I've been taking this drug for 2 weeks now. 50mgs daily. My drinking habit was a bottle of wine every night. My ultimate goal is to drink no more than 2 glasses of wine (ok on some occassions 3) per night, and at least 1-2 nights a week with no drinking at all. So far so good.
Naltrexone had some unpleasant side effects for me- nausea and headache every morning. Now on day 14, it's much better. No headache, though still a bit queasy in the morning, but it goes away in a couple hours. The drug definitely helps me to choose not to take that third glass of wine as it kills the "buzz" but it's not a magic pill. There is still some self-control involved. Example: I was at a hosted reception last night, so the wine was flowing. I had three small glasses (I call them "Napa pours") and was able to quit, but it took some control because the waiters kept coming around with bottles trying to fill our glasses.
I've also discovered that if I drink more than 3 glasses, I definitely feel a "buzz" so it's not like I can drink any amount and not feel drunk. I have to say I was proud of myself last night. It was a work event and I always worry about my professional reputation and drinking. I don't want to be that person who everyone talks about the next day. It was great to have conversations with people throughout the evening then walk to my room feeling quite sober.
I'd love to hear other experiences with this drug. Thanks!
Super nauseous right now. My first 50mg dose was last night around dinner time. Wasn't expecting the side effects to last into morning. Perhaps if I'm nauseous all the time I'll lose weight lol! I certainly am not thinking about drinking feeling this way. Hoping that it goes away, as I don't see this as a long term solution if I feel like crap every day, but ... perhaps it's better than a hangover?
Aside from the one night that I didn't take it, I have shown a marked improvement in my ability to slow down. The night I didn't take it, I pole vaulted over the line, so I'm sober until I can get my head on straight.
I've noticed if I take it before I eat anything for the day, I have to remind myself to eat. The cotton mouth is aggressive, which keeps me grabbing for something to drink. If I'm not careful, I find myself craving alcohol, so I try to keep a to go water and a red bull handy at all times. So far, options being available make a huge difference in how badly I feel I want alcohol.
I haven't had anything to drink for 5 weeks but I'm going on vacation in 2 1/2 weeks and got the medication as "insurance" as to not go off the rails on the trip. I was going to start taking it a week away from leaving but now I'm worried about the side affects. I don't want to fell like crap on vacation.
Can we hear from someone that has taken it with no side affects?
I have another question- it sounds to me like some people don't take it every day. My doctor prescribed it for me to take every day whether I planned to drink or not. Doesn't it work better if you take it consistently?
Hey there fellow Naltrexone folks,
It has now been over a year on Naltrexone for me. I started with the monthly injections and have recently moved to the oral daily medication (50mgs daily) as I feel much more confident in my decision and dedication to become a non-drinker. I went with the injection because initially I was not taking the oral medication consistently and found myself messing around with drinking to get drunk when my resolve started to waver. This was the main reason for negative side effects for me. I felt like shit times 100 drinking while using/not using alcohol and using/not using Naltrexone. Of course, the injection into my butt muscle was not always pleasant, but so worth it in the long run. Naltrexone took the "should I - shouldn't I drink" question off the table. I tried the Harm Reduction road, but I found I am not able to manage that effectively where others are. I was so tired of being hungover and feeling shitty about myself. I do take the oral med at bedtime, so if I were to have side effects I would be asleep. As an aside, one of my favorite things about being a non-drinker is actually sleeping at night! I say to all of you and to myself, this journey and the willingness to take Naltrexone is a gutsy move, so kudos to us!
Peace,
Emi
I have been taking Naltrexone for a little over a week. I have been experimenting with 25 vs 50 mgm and I'm not sure yet which is a better dose for me. It definitely helps with cravings and I notice that when I have had a drink or two it isn't all that enjoyable. Has anyone else noticed unpleasant experiences when they do drink while taking the drug? Last night I had two glasses of wine and I ended up feeling clammy and physically uncomfortable. I have a feeling it may have been as a result of the Naltrexone but I am not sure.
If I drink while on the drug, I usually just feel full without a buzz. But sometimes I will feel like my head is foggy the next day. I will say, it's not a magic pill for me. If I over do it to 3 or 4 drinks while taking the drug, I will still feel a bit drunk. So self-control is still required.
I've decided to quit taking this drug for two reasons. First, the side effects were very unpleasant for me and they never went away even after a month. I woke up nauseated every morning and had bad dizzy spells. The other reason is it was not fool proof- I still had to use a lot of self control. If I had one or two drinks I would not feel the buzz but if I drank more than that I definitely did. Also, it was a false sense of security. I had a terrible episode the last week I took it. I was at a resort with a few friends who I've drank with in the past. We started drinking rose at 4 in the afternoon. I don't even like rose much, but had 3 glasses without any food. Dinner was at 7 pm and the wine was flowing. I don't know how many glasses I had, but I don't remember dinner at all, and a friend had to escort me back to my room. I completely blacked out. I woke up at 2 am and realized I hadn't even taken my contacts out. It was a very shitty day. I felt embarrassed and like a failure. That was the last day I took the drug. Obviously, I should have been getting professional counseling along with taking the drug.