Anyone on or starting a naltrexone journey?

[ohthejoysoftoddler]

I'm hoping to start naltrexone next week, I'm nervous but excited to get started. Anyone else on the journey and wants to share?

Just coming here to check in, how's everyone getting on?
Well done, @Justwanttobebythesea for getting back in the saddle; I think that's half the battle. Yes, I felt very flat as well, and it lingered for a while. I was so annoyed, when I've cut drinking previously I got that 'pink cloud' feeling really quickly, and I was hoping for that! It does get better. I also found lots of feeling were bubbling up too, things I hadn't thought about for years; it sounds like we've had a similar experience. I think I just had a lot bubbling under the surface that I'd been pushing down with alcohol for a very long time. I found listening to lots of sober podcasts helped, it helped me realise that what I was feeling wasn't that unusual. I also set very low expectations for myself, if I didn't want to socialise, or couldn't be bothered to cook that was fine, my main objective was getting my drinking down. I've also been keeping an 'accountability diary' on ChatGPT- I've had the same chat running on there for over 3 months now! You can feel my computer groaning when I try to open the thread! 😂 At the beginning I was checking in a few times a day, but now its gone down to a couple of times a week. If I was feeling rubbish I'd type that, and it would usually give me something constructive to try to help process what I was feeling. Movement has also really helped; walking, gentle exercise, getting out in the garden.
Well done @IAmAnAlcoholic , that's amazing progress! I've found I'm going to bed much earlier too. I'm not going to lie, even though the mornings have felt better without a hangover (how on earth did I battle through that every day AND perimenopause?) it's taken me ages to not feel tired in the mornings, but I'm definitely improving now.

Thank you so much for the Switchel recipe @kohlrabislaw , I might try that at the weekend! I've spent a fortune of Trip, Pentire, AF gin, but I figure its less than I would have spent on wine, so I'm not going to beat myself up about it!
Somehow I've managed to stay dry for the last 40 days. The idea of having a drink now actually scares me a bit, like I might go backwards really quickly? Unexpectedly, its also helped me lose some weight and improve my skin, and I'm not sure I'm ready to give that up yet! 😂 When I started back in December I thought I was on a journey to try and moderate, and drink 'normally,' but now I'm wondering if I even want to start drinking again. I'm so surprised this is where it has bought me, and so quickly, as it definitely wasn't the original plan. Has anyone else felt something similar?

I am amazed that I’m managing to do even weekend nights without a drink now. It would have been unthinkable but I just don’t feel like it. I find myself in a lot of drinking occasions now where drinking is the norm. With friends, when out etc. but when I have that drink I’m not getting the hit and I’m not even enjoying it. I’m kind of hoping I might get to the point where I can choose not to drink at all even at those occasions. I had a glass the other night and I just thought, ugh it tastes sweet and icky and makes me feel dizzy. I’ll leave it thanks.

That’s amazing @kohlrabislaw, it’s strange isn’t it, how what would have been unthinkable just a few months ago is now possible- it’s like having something reset in your brain. I was quite nervous about telling people I wasn’t drinking, but I’ve been really lucky and no-one’s made an issue of it at all, and it definitely gets easier to say no the more often you do it! Occasionally people are curious (probably because I was such a big drinker) but it’s absolutely not been a problem. I just say it doesn’t agree with me any more, and I can’t cope with the anxiety and the sleepless nights. A friend the other day said “Is that you done now with drinking then?” and it was so low key! I said I didn’t know, but inside I was thinking “hopefully, yes”

@SnowShapes7 I’m also going with the line that it just doesn’t agree with me a more. Because it true anyway. My close friend group have always been quite boozy and it’s how I very quickly accelerated down the slippery slope. However I think a few of them are also finding that they just can’t keep it up any more. So I don’t think it will be an issue, I just need to feel comfortable myself that I CAN decline the drink.

Please could I jump in and ask if anyone has noticed naltrexone take the ”joy” out of anything else? I’m asking because I’ve tried nalmefene, but it takes all the joy out of my cups of tea! I realise that’s a small thing, it does also make me feel generally depressed and hideous too so I don’t want to take it. I’m thinking of trying naltrexone if it’s slightly easier to stomach?

I haven’t noticed any side effects with naltrexone.

Checking back in for accountability.

Since I last posted, life has been a lot more challenging (work, loneliness, single parent to challenging DCs etc) and I fell back into the habit of nightly wine. Usually 1.5 bottles a night.

I am sick of waking up and feeling utterly atrocious and sluggish all day, and then falling back into the same loop come the evening when the urges kick in.

Last night I took a naltrexone (haven’t taken for months) and poured some wine. By glass two I was utterly bored and felt so tired I ended up crashing out in bed.

This morning I feel nauseous and shaky but I know this is the naltrexone. Determined to keep going this time 🙏

@itsendgamewell done!! You can do it xxx

I did feel a little bit flat at the beginning @Smarty43. Fortunately it didn’t interfere with my love of tea though- I drink gallons of the stuff! Are you taking it every day? (I’m not sure how nalmefene works) There’s a whole section in The Sinclair Method book about scheduling endorphin inducing activities on days you’re not drinking to set healthier habits.
Well done @itsendgame, you can do this! It sounds like you’ve had a lot on your plate and fell back on something that felt like it helped in the moment. It doesn’t undo the progress you’ve made though, you caught it, and you’re back in the saddle. So glad you checked in ❤️

I was just taking it at times when I thought I might drink, but the effects seemed to last more than 24 hours and ruined my cuppa 🤣 I’ve heard nalmefene can cause more side effects than naltrexone so was interested in hearing from people taking it. My tea tastes like decaf on nalmefene, so it must block the caffeine hit I didn’t realise I was getting!

