I actually fucking hate it and that's probably a good thing.

I'm 5'11 180 so not really overweight but Dr. gave me this to try out and I really get no pleasure from the alcohol already. I keep chasing it trying to find it even straight pouring to stop the fullness and it's amazing but again at the moment I'm hating it.

I've been a daily heavy beer drinker for years.

I tried naltrexone before and while it was basically the same no pleasure that this is doing but I was getting back pain from naltrexone and I basically just choose not to take it everyday. Today for example I probably wouldn't have taken it because I'm frustrated from the no buzz or dopamine but it just sits in your system I guess for the week and inject again on Monday.

Idk I guess I'm just venting while also trying to be positive in the fact that this does work atleast so far.

I know I am an alcoholic but I still want to and holding on hope to be a weekend/occasional drinker and I'm hoping this can help me with that.

She said if I take it Monday it should taper off a little by Friday or Saturday just drink a pure whey protein shake everymoring with a banana.

Planning to start nal on Friday using TSM. My doctor recommended 25mg but I’m even considering starting with 12.5 because I’m worried about the side effects. I get nauseous easily.

Anyone take zofran when they were first starting on nal? Did it help and how long did you need to use it before your side effects went away? Any advice on starting dose would be appreciated too.

New here. Heavy drinker daily. At this point, don't drink for anything other than numbing myself emotionally (restarted psychotherapy a few weeks ago).

Have a new physician because mine recently retired. She's great. Brought up naltrexone as an option. Picked it up today and started with a half tab. I asked her what kind of drug it was and how it worked, but am here for some practical experience kind of info. She knows I am still drinking while trialing the drug.

For example, I am curious what I might expect to feel as a heavy drinker and start it...and how it could help me to reduce.

I've read other posts (not here, just googled and many are on Reddit), but curious about your experience and if it was a positive experience for you, in what way.

Thanks a lot.

I’ve been with CGL for alcohol use but they recently discharged me due to feeling that my issues would be better addressed via MH services (I’ve been assessed for EUPD and currently under the personality disorder service, but the wait for therapy is 3-4 months). I should note that I did not want to be discharged and have a history of paracetamol overdoses and impulsive behaviour like SH.

One of the things CGL recently started prescribing was naltrexone but their Doctor said they would stop prescribing because of stockpiling risks. I have never stockpiled naltrexone and have found it so helpful to not drink at all the last month. They’ve written to my GP to see if they can prescribe as I’ve found it helpful, but have refused to continue doing so themselves.

How likely is my GP to prescribe it and is there anything I can say to support my case?

This Wednesday, I’m hosting a free livestream with Dr. Joseph Volpicelli about what predicts success with naltrexone.

One reason I wanted to discuss this topic is that someone recently told me they had been doing TSM for two years without seeing much progress. They were taking naltrexone and drinking, but beyond that, they were mostly waiting for it to work.

They eventually had a shift in perspective and realized they hadn’t changed much else around their drinking.

Someone in this situation might understandably conclude, “Naltrexone doesn’t work for me.” And that may sometimes be true — no treatment works for everyone.

But I’ve also seen people begin making progress when they start “meeting the medication halfway.”

I see naltrexone as the foundation, not the whole house. It may help weaken alcohol’s reward, reduce cravings over time, and give someone more control—but it can’t create a new nightly routine, develop coping skills, or find new ways to handle the stress and emotions connected to drinking.

During the livestream, Dr. Volpicelli and I will discuss:

• Who tends to respond best to naltrexone
• How different drinking patterns may affect results
• Who may need to talk with a medical professional about detox
• What to consider when you’ve been taking naltrexone but aren’t seeing the progress you hoped for

It’s happening Wednesday, July 22 at 10:00 a.m. PT / 1:00 p.m. ET.

Here’s the link if you’d like to join: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLzDql3gIao

The replay will also be available afterward using the same link. This is for general education and isn’t individualized medical advice.

Hope to see you there!

Katie

Struggled with AUD and substance abuse (weed) for my entire adult life. 36F. Been sober from weed almost 4 years but still struggling with AUD and planning to start TSM.

