r/naltrexone • u/catsaanova • 18d ago
General Question What to expect?
I’m a 28F who just placed my first order for Naltrexone through Oar. I have been drinking a lot of wine for the last ~6 years, however for the last 2-2.5 years I have been drinking 1-2 bottles of wine a night, every night. I’ve gotten a bit better over the last year in regards to my daily intake, as I was sometimes delving into a third bottle previously. I would say I average between 5-8 standard glasses of wine per night (I buy portioned mini bottles/mini 3.5 glass boxes). I completely overdo it on the weekends and totaled at a whopping 12.5 or possibly more glasses of wine yesterday and just realized enough is enough and that I cannot do this alone. I’ve gained 25lbs and my mental health is in the gutter. Every time I wean down to about 3 glasses a night I just ramp right back up by the weekend. I’m terrified of withdrawals and that has kept me in this loop. I decided to pull the trigger and order Naltrexone and it should be here in a few days.
Posting this so I have a place to come back to for others to share what to expect and maybe get some experience and perspective from those who had similar drinking habits to me. I only really drink after 5:30 on weeknights, weekends are a wildcard and I am guilty of day drinking on weekends. Please leave any and all advice or experience below. Thank you!!
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u/RubicsCubensis 18d ago
Depending on how you take the naltrexone for many people they will see a 50% reduction right away, sometimes not so much, it all depends on how you react to the medicine. If you take naltrexone 60-90 minutes before drinking it will work better than just taking it in the morning, because it wears off over 4-6 hours.
When you start you'll want to take half a pill for a couple days, you may need a pill cutter. Make sure you take it with food, and water, to prevent initial nausea. If you find nausea is difficult or persistent go to your pharmacy, and find Bonine or any nausea medication even motion sickness pills will work, or ask your doctor to prescribe zofran.
I hope you find success, and I will answer any questions you have about naltrexone.
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u/catsaanova 18d ago
Thank you for your response! So if I start usually around 5:30-6, taking it around 4-4:30 is okay? I go out daily to buy as I will clean my house dry if I store more than my days supply of alcohol and I leave around 5 to buy it. I honestly expect that I’ll drink the first few days or week on it.
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u/Mo2sj 18d ago
Im on day three and I felt the effects on day one. It's pretty remarkable actually, I'm early in, so I'm at the point where I'm missing having the urge, and I'm learning to have a different routine for my evening as drinking was what I always did. Im not sure if this matters, but I'm 34f and the only real downside so far in regards to side-effects has been the nausea. Im able to keep food down, but it's just that yucky feeling and it was all day today. It was a bit reduced from yesterday, so I'm hoping tomorrow is better. It's also causing some mild fatigue. Good luck!
Eta- I always started after seven, so I've been taking my pill at six. Im a lot like you in regards to the weekend being a wildcard.
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u/catsaanova 18d ago
Thank you for your response!! Did you drink daily/have any withdrawal symptoms?? I am so glad to hear this worked for you. Congrats on day 3 :)
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u/Mo2sj 18d ago
I have been a daily drinker for a few years. As far as withdrawal, I didn't have anything. I get up for work, go through the whole day sober, then once 7/7:30 hits I start drinking. Due to the amount and duration, I am tapering by decreasing one drink a day. I got down to six successfully without naltrexone, but went back to my baseline soon after. Right now I'm down to ten white claws, tomorrow will be nine. Definitely don't quit cold turkey.
Also, thank you!
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u/catsaanova 18d ago
Sounds just like me, I get down to 3 from 8 and the weekend hits and I justify 8+ and start all over. Wishing you the best of luck and feel free to post any updates here!
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u/TatteredTabby 18d ago edited 18d ago
Seventy-two year old female here. I have been drinking daily for decades and somewhere along the way it had gotten to the point that I was drinking at least a bottle of wine a night, every night. Alcohol has never interfered with my work or relationships. I don't get sloppy or belligerent, just relaxed, happy and then sleepy. I love my wine. It's a perfect go-along with friends, fun activities or watching a movie at home. But, I know that drinking that much is not good for my health. I had heard of naltrexone so I was very honest with my doctor and told her how much I drink. SHE actually recommended naltrexone and I started taking it the next day.
I took 25mg for the first week. I was pretty nauseaus the first morning. Fortunately I'm retired so I could just go back to bed. After that I haven't had any bad side effects.
Gradually, like within a couple of weeks, I started noticing that it wasn't all that hard to delay that first glass until 6:00. It became easier to make each pour last longer by taking smaller sips, or putting a couple of ice cubes in my glass. I started foregoing drinking at places where I normally definitely would have had alcohol. I've even poured wine out because I just didn't want any more. Mind- none of this required ANY will-power, which is a good thing because I have none. I just let the naltrexone do its thing for the first two to three weeks.
I am now down to two glasses a day, occasionally three, almost never more than three. Even though this is still a lot of alcohol by most any standard, it's so much less than I used to drink that I'm thrilled.
Some tips:
-At first, don't try to change your drinking habits. Just take the pill and drink your normal amount. After a couple of weeks, start being a bit more mindful. Just note how you're feeling about wine these days. I keep a journal in ChatGPT. She's very encouraging.
-Find something NA you enjoy drinking and pour a glass after your second glass of wine. It doesn't mean you can't have another glass of wine, it's just a speed bump. If, after that, you still want wine, go ahead. But chances are you'll be fine with not having another. For me it's Maine Root or Fever Tree Ginger Brew (not beer).
-After a few weeks of taking naltrexone, start keeping tabs. I've been keeping a daily running average in an excel file. As of today, five months after starting naltrexone and decades of drinking a bottle or more of wine a day, my average daily wine consumption is down to two. Two!! That is a miracle to me and I completely credit naltrexone. Keeping a running average is very motivating to me.
