Alcohol Use Disorder, Naltrexone and TSM

Almost at the end of my 9th week of the Sinclair Method and I've got 10 Naltrexone tablets left so I have booked an appointment with my online GP for a followup.   I'm more than a little proud of my achievement and my drink log is proof that this science works! Each day gets better and better for me.  My anxiety and depression are almost non-existent, I'm sleeping better than I have for a long time and I am productive and happy. The last two weeks were the school holidays for us and it's generally a time of more social activity so there were a few instances where I was distracted and therefore did not drink mindfully however the amounts of alcohol consumed are significantly less than my pre-TSM levels. Over last two weeks, I have been less interactive with the Options Save Lives forum and realize that a vital part of the journey is to share with fellow AUD sufferers.   Of course, the science is the most important element of the process than...

I wouldn't be physically where I am today if I hadn't found TSM .  Instead of sitting at my computer typing this, I'd most likely still be in bed recovering from a massive hangover and feigning food poisoning or a sinus infection.     Where I am mentally is another part of the story.  TSM is helping me to rediscover myself by allowing my brain to think more clearly than I have in years as the alcohol induced depression and anxiety is lifting.  I'm finding myself smiling, less prone to dark thoughts, more able to enjoy the moment and finding peace where previously I found isolation. My journey has so far been easier than I had anticipated.  Before I took my first dose of Naltrexone, I thought it would be impossible to decrease my drinking level.  I certainly had great hope that it would work but believed it would only come with great sacrifice and pain.  It hasn't at all.  Instead it has brought relief, given me power and restored my ...

My life is improving and it feels good to be out of the pull of alcohol and protected by Naltrexone. One glass of wine last night - cheap Sauvignon Blanc (left over from the afternoon tea party) and it was absolutely AWFUL. (Sincere apologies to any SauvBlanc lovers - I'm a chardonnay girl.) My child is wanting to do more with me of late and asked if he could help with cooking dinner - Beef Stroganoff.  I was very surprised! but he happily stirred while I added ingredients and we chatted.  He also wanted to read to me at bedtime. It melts my heart and I am grateful that the "old drunk short-tempered dragon" has left the house because I want the remains of his childhood to be spent with love, kindness and patience. I never meant to be unkind or impatient or unloveable but 10 plus years of AUD did that to me. I'm finding that I am now able to laugh out loud where previously I was suspicious of a joke. I do hope that Claudia realizes how terribly important her role...

I'm too delighted with the downward slope on my one week drink graph not to share it!   I've dropped from 49 drinks to 8. Aside from the internal health benefits, I'm feeling happier and sleeping better too. Thank goodness for the Sinclair Method and Naltrexone.

I started reading, Dr Roy Eskapa's "The Cure For Alcoholism" last night.  It's beautifully written science with a touch of humour. To understand the history behind the Sinclair Method, the hurdles, the breakthroughs is empowering.  I realized with great concern that i f it wasn't for a fortunate chain of events, we wouldn't today be reaping the benefits of TSM.   I am even more determined to make this work for me. I am immensely grateful for the sacrifices made by the late Dr David Sinclair, Dr Roy Eskapa, Ms Claudia Christian and everyone involved in the arduous process of bringing TSM to the notice of the medical profession.

My second full dose of Naltrexone was taken at around 4.30pm.  No side effects.  The easing in on 1/2 doses really does work! Poured a drink at 5.45pm. Sat at the table by myself while my family were watching tv. Did mindful drinking. Sip. Glass down on table. Sip. Taking my time and thinking about the lack of effect. I'm loving mindful drinking. At one point, I needed to go to another part of the house to do something and didn't think twice about leaving my drink behind. Also, I have to suspect that when I previously guzzled the first drink, I was in fact quenching my thirst. Now, I make sure I have a big glass of water beforehand. Tip: Quench the thirst before mindful drinking. Gotta say... the TSM (Sinclair Method) is magic! I still feel the tiddly feeling but the urge for more has gone. I'm even wondering if I actually like the taste of scotch and soda. ...it's not that exciting.

