People in Moderation Management share experiences of naltrexone use

Clyde followup after two months on naltrexone - mm@maelstrom.stjohns.edu - 8/29/01

Hello everyone.
Saw the doctor today. Had to wait TWO HOURS! But I was in a particularly good mood today for some unknown reason ... and I had lots of energy too. (Both quite unusual occurrences.) They even waived the co-pay by way of apology for the wait! Life can be surprising, yes? :) It's been about two months since I've seen him. Two long and two short months. It's been two months since I began my walk w/nal. Naltrexone (if you haven't heard) is a drug prescribed for the purposes of helping people with their irresistible urges for alcohol and/or opiates. Btw, I also learned from my doctor today that he has a colleague (psychiatrist) who prescribes it to help people with their gambling problems. And it seems to work! <wow is right>

I'm very grateful that I have such a helpful, cooperative and gracious doctor. He was glad to hear of my progress and is considering a prescription for his own son-in-law who also has serious drinking problems. (Yes, we've discussed the matter on very personal levels ... I'm a lucky patient.)

My blood pressure is still borderline "high" in one aspect but otherwise better than it was a year ago. [For the curious, in case you want to make your own quasi-scientific assessments and comparisons, I'm also taking Lotrel and Wellbutrin.] I need to begin a moderate exercise regimen and -- honestly! -- I look forward to it. Many good things will follow a good walk every day, I'm sure. :) I drove across the river the other day over an old bridge nearby and wanted to stop. The river gives me such peace. I see history. I hear the world breathing. I smell life. I need to inflate the tires on my bike and go back. Again and again.

Some of you know this already, but as part of my moderation efforts I've quit drinking hard liquor exclusively and began to take up beer again. Why? Because beer could never satisfy me. I could never drink enough before I was completely and disgustingly full. So the idea is that if I feel I must drink I'll drink something "light" in EtOH and "heavy" as an inebriation obstacle. My tolerance is/was ungodly. Now I have two beers and I feel woozy! :) And after two beers I'm ready to take it easy. <uh-huh!>

So anyway ... the doctor always weighs me. As it turns out, I lost 8 pounds in the past two months without even trying! I'm not only drinking less but I'm drinking BEER and I still lost weight. Go figure. I don't really need to lose weight but it's a nice metric, isn't it?! :)

Thank you everyone for helping me get to where I am today. Thank you Dr. Alex for explaining the in's and out's of Naltrexone/Revia, and to everyone else for sharing their own experiences with "the crutch." ;)

I'll walk on my weight yet!!!!

Love and joy to you all.

/clyde