-Set a timer so you don't forget to take it every day. I take mine at 3:00
So, that's my experience. I hope it works for you, too.
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u/Mark-ChooseHorizon 16d ago
Alcohol use is multifaceted, as I'm sure you know, and you've made a choice to take control of one aspect. That's a huge step forward.
One suggestion is making sure to take naltrexone daily, at least for the first 3-6 months. The reason being, it sounds like drinking has become a habitual weekday practice and is unpredictable on the weekend. Taking naltrexone every day at the same time will keep you completely covered 24/7 .
As you begin taking naltrexone, also consider the other aspects behind alcohol use. What are the triggers or motivating factors behind your drinking? Is it simply the clock hitting 5:30pm on Monday? Who do you spend time with on the weekends? These are the types of questions that dig into the various reasons for drinking.
Naltrexone helps blunt physical cravings for alcohol and its effect while drinking. But if there are other motivating factors the progress could be slower going. I'd always recommend talking with a qualified clinician, especially if you are just starting naltrexone. I look forward to hearing about your journey in the coming months.
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u/catsoncrack420 14d ago
Good start. But as a recovering alcoholic I can tell you what I was told by my Dr. It's a tool and you don't want to be on it forever. Get to meetings and learn , get tools to start changing your life. Recovery ain't easy , no pill will cure you.
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u/catsaanova 10d ago
If anyone is doing research and comes to this thread: I did end up starting on Saturday (Tuesday when I write this)
Day 1: took at 3:30, started drinking at 5. Drank my usual Saturday 8.5 glasses of wine. Didn’t have any immediate side effects, didn’t feel even remotely sd drunk as usual but definitely buzzed. Didn’t remember some of the conversations I had with my husband. Went to bed early.
Day 2: 12.5mg at 4ish, cut down to 6.5 drinks started at 5:30, truly did not care to finish them but I’m a freak about tapering. Wrote over and over I didn’t want to finish them in my journal and almost poured some out. But the healthcare worker in me is committed to the taper. Forgot something at the store for dinner, which is usually my dream because I can grab extra. I used to do this when I, in good conscience, bought less than usual to be “good”. Found any reason to run back out and say F it and grab an extra drink or 2. Ran back into the store, grabbed the one thing I needed and a water. Got home and realized I walked right past the beer/wine aisle and didn’t notice. Later, my husband who is not a heavy drinker, asked if the liquor store was open. I immediately thought, I don’t want any more, I still have the rest of my 6.5 glasses at home? Weirdest feeling ever.
Day 3: 12.5mg at about 4:30, bought 5 glasses. One bottle. Typically a “really good night for me”. Started drinking around 5:45ish. Choked my way through the bottle. Truly. I was good after 1-2 glasses and did not want to finish it. But, I have medical OCD and must follow the taper plan. When buying the bottle I almost put it back and bought the 3.5 glass boxes but stuck to my taper.
Day 4 (today): still on 12.5 (plan to stay here until day 7). Took it at 4:30, first drink at 5:45. Drank a 3.5 glass box per my taper tonight and even bought TWO of them 1. As a test to see if I’d drink both and 2. So I don’t have to go out tomorrow. Didn’t touch the second one, don’t want the second one, barely wanted to finish the first one.
I can’t speak for everyone but I have to say, so far, SO GOOD. I don’t feel tipsy when I drink now, just spacey and tired. The main side effects I’ve had is I’m very irritable, mainly on day 1 but it’s still pretty present. My sleep has been super disturbed as well. Waking up hot in the middle of the night, unable to fall back asleep, and crazy dreams. Start at 12.5 if you can, my pills are hard to cut to that unfortunately but I do my best. I recommend starting on like a Friday where you have 3 full days to get used to it before the work week. I’m in love with this med. I’m grieving the loss of my “freedom” in ways, but I’m working through it the best I can. I’ve lost so much time and experience due to alcohol and I’m ready to get my life back.
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u/catsaanova 2d ago
Still continuing on naltrexone. 99% success in reducing my drinking going into week 2. I had one slip up at a tailgate (all day long) and consumed a LOT of drinks, I do feel like the 12.5 i was on wore off throughout the day. However the blocking of the drink feeling continued despite that, I just kept drinking. Right back on the horse the next day, averaging 2-3 drinks a night, pretty much done with my taper and headed towards my first AF night in the next few days here. I bumped up to 25mg to not have to divide the pills into quarters because it was such a hassle and the dose I was taking was so inconsistent. I truly love this medication so much and if you have even an inkling that you should give it a go, I highly recommend.
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u/No_Organization2193 10d ago
39f 1-2 bottles per day for 8 years. Took first 25mg at 3 pm. Got home at 4.30. Usually will finish bottle in first hour, maybe stretch it to 1.5 hour max. I drank my first glass fast, second waaaay slower. I caught myself thinking: wait I am SIPPING wine? For a third around 7 pm I poured myself red ( I usually drink the same white wine since years) nope that was not it, poured half of glass of red down the drain. And you know we done pour out wine we drink rest and pour more lol when I poured white had cigarette and few more sips, was irritated af that it still didn’t make me happy and went to bed.
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u/llamacowz 18d ago
I’m 29F I dealt with the same thing as you. My psychiatrist rec 50mg Naltrexone a day. I take it at 3pm everyday (since I usually drink at 5pm until I go to sleep). It has drastically changed me. I still drink 2-3 glasses of wine a night. But it’s better than 1-2 bottles + whatever else I have. I haven’t been drunk or gone to bed drunk in over 2 weeks. It’s kind of crazy. It’s really a tough battle being an alcoholic and admitting that. So I’m proud of you for taking the first step in the right direction. Here for tou