Hello Chris,
Not everyone gets side effects, but those that do have side effects can rest assured that as bad as they may appear to be initially, they do lessen with each tablet and eventually pass within the first 6-10 tablets. To help, each a good meal about 30 minutes before the tablet and drink lots of water. What can also help is to take the tablets fairly regularly to allow your body to adjust. What I mean by that is don't take a tablet, then wait a week and take another. As best you can, try work through the first few tablets on a regular basis.
Take the tablet 2 hours before you anticipate drinking. The tablets are not curative on their own, they only work in conjuction with alcohol. If you take a tablet, it will get you a step nearer your ultimate goal if you do have even ONE drink. One drink will release the endorphins that the tablets block. There is no need to drink any more if you don't wish to. Taking a tablet and not drinking will not harm you, but it won't help your progress either, if that makes sense.
When you do drink, drink slowly and appreciate that the usual 'kick' that you got from drinking, and that caused you to drink more, is missing. Between drinks ask yourself if you really want another - will it satisfy you any more than the drink before. By listening to your brain, you should find that it is much easier to recognise that you are done drinking and so put the drink down. Get up and do something else.
Selincro does not interact with the alcohol. If you ignore the messages in your brain that you are done, then you will overdrink and get drunk. View the Selincro as a tool in your toolbox that will help you make better decisions with regards to your drinking.
As the kick of the drink is gone, over some months you will find yourself thinking about drinking less. At the first sign of a craving, take the tablet, wait the time and then drink mindfully, as above. The idea is to short circuit the reward mechanism that you got from drinking. Answer the craving with a drink, recognise that it actually isn't doing that much for you, and then over time your cravings will naturally lessen.
On days that you don't drink, be sure to do something that releasing endorphins as they are not being blocked since you haven't had the tablet. You want to be aiming to be learning to enjoy activities that do feel rewarding, over the drinking that no longer feels rewarding. In time, your brain will start to lean towards the enjoyable activities.
One last thing, view the Selincro as a door. When you take the tablet and wait the 2 hours, the door is shut and locked. Endorphins cannot get through at all. That is what you want EVERY TIME you drink. Do not skip a tablet and do not drink until the time has passed.
The door is locked shut for around 10-11 hours. During this time you can drink safely knowing that the endorphins are not getting through and it is unrewarding, though of course you want to be aiming to have stopped drinking long before the time is up.
After that time, the Selincro will start to wear down a little and the door will begin to slowly open again. DO NOT drink after that time as even a few endorphins getting through the crack in the door may well affect your progress.
Hopefully, you have got some additional support to get the best out of the tablets as this is part of the prescription. You should also have received a validation code to be able to access the manufacturers website ReduceYourDrinking. This website gives you some great suggestions and will also help you get the best out of the tablets, and help you monitor your progress. It's well worth following that website as you progress.