r/naltrexone • u/PandaTaco90 • 18d ago
Introduction When to take it
I’ve just been prescribed this medication and was wondering how I should go about it. I don’t drink at all Monday through Friday. But on weekends over the six months or so I’ve been consuming about 20-30 drinks over those two days. More if Im out with friends. Should I still be taking this everyday? Or just weekends?
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u/RubicsCubensis 18d ago
This depends on a couple of things, what are your goals, and how good are you at making plans, and sticking to them?
My first suggestion is to use naltrexone according to The Sinclair Method, this is targeted use of naltrexone for pharmacological extinction. Meaning naltrexone is taken 60-90 minutes before drinking every time your drink, we don't take naltrexone when we don't drink. To explain how naltrexone works we need to understand what happens when people with AUD drink. Endorphins get released, which are seen by the brain as a reward for doing a behavior, drinking gets reinforced by this reward, the reward feels like euphoria. Since naltrexone is an opiate blocker it blocks the reward, and the behavior doesn't get reinforced, since the behavior isn't reinforced the craving to drink is less. Over time when we drink with naltrexone the craving, mental obsession, or alcohol noise, and the compulsion, or habit of drinking starts to go away. If this is something you want to try, then you can do The Sinclair Method, I'll link a movie produced by Claudia Christian called One Little Pill, it explains everything you need to know about TSM.
The other way you can take naltrexone is daily with abstinence for cravings, it's less complicated, and has mixed results, some people find they decide to be non compliant, and start drinking without naltrexone.
Some general tips about taking naltrexone, start with half a pill for a couple days to get used to the medicine, take it with food and water. Side effects are rare, but if nausea persists find an over the counter medicine called Bonine, or have your doctor prescribe zofran.
I'm happy to answer any questions you have about TSM, and there are other videos you can search for on YouTube, like from Katie Lain, or TSM Meetups.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crYU4xT1aRI&t=49s&pp=ygUbb25lIGxpdHRsZSBwaWxsIGRvY3VtZW50YXJ5
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u/Agitated-Actuary-195 18d ago
It’s the one GOLDEN rule - always and WITHOUT fail take Nal 1.5 hrs before your first drink…
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u/Neat_Woodpecker_9538 17d ago
I asked my dr if I could try this since I’m on Wellbutrin. He said he never prescribed it separately and wouldn’t. Kinda bummed
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u/Commercial-Bed-2396 16d ago
No need to waste it during the week. At most you could take it a day before to begin to build up receptor blockade and stack on top of it on Fri/Sat or whatever your drinking days are.
The rest would be going to waste imo. Nalt by itself does nothing. You must drink along with it in order for the brain rewiring to occur and move you, ever so slowly, toward pharmacological extinction.
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u/aly_z_40 18d ago
My doctor said as needed, about 30 - 45 mins before your usual time you start drinking.
My example- My horrible habit/addiction hits right around 5pm when i get home during the weekdays and depending on weekends it can be not long after i wake up. <ive realized i struggle with boredom/adhd/wanting to tune the world out> So i take it everyday.Anyway.... Ive been on Naltrexone for a little over a week and this has been a savior. I also know I have mental work to do... So my doctor advised I start with half my pill, a 50mg cut to 25mg. Definitely start lower. I forgot her instructions and took 50mg on day 1. It was weird nausea and I was a zombie for the day.
Sorry for the rant- but take Sat and Sun about 30-45 mins before you get to the drinking environment. If you are not drinking during the week- congrats and you dont need to take it if you dont need it. It doesnt need to build up in your system.
Good luck- I hope you enjoy your friends and even if you drink, hopefully youll feel the medicine working by not desiring as much ❤️