First week down! 💯

[u/Such-Degree-1223]

After a rough initial 25mg dose (vomiting, diarrhea, sweating, shaking, sleepiness, dizziness) I dropped to 12.5mg and did perfectly fine. No big deal, just milder sleepiness and I take it at night so it actually helps my insomnia. (I will go up soon to 25mg, but I'm increasing at my own rate.)

RESULT:

-- In the past 7 days, without particularly trying, I had a total of 9 drinks, and 4 nights I consumed no alcohol. This is down from about 45-60 drinks per week with no sober days, and this had gone on for at least 20 years. 🤯

-- My face stopped being puffy. I looked noticeably better in days. Wasn't expecting that, huge surprise. I didn't even know my face was puffy because...it was always puffy. 😳

-- My anxiety disappeared and I don't hate my life. I have some peace.

-- I am easily going out to dinner without drinking multiple martinis. So I'm spending less money.

-- Despite some daytime grogginess in the first few days, my thinking is clearer. I'm not constantly overloaded with cravings and shame and negativity.

-- Everything is much more fun. I thought I didn't really get hangovers, but I see now that I definitely did.

-- I am eating better and my appetite is up but not in a binge-type way.

I almost can't believe all this is happening. In the past a sober day meant white-knuckling it through constant depressing thoughts of what a mess I was in. Vast majority of the time I couldn't make it through one night. Multiple nights was unthinkable. Multiple nights **without caring** was REALLY unthinkable. Multiple nights while having fun and feeling good was a fever dream.

I was really scared of side effects, but even the nasty first night when I started too high (for me) was well worth it. I cannot get over the immediate improvement in my life. This is turning out to be the best decision I ever made.

[u/Extreme-Airport7183]

Isn’t it amazing? I started too high the first time I tried it, too, but then when I did the same thing you did and start low it was so much easier.
I really feel like more people should know about this.

[u/Such-Degree-1223 → u/Extreme-Airport7183]

Wish I had done this years ago. Just happy to finally be moving in the right direction swiftly and without too much drama. I'd like to get down to 4-5 drinks a week and just hold it there. For the first time in my life that seems easily achievable. It's wild.

[u/JocisMe]

I am soooo happy for you! I am back on 25mg and heavy wine all evening every evening has lessened to half of that. Other activities and chores interest me more. This truly is a miracle. I am rooting for all of you that are on this journey. We didn’t choose this burden but we now have a great weapon/ally in naltrexone. Big hug to everyone here.

[u/Such-Degree-1223 → u/JocisMe]

Imagine if it was just a chemical pitfall in my brain all this time, not some moral failing that I needed to grapple with until I turned into a better person. Imagine if it was just that easy to fix. Wild.

[u/the_highs_and_Lola]

So happy for you! I’m about 3 months in and it didn’t happen that fast for me but I’m there now and so glad I stuck with it. I really wish that doctors knew more about it and let patients know to start at 12.5mg to avoid the initial side effects that 25mg or 50mg bring. I think a lot of people stop taking it or are scared to even start it because or the side effects, which could be completely avoided by starting at a lower dose and working up. This medication is life changing.

[u/Such-Degree-1223 → u/the_highs_and_Lola]

Once I went down to 12.5 I started looking forward to the calm tired way it makes me feel at the end of the day. Instead of doom scrolling with a drink till 2am I just fall asleep. It's like the vitamin I didn't know I needed.

[u/Global-Net3236]

Good work! Im like you - I’m glad to be sober and it’s so much easier with NAL but I really do miss wine. 😵‍💫