Naltrexone. Hence, not legal here in the U.S. Just curious, not going to try it by any means.

Mike

Hi Mike
I don't have direct experience of ibogaine' but my hairdressers brother was cured of a 15 year heroine addiction in a couple of weeks in a place in the Netherlands. Interestingly he stopped having a craving for nicotine as well. I know that it was a horrendous process which sounded like something from a hieronymous bosch painting. however one problem that did arise was that because it all happened so quickly,(2/3 weeks) after the inital novelty wore off, he struggled with the lifestyle changes which were required. He was still hanging about with the same people etc. It occurrs to me that one of the advantages of TSM is the slow rate of change. I have read posts from others here who are finding hanging out with heavy drinking friends less attractive and who are gradually changing their lifestyle - eg finding enjoyable things to do to replace the time taken drinking.

H*** C#####, this seems to be working!

The reason for the above: I am not religious nor do I believe in anything remotely supernatural; hence please ignore the blanks except as a common expletive of sudden surprise!

Today at day 85, I tried to push the envelope. My LoOp graph shows a VERY gradual decline with big upward spikes in between.

After splitting three cords of firewood, I tried for another spike: 11 units of wine this evening starting around 6 pm, looking for the familiar buzz. Slight relaxation response, but no buzz. No big deal. Changed to Cran-Grape-Diet drink that actually tasted better. That was fine with me. I did notice, however, that my typing was not as flawless (had to edit a thing of two) as when cold "sober" which is how I actually "feel" right now.

Am I pruning my opioid feedback neurons? Probably. Although my LoOp graph doesn't seem to indicate that effect, my individual physical response indeed does. Lots of wine just suddenly doesn't seem to have any punch anymore, at least not tonight, even pushing it to the cited 11 units!

Good, good...

So far...

I expect setbacks as the norm and will not be disappointed. Onwards and upwards!

Mike

Great news Mike, the naltrexone is definitely having an impact!

Virgil, I discussed the blood test w/ my doc and he said to see how the upped doseage worked. Was not too concerned about the blood test as yet. I'm thinking the same thing. Keep upping the doseage until it works...but if 100mgs doesn't work, I'm going to be seriously depressed.

Not only that, it really does worry me how my desire to exercise has been diminished...I do it anyway, but am thinking ehhhhhh on the treadmill.

Forgive me if I duplicate this on my thread. :-)

Hi houtx,

It's interesting that your doc was not too concerned about the blood test, as yet. I wonder what response I'll get from my doctor. I'm certainly going to push for the test as it seems the scientific way to establish that I'm on an adequate dose of naltrexone. I'm not comfortable with this 'suck it and see' approach, although I may have to settle for this myself. Perhaps it's not an easy blood test to do or perhaps it's an expensive test to perform?? Questions, questions.

I should be contacting my doctor soon about this and, as soon as I have any further information, I'll post it here.

All the very best to you.

V.

ART - so good to hear from you! Yeah- not sure how to comment on your doseage b/c of your drinking pattern throughout the day? I am so interested in the differences in people's drinking patterns. I have been in situations where I started early, noonish, and was able to pace myself into the evening. But I really can't identify as my pattern is to come home after a long day, and pack about 5-6 glasses of wine in about 3 hours. Not hard.

But it's all annoying. I cannot imagine a time when the switch will be turned off. But SOOOOOOOOOOOO ready. For instance tonight, I worked the CC as usual & a friend ("hyper guy") came out to play. We each had about 3 beers over the course of 4 hours, then I came home, got cleaned up & have had 4 glasses of wine...will have a couple more before it's over. LOL

But the dweeb guy a few weeks ago, we had 2 beers and then he parted with "I feel like going home & having a nice cup of coffee" !!!!!!!!! OMG - talk about how to kill any sort-of prospect w/ me (not that he had a chance - too dweebish) - but this is what my ex used to do like clockwork. No matter what night of the week it was, 7:30-8:00 would fire up the damn coffee pot. It hit me pretty profoundly one New Year's Eve about 7:30-8:00...

Anyway, here's to hanging in - cheers girl! :-))