Newbie needing advice

[spotlessmind]

Hi everyone

I'm new to this forum having just stumbled across it while searching for recovery info.

I've been an alcoholic for over 20 years and have been trying for the last 18 months to cut down on my intake. I was managing binges of around three bottles of wine a few days a week and having a teen daughter and a full time job with a lot of responsibility something had to give.

I've done quite well to cut back, but still struggle.

I was hoping for some advice from those in the know about the use of Antabuse. I was prescribed this by a Drug & Alc Psych who I went to see this afternoon. I immediately did a good search online but would really appreciate some direct answers to my questions from those that have had experiences, good or bad, with this drug.

I'm concerned about the issues with side effects such as increased problems with liver function, eyesight, dizziness or fuzzy head and ill coordination. Has anyone experienced these problems?

I am worried about what listerine, shower gels, hair dye etc I may be able to use - I dye my hair dark regularly and wonder if the content of dyes or other toilletries may bring on illness associated with Antabuse reaction?

Can I still eat vinegar and sauces with white wine or cooked-off alcohol?

Is Antabuse a long-term solution?

Are there better options out there to adress the cravings for alcohol as well as acting as a detterent?

Thanks for your time and I appreciate the ability to be able to ask these questions!

[spotlessmind]

Newbie needing advice

Feel a bit daft - I see there are plenty of answers to my questions in another area of this awesome board.

Feel free to ignore my ignorance

[kuya]

Newbie needing advice

Hi Spotless and :welcome: to MWO

Don't apologise, it is a bit overwhelming at first

There are many members using Antabuse successfully and it is a great tool to take the choice off the table.
Their stock phrase is 'take the damned pill'. Most will take it in the morning as normally people drink in the evening.
Has your doctor ordered any liver enzyme tests? It might put your mind at rest.

The side effects seem to be minimal and are far outweighed by the benefits.

Come over to the newbie's nest where you will find lots of folk in the early days of their quit.

Don't be scared ....... You have made the best decision of your life

I drank daily for 23 years and, like you have a teenager and work full time. Being sober again is awesome.

[spotlessmind]

Newbie needing advice

Thanks Kuya

Yes the Doctor suggested I get a blood test done that includes liver function. She also suggested taking it in the morning.

Thanks for your feedback I feel a bit lost in this. Need to read up and educate myself.

[JackieClaire]

Newbie needing advice

:welcome: Spotlessmind (what a great name by the way).

Looks like you're ready, willing and able to hit this thing head on. Doing your own research as well is a big bonus.
I've never taken antabuse but have taken a very subtle anti-craving drug called Campral (acamprosate) in the past. For some reason this time round the block I haven't needed any anti-craving meds. I just got sick to death of the merry-go-round of drinking. I'm wondering if the two would work together.

Anyway first things first get the blood tests and get yourself on the sober road. It's something you'll never regret.

As Kuya said, there a good members on antabuse who can counsel you better.

Good luck and glad you've found us.

J x
:l

[Snapdragon]

Newbie needing advice

Hi Spotless and welcome.

I've been taking Antabuse for 3 weeks now and like you asked lots of questions before taking it because it seemed so scary - what side effects, what could I eat and what toiletries could I use etc.

Well for me, it has changed my life in that I haven't had a drink since I started taking it. I have had no side effects whatsoever either. I use all the same deodorants, eat lots of vinegar on fries etc. Was wondering if I would get a reaction last night as I ate pickled beetroot - but was absolutely fine. I have also eaten food with wine sauces (chicken in white wine) and as long as it is cooked thoroughly the alcohol dissipates. As people recommended me in the first fews weeks be a little careful (some people have reacted to pickles and vinegar)

I had a panic last week when someone offered me a chocolate which I started chomping on when the taste of alcohol hit me. I quickly ran to the toilet and spat it out, but was absolutely fine (apart from the panic!!)

There are lots of people on MWO who have been taking AB for much longer than me who I'm sure will be able to give better advice - but the one message I seem to get from all of them is that it has changed their lives for the better.

Good luck and keep posting :welcome:

[Snapdragon]

Newbie needing advice

JackieClaire;1496297 wrote: I've never taken antabuse but have taken a very subtle anti-craving drug called Campral (acamprosate) in the past. For some reason this time round the block I haven't needed any anti-craving meds. I just got sick to death of the merry-go-round of drinking. I'm wondering if the two would work together l

Hi Jackie - I'm taking Campral and Antabuse together and it's certainly working for me. (I tried Campral on it's own unsuccessfully for several months - but this was more because I kept forgetting to take it) Snap x

[Pinecone]

Newbie needing advice

Hi and welcome Spotlessmind! Just FYI, I have never seen anyone new here who was berated for "not using the search function" as happens in most other forums. We are dealing with the same problem here and anyone who wants to join is welcome. I'm glad you found us!

[Struggles 106]

Newbie needing advice

HEY SPOTLESS

I take antabuse, and have no problems with it at all. It usually comes in 250 mg pills, which I cut in half. I take 125 mg every 4 days or so and this is enough to work.

I,like some other foolish people, have had a beer or something while it's in my system and it ain't pretty. The reaction I had was mild compared to some but certainly enough to make me realize how dumb it is.

If you research how it works physiologically it should be enough to NOT try drinking on it. With my low dose and one beer I had rapid heart rate, flusing of face and neck and discomfort. Our wonderful K9 Lover here at MWO is on it as well.

It has saved my life. Hope this helps

[K9Lover]

Newbie needing advice

Hi Spotless!

Welcome to MWO, we are glad you're here!

Well I may be the Antabuse Veteran around here. LOL I have been on/off it for over 3 years. I have been on it continually for the past 483 days. I have no plans to quit, and my doctor says it's fine for long-term use. I take 250mg every other day, just enough to stay in my body. I've often said I am the type that needs to be "scared straight", so I will continue to take it as long as the doctor prescribes it! Kuya is right, us ABers have an expression "TTDP"...sometimes we kick it up a