If compliant with nal, will it lead to complete extinction eventually? I’m totally down for that, just curious.

I am quitting alcohol and have been prescribed thiamine and referred to a support service but the pharmacy isn't open until Monday and neither is the alcohol support service.

I'm feeling rotten so if there are any tips anyone can share / over the counter options to get me through the next couple of days please do let me know. Thank you

Hey y'all! This is a place for you to post your successes, great and small, with the Sinclair Method! Whatever it is that the Sinclair Method has done for you lately, feel free to leave it here!

I'll give a brief snapshot of my own story: I was a binge drinker for 20 years that started at weekend keg parties in high school and progressed to drinking 15 units nightly of spirits and beer near the start of the pandemic. This is the same time period that my first child was born.

I have now taken control of my drinking with the help of The Sinclair Method and this community and enjoy a majority of AF days most weeks. I get to enjoy being clear headed around my children and enthusiastic about experiencing the world as it unfolds to them without the dread of searching for the next drink.

If you've got any similarly positive stories, feel free to share them here! :)

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.

I drink 12-18 miller lites daily for years , I'm 38, I want to cut back to a point where it's only weekend and occasions. I tried naltrexone last year but it was hurting my kidneys. Today my doctor gave me zepbound she told me to enjoy the weekend and start Monday.

She told me she has 4 alcoholics (even worse than me) and it has worked wonders on 3/4.

Im wondering if anyone here is in the same boat and has tried zepbound. Will I still get drunk? Will I get sick? She told me it will eventually cut the urge but I don't want it to cut back too fast and have withdrawals but she said she doesn't think I will have that problem.

I was also diagnosed with fatty liver and my liver numbers were crazy high but I have atleast gotten that under control with 1200 NAC and 1200 mg of Alpha Lipoic Acid daily all within 3 months.

Sunnyside Med published this article to explain their compounded naltrexone product. This is not meant in any way to endorse either Sunnyside Med or their compounded product. The purpose here is simply informational and if folks have any personal experience to share, we all stand to learn. OAR Health also offers a compounded product called Clutch also aimed at reducing nausea as a side effect. More to come on that and also not an endorsement within this forum.

I’m someone with a 50mg dose and would like to share my experience

Hey y'all! This is a place for you to post your successes, great and small, with the Sinclair Method! Whatever it is that the Sinclair Method has done for you lately, feel free to leave it here!

I'll give a brief snapshot of my own story: I was a binge drinker for 20 years that started at weekend keg parties in high school and progressed to drinking 15 units nightly of spirits and beer near the start of the pandemic. This is the same time period that my first child was born.

I have now taken control of my drinking with the help of The Sinclair Method and this community and enjoy a majority of AF days most weeks. I get to enjoy being clear headed around my children and enthusiastic about experiencing the world as it unfolds to them without the dread of searching for the next drink.

If you've got any similarly positive stories, feel free to share them here! :)

My psychiatrist brought up using Naltrexone to help with my drinking. I've read a little about it and I'm about to try it — she's prescribing daily dosage.

I also read about the Sinclair Method, which makes intuitive sense to me. However, my drinking pattern doesn't fit it well. I don't drink regularly — I drink opportunistically, whenever a craving hits and I can't contain it. For example, stopping at a gas station to fill up the car and buying a beer impulsively. Because the drinking is unplanned, taking a pill an hour beforehand doesn't naturally work.

This made me wonder: should I go through a deliberate "training" period — taking the pill an hour before a planned drink, even though my intention is to drink as little as possible? The idea would be to use intentional drinking sessions to actively extinguish the reward response. But I'm genuinely unsure whether this makes clinical sense, or whether it's just my addict brain finding a justification to drink.

I also deal with other compulsive behaviors (porn, binge eating, doom scrolling), and my psychiatrist thinks Naltrexone may help with those as well through the same mechanism. Same question applies — is daily dosing better for these, or would the "take it 1 hour before" approach help untrain those reward circuits too?

Curious what others' experiences have been, especially those with similar opportunistic rather than scheduled drinking patterns.