Dear Dr. Eskapa,
I had been prescribed Naltrexone as a deterrent to drinking about 1 to 2 months ago. I did assist me in cravings and I did not drink nor did I have any desire.

Recently last week I wanted to drink again and as I found this site I thought I should change my use of this med. So I am taking 50 to 75 mgs a day and drinking 24/7. I like to drink in the middle of the night, and in the morning up until about 4 pm, then I seem to be satisfied. Not inebriated, just satisfied.

My questions are: 1. Since I was using the med as a deterrent and now am using it as the SInclair Method, will the med be able to work in the formulated way for me?

2. Since I drink in the middle of the night, perhaps I should take 25 to 50 mgs prior to bedtime and 25 mgs in the am prior to my continued am drinking?

thank you for our time, we all respect your input,

Dear Dr. Eskapa,
I had been prescribed Naltrexone as a deterrent to drinking about 1 to 2 months ago. I did assist me in cravings and I did not drink nor did I have any desire.

I will answer this in CAPS:

A: NALTREXONE IS BY NO MEANS A 'DETERRENT' STOP DRINKING. TAKEN ON ITS OWN IT HAS ABSOLUTELY NO 'ANTI-CRAVING' EFFECTS ... AND IT IS UTTERLY WORTHLESS AS PROVED BY 35+ CLINICAL TRIALS LISTED IN THE CURE FOR ALCOHOLISM. NALTREXONE IS ONLY EFFECTIVE IF COMBINED WITH ONGOING DRINKING - PHARMACOLOGICAL EXTINCTION AS DISCOVERED BY DR DAVID SINCLAIR. THERE ARE OVER 70 CLINICAL TRIALS WHICH PROVE THIS.

TAKEN ON ITS OWN WITHOUT DRINKING IS NOT THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION. IT WILL INCREASE THE NUMBER OF OPIOID RECEPTORS IN THE BRAIN AND BLOOD STREAM. THIS IS DUE TO 'RECEPTOR UPREGULATION' AND THEN, WHEN YOU DO DRINK WITHOUT NALTREXONE YOU WILL EXPERIENCE A VERY POWERFUL JOLT OF REINFORCEMENT COMING FROM THE ENDORPHINS RELEASED AFTER YOU DRINK ALCOHOL

Recently last week I wanted to drink again and as I found this site I thought I should change my use of this med. So I am taking 50 to 75 mgs a day and drinking 24/7. I like to drink in the middle of the night, and in the morning up until about 4 pm, then I seem to be satisfied. Not inebriated, just satisfied.

A: IF YOU WANT TO EXTINGUISH YOUR CRAVING AND REDUCE THE NUMBER OF UNITS YOU CONSUME THEN THE DATA CONFIRM THAT YOU SHOULD TAKE NALTREXONE 1 HOUR TO 30 MINUTES BEFORE DRINKING. IT WILL ADD NOTHING TO THE COURSE OF TREATMENT NOT ITS OUTCOME IF YOU TAKE NALTREXONE WITH ABSTINENCE.

My questions are: 1. Since I was using the med as a deterrent and now am using it as the SInclair Method, will the med be able to work in the formulated way for me?

A: YES. YOU HAVE AN 80 % CHANCE OF THE TREATMENT (Naltrexone + Drinking = Cure) WORKING PROVIDED YOU FOLLOW DIRECTIONS SET OUT IN THE BOOK THE CURE FOR ALCOHOLISM - THE FIVE STEPS LISTED IN SECTION 2.

2. Since I drink in the middle of the night, perhaps I should take 25 to 50 mgs prior to bedtime and 25 mgs in the am prior to my continued am drinking?

YOU SHOULD TAKE NALTREXONE 1 HOUR TO 30 MINUTES BEFORE DRINKING. IN THEORY THE MEDICATION AT 50 mg COVERS YOU (PROVIDES OPIOID BLOCKADE - PREVENTION OF REINFORCEMENT FROM ENDORPHINS RELEASED AS A RESULT OF DRINKING) FOR 24 HOURS. HOWEVER, IF YOU TAKE YOUR TABLET EARLY IN THE MORNING THERE IS A CHANCE THAT BY MID-NIGHT MUCH OF THE MEDICATION AND ITS METABOLITES WILL BE METABOLIZED (WASHED OUT) OF YOUR SYSTEM. THEREFORE TAKE THE MEDICATION 1 HOUR TO 30 MINS BEFORE YOU DRINK. IF YOU CANNOT WAIT DUE TO OVERWHELMING CRAVING THEN TAKE THE MEDICATION TOGETHER WITH YOUR FIRST DRINK. THIS WILL PREVENT REINFORCEMENT FROM SUBSEQUENT DRINKS AND ALSO 'CONSOLIDATION EFFECTS' FROM THE REINFORCEMENT IN THE BRAIN THAT OCCUR AFTER A DRINKING SESSION - THAT IS THE REINFORCEMENT AND ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ADDICTION. IF YOU FIND YOURSELF DRINKING EARLY IN THE MORNING YOU SHOULD TAKE NALTREXONE 50 mg ONE HOUR BEFORE .... IF YOU ARE STILL DRINKING AT SAY 10 PM THEN TAKE ANOTHER TABLET FOR REASONS OF METABOLISM MENTIONED ABOVE.

HAVE YOU READ THE BOOK, THE CURE FOR ALCOHOLISM?

FINALLY YOU SHOULD CONSULT WITH YOUR PHYSICIAN ON ANY CHANGES IN THE WAY YOU TAKE NALTREXONE. YOU MAY WANT TO SHOW THE CHAPTER 'FOR MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS' TO YOUR DOCTOR IN THE BOOK OR FROM http://www.thecureforalcoholism.com - go to 'About the Book' and select the appropriate chapter for download and printing. THIS EXPLAINS THE SCIENTIFIC RATIONALE BEHIND THE PRESCRIBING PROTOCOL FOR PHARMACOLOGICAL EXTINCTION.


BEST WISHES FOR YOUR CONTINUED JOURNEY ON ROAD TO HEALTH, TO CONTROL OVER ALCOHOL.

Thank you Dr for your lengthy post, thank you for your kind time and concern.

Yes I have read the book and will reread it again now that I have joined the "program."

I must say, and I may be repeating myself but I am experiencing an ability (without trying) to limit my drinking. At some point I do get "satisfied" and am able to stop for at least units of hours during my 24/7 habit. So for this I am thankful.

This one too!

I was prescribed Naltrexone in October last year 'as prescribed for craving prevention' and not knowing anything about TSM I did take the med and remained sober until June. When I picked up drinking, I continued the Nal. I received of course no endorphine rush because I was still on Nal. I took the Nal in the morning 'as prescribed' and drank at lunch or at night. The first thing I noticed was I was drinking half as much as I used to. The hangovers were worse. Then in Sept when I started taking Nal the TSM way I really started to drink less & less as the chart below reveals (10/29 is alcohol free & of course I don't know what 10/30-31 will be yet). I've had quite a few alcohol free days too. Now the hangovers are hitting me very hard if I have 3 or more beers. I may have to try just 2

I am backwards, I am well into TSM and the book is in the mail as I write this. However, online research and this board have taught me all I really need to know. Thank you.