My first full dose (50mg Naltrexone) was taken yesterday at around 4.15pm and as I wasn't sure how it would affect me, I lay down and read for the hour.  No side effects, not even a crampy tummy. Stretching the 1/2 dose (25mg) over the course of 6 days worked well for me.  Generally, it is recommended to have a 1/2 dose for the first two days but I felt that extra time was needed in my case.   At 6pm I made a drink (scotch/soda) and was in no hurry to finish it and it lasted me an hour. I had a momentary fancy to have another one but made a soda with sugar free cordial instead.  As I approach the end of my first week, I am delighted that I have dropped from around 50 standard drinks per week to 8. I need to add here that I am responding very early to the Sinclair Method but this is not always the case so please be aware that for most people it does take longer.   Sometime in the next couple of weeks I am going to introduce other interests so I can star...

Took my last 1/2 Revia tablet at around 4.30pm this afternoon. Really didn't get around to pouring a scotch/soda until closer to 6.15pm and sipped on that through dinner. No urge to have another and it will be interesting to see what happens when I start the full 50mg doses.  The side effects are now non-existent. I started my drink chart tonight but since I started on Monday night with 2 glasses of wine, since then it's been one drink each night. I've estimated that my pre-TSM intake was around 6 standard drinks per night on average (almost a bottle of wine) with quite a few more drinks when socializing so I've rounded it up to 50 units (Australian). Going from 50 units down to 8 is a pretty dramatic decrease. Discernable side effects have disappeared so the full 50mg dosage starts tomorrow.

Last night I had one scotch/soda and afterwards thought about having a second one but the urge wasn't strong enough. ...so I watched a couple of episodes of Modern Family with my husband. I found it particularly interesting to realize that the character, Clare, has AUD. Or at least that is my diagnosis. I wonder if the writers did that knowingly or just because it's a fairly common thing that middle-aged mums (moms) do. ...Self-medicating to wind down from a busy day of working, houseworking and raising a family and the underlying slight resentment that the man of the family doesn't have the same pressures outside of the workplace. ...and thus the cycle begins. Today, I'm feeling really quite happy and settled. I had a restful sleep waking once but went back to sleep without thinking about it. Frankly, the best sleep I've had in years.  This morning I got onto my old bike and rode with my child to school today. It felt great. ...cold but great. :-)

After a successful TeleMedicine appointment, I am delighted to write that I am about to embark on the journey to a new and improved me!  The internet consultation was easy and the GP was a very kind and understanding person.  The consult costs $90 (no Medicare rebate). I have a script (and one repeat) for Revia 50mg. With nervous anticipation, I took my first tablet at 4.20pm Monday 5th August.  To eleviate the possible side effects, it is recommended that the first few doses are a 1/2 tablet.  Once the side effects wear off, then the full tablet is to be taken. Here's what I wrote in the forum... "Spent the last two weeks in nervous anticipation of this event.  Was at first stalled in the prescription process but with great information available in this forum (thank you everyone for your invaluable contributions) and then patiently waiting for my appointment, it finally happened today.  ...I'm calling it the first day of the 'best' of my life. At 4...

Of all the resources I found , I think that the following information from HAMS.cc sums up best how Naltrexone works with the Sinclair Method... "Naltrexone has been shown to be highly effective in helping people to moderate their drinking or to quit when it is used according to the Sinclair method also known as  pharmaceutical extinction . In pharmacological extinction (also known as the Sinclair Method)  one always takes a dose of naltrexone (50 mg) an hour before drinking alcohol . One never takes naltrexone unless one intends to drink. Pharmacological extinction works because alcohol addiction is an example of operant conditioning. When you drink alcohol, endorphins are released and reinforce the drinking behavior. Drinking is learned behavior. More precisely, drinking is an example of operant conditioning. Operant conditioning is normally a good thing because it helps us to learn new behaviors needed for survival. However, in the case of alcohol addiction it has led us ...

By mid-July 2017 I had to be honest with myself.  I had a problem with alcohol. It was hard to link the words "problem with alcohol" with how I presented myself to society.  I'm a respectable person - a successful small business owner, designer, mother, wife, somewhat of a high-achiever, always on the go, creative, stylish, well presented.  How did this happen to me? What caused me to start hiding the amount I drank (from my husband), waiting for him to leave the room so I could sneak another drink without him knowing.  Why did I clock watch for 5.30pm to come around so I could pour a drink?  And get agitated if I couldn't have one at the regular time. Was I alone in this?  In thinking about my friendships, I suspected not but no one ever talks about problems with alcohol.  It's a secret shame and one that I have lived with for at least 10 years. I turned 50 in March and organised an 80's themed party for myself - complete with a DJ, drinks wai...