Oh that’s very depressing @Smarty43. I love a cuppa, but even more so now that I’ve cut back my drinking! I know everyone is different, but naltrexone has not had that effect on me- I’d have definitely noticed!

@SnowShapes7how is it going ? Are you still not drinking? I’ve had more than I’d like over last few days with holiday, nice weather, special dinners.. but I still feel in control and I’ve definitely had less than I would at similar occasions in the past.

Thank you so much for asking! Yes, I’m still not drinking- I passed 50 days AF at the weekend, and I’m absolutely amazed! I don’t know quite what I was expecting when I started, but it definitely wasn’t that! 😂
That’s amazing that it’s working for you @kohlrabislaw, I’m so pleased! It’s so nice not to feel ruled by it any more, isn’t it?

That’s fantastic well done!!

Hey all, I’m just reposting as I finally bit the bullet and ordered naltrexone yesterday. I couldn’t get it in the uk but my dad used to live abroad in a country where you get your drugs from the chemist and not the gp. He’s been ordering his medication from his old pharmacist for years and asked if they do it and yep, they sure do. So it’s all ordered and on its way to me and it’s a price I can afford. Both my sister and I are starting it as we tend to drink together twice a week and recently it feels like we are consuming more. So hopefully this will help. I’m not looking to stop completely but I’d be delighted if I felt I wanted to stop drinking 100%.

we are both going to be actively putting effort into doing things we enjoy on days we don’t drink to help stay positive and retain our brains to like other things like exercise, art/crafts/gardening.

I’ve recently lost 6st so if I can reduce my alcohol down then I’ll be a very happy woman.

Hi @greengodivathat’s great are you happy to share where you are getting it from? Might plan a holiday there!!!

There are many countries where you can buy drugs over the counter from a pharmacist. I know we did in Barbados but my dad has also purchased from pharmacies when he lived in India and Turkey.

i paid £140 for 20 strips of naltrexone /10 boxes. So very very much cheaper than in the uk.

Wow a fraction of the cost . I’ve got quite a lot that I’m not using because I have just stopped altogether for now. But if I start drinking again I’d definitely use the nal it was really helping. Good luck to you hope you update on how you get on!!!

Hi everyone, I am just learning about Naltrexone and TSM, how is this not more widely known?!

My question is, if you stop taking it, can you slip back into old habits? As it's incredibly expensive so obviously not sustainable long term... So what I'm asking is is it a 'stop the skinny pens and pile the weight back on' scenario, or does it genuinely reprogram your brain long term?

TIA for any thoughts!

From the research I’ve done you do need to continue taking the pills, but only when you drink. So as you naturally reduce your frequency and drinking episodes, your daily pill consumption would also decrease. So if you drink every day you would take 7 pulls a week but as you progress and may drink 4 days a week, that’s just 4 pills. One day is one pill etc. so eventually you would only take a pill on the days you drink.

I’ve just started today, took my first tablet an hour ago and just poured my first drink ( I’m an early drinker as I’m normally in bed by 9 due to early starts). Will report back but I’m hopeful it works!

Similar to what @GreenGodivasaid, the longer you take the pills the less often you feel the urge to drink, so you need less of them. However with TSM you do need to take a pill every time you plan to drink. The idea is that you move towards something called Extinction, which means that the overwhelming urge to drink has gone. I started on Naltrexone late last year and I’m pretty sure I’m there, I haven’t had a drink at all for the last few months (I know I could, I just haven’t wanted to, and I’m actually at the point where I just prefer being a non drinker) so I’m not taking any pills at all at the moment. So in answer to your question, yes I feel like it has genuinely reprogrammed my brain, but I would still take a pill if I was going to have a drink- I’ve had the same sad half used pack of pills rattling around the bottom of my handbag for months now! 😂
Also, you don’t have to do the expensive programmes that offer the counselling. I know that is beneficial to some people, but for me I just found a doctor who would do a telephone consultation, she then emailed a private prescription to a pharmacist she works with, and the pills were sent to me. It was much, much cheaper, I’ve spent a few hundred pounds rather than thousands.

I did the Rethink Drink 3 month one which cost about £500 at the time I think. I had fortnightly catch ups with my coach and that was helpful. Now I just click a link if I need to order a new pack of tablets. I just pay for the tablets whenever I need them, no need to speak to anyone. I’m still drinking but much less, not at home anymore, maybe a glass or 2 if I go out. Tbh I usually have a glass and then don’t fancy any more. So I’m getting through the tablets slowly. Yes they’re expensive but it’s definitely costing me far less than my drinking habit was. I used to get through so many bottles of wine.

That's amazing, are you in the UK? If so how did you find the doctor? I've only really found the expensive 'packages' so far... But only learnt about all this this last week and I've been trying to cut back for years! Did a long sober stint in 2024 and just really want to get back to that feeling once the first horrible bit is over, just struggling to get started!

I am in the UK, yes. I found a lovely doctor up in Newcastle. I’m nowhere near there, but could do a combination of phone/email consultations. I’ll send you a PM with her details @ALM2207
I was a bit like you, trying to get my drinking under control for years. I know it doesn’t work for everyone, but honestly for me it’s been life changing.

what initial side effects have people had on this? I felt very stoned both times I took it. Some mild visual disturbances, colours seemed brighter etc. But both nights I slept like a log and with quite vivid dreams. First time I took it, I probably drunk the same/maybe even more than normal. But yesterday I had maybe 5-6 drinks and came home by 6.30 which is very unusual. I was in bed by 8. Quite refreshing to be up at 7 on a Sunday and no hangover. Quietly hopeful that the side effects will reduce and the benefits carry on.

Has anybody noticed any appetite changes?