u/Plastic-Injury-511

I'm using naltrexone via sinclair method. Was drinking an average of 30 drinks per week. Now I'm around 14-16 the last 3 weeks. Check my page if wondering about my experience of side effects and such. I'm a 35 year old female with adhd.

Today I had an epiphany; I almost didn't notice this huge shift in my thinking/behavior.

Was going about my day. Had some anxiety and thought about drinking. Pushed the thought away twice. Still feeling anxious and thought to myself "what can I do instead of drinking to feel better". Got ready and went for a 20 minute run.

This is a pretty drastic change. Years ago this is how I handled negative emotions in a healthy way. The last year not so much, I'd have likely been on my way to the liquor store or battling thoughts of drinking for several hours.

Was averaging 30 standard drinks per week prior to starting. Currently I'm at 14-16 drinks per week for the last 3 weeks. My August consumption is 15 per week down from 29/week in July and 28/week in june.

My workouts are going way better and I'm remembering my dreams which must have something to do with REM sleep.

For me this method also takes willpower, which is something I struggled with during complete abstinence using AA. Eventually I would just break. But the willpower required for this method feels much more realistic.

I had to use willpower to reduce number of drinking sessions per week. Not being hungover all the time and enjoying hobbies helped with that.

I used a lower dose to start out because I had side effects but when my drinks crept up I increased it. I also notice not eating enough during the day before I take the medication and drink can lead to more effects of alcohol and feeling bad the next day. It reduces my appetite so I have to crush a high calory meal before I take it.

Increased my dose to 25mg naltrexone, 1 hour before I drink. Side effects are manageable if I don't drink more than 6 drinks. The hangover when I had 7 drinks was quite bad. Using metamucil and restoralax for constipation when I take this medication.

I was drinking 2-3 times a week averaging 24-36 drinks per week before I started on July 15th. My goal is under 17 per week to start. But I'd like to see that under 12.

My weekly average for the last 2 months is 30 drinks per week. My doctor started me on a new antidepressant 6 days ago, buproprion. A medication I would not have been able to try if my drinking were to remain that high (seizure risk). This has made a world of a difference in my triggers. I'm on adhd medications and was having anxiety half way through my workdays which often led to drinking. In the last 7 days I've only had 6 drinks! I've also doubled my exercise.

I'm so thankful for this treatment and all of the reddit posts that helped demystify it before I started treatment. The future is much brighter.

Increased my dose to 25mg naltrexone, 1 hour before I drink. Side effects are manageable if I don't drink more than 6 drinks. The hangover when I had 7 drinks was quite bad. Using metamucil and restoralax for constipation when I take this medication.

I was drinking 2-3 times a week averaging 24-36 drinks per week before I started on July 15th. My goal is under 17 per week to start. But I'd like to see that under 12.

My weekly average for the last 2 months is 30 drinks per week. My doctor started me on a new antidepressant 6 days ago, buproprion. A medication I would not have been able to try if my drinking were to remain that high (seizure risk). This has made a world of a difference in my triggers. I'm on adhd medications and was having anxiety half way through my workdays which often led to drinking. In the last 7 days I've only had 6 drinks! I've also doubled my exercise.

I'm so thankful for this treatment and all of the reddit posts that helped demystify it before I started treatment. The future is much brighter.

It definitely worked again, same dose 12.5mg, 2 hours before I drank. I could only finish 2.5 drinks. Mild headache. You dont necessarily get to eat your cake and have it too. I do have some emotional blunting with the medication. So taking it and drinking in front of the tv feels yucky. Going out and doing something fun in the sunshine is much better. I did have some anxiety with my "hangover" after day 1. But this didnt kick in till 24 hours after my 1st drink. I think that could be my body adjusting to the medication, not having that with my 2nd time using it. There is some nausea on the day after a dose, but I also have gastritis right now so I took ginger gravol, peptobismol and GERD medication. Felt better after that. For me the medication feels a bit like a THC buzz that lasts 24 hours. Calm but also slightly forgetful.

Honestly I dont think theres anything better than this to fix me. Would rate this experience 10/10 because otherwise I'd still be looking at a future of progressive alcoholism and maybe even losing my job or my kid someday.

Greetings Everyone, 35 y.o. female here wanted to post my day 1 experience with natrexone for binge drinking. I drink 2-3 days a week never less than 10 standard drinks (5% 355ml). Usually I drink 12 drinks over 9-10 hours on a typical night. Before I injured my shoulder I went to the gym 3-4 days a week and was happy despite my drinking. But I fell into a slump and my intake only slightly increased but exercise dropped to 1-2 days a week. No longer feeling good, happy, confident and I developed stomach issues related to drinking. I decided to take 12.5 mg naltrexone (1/4 tab) when my craving hit 2 hours before the end of my work day. I didnt want to wait too late in the day in case of insomnia. I took it with food as suggested, a small meal with carbs. With the drug already in my system I felt confident to only buy a 6 pack on my way home from work. Usually I crack one on my drive home but I decided to wait. My initial side effects 1 hour after the dose (before leaving work) were that "high feeling" people explain, a weird taste in my throat and a very mild headache. I felt a little "jittery" but not anxious which I am thankful for as I have been experiencing more anxiety lately. Im on adhd medications and caffeine. Over the last week I reduced my caffeine by 100mg back to a normal daily dose of 400mg to prepare for potential side effects. When I go on the full dose of naltrexone I may have to lower my afternoon dose of ADHD medication to keep the jittery feeling to a minimum. My hands had a bit of tremble which I've never had before. Had one mild moment of nausea but I ate a cracker and it went away. I'd suggest ginger gravol for anyone who gets nausea.

But guys! IT WORKED! I only drank the 6 pack. Went to the river, spent time in the water with kids (leaving my drink to sit on the beach). I usually drink 1.5 drinks per hour. I drank 1 per hour. After the river made my bf and kid go for a walk with me, instead of progressively becoming more drunk. The thing that makes me realize my drinking went to far is that I'm not longer a nice drunk. After my 8th drink I sometimes say mean things I regret the next day. I called my kid an idiot while drunk a month ago and have serious regrets, I've never talked that way in my life before.

Left my boyfriends house in a good mood despite being on my last drink. Normally I force him to stay up way to late when im drinking and he gets mad the next day. He seemed surprised I was leaving that early. When I got home I watered my garden and then picked a zuccini and cooked it. I wasnt even thinking about the alcohol stashed in the house. Went to bed normal time, took like 15 minutes to fall asleep, which is pretty standard. Then woke up at 5am with a really sore throat due to this virus the kids have. But I believe think that is unrelated.

I do know I will need to be consistent in taking it before I drink and I do plan on increasing the dose to 25 mg. I took 12.5 mg as I have always had bad side effects and nausea issues with medications. Now that I know how it effects me I like will take it 2 hours before I drink. I just dont want to give too much time after the craving hits for bad decisions (ie not taking a pill) to take hold.

Regarding the effects of the alcohol I did feel a slight buzz. But not elated, if that makes sense. It feels like theres a roof on the endorphins from the alcohol so they can't go too high and make me act crazy or make impulsive decisions.

I have all the respect for AA and would go back if I needed to but at this point in my life I wasnt ready to quit. I did 3 months sober with AA and felt clinically depressed. I just didnt have it in me to have a social life while sober so being sober in that situation made me more depressed.

I even got all my hormones tested last month thinking I have perimenopause but everything was totally normal. I just need to binge drink less and exercise more. Not have alcohol making my decisions and keeping me up till 2am on a work night several times a week.

WILL UPDATE YOU SOON ❤️❤️ this was the best decision I've made in a long time, dont be scared to claim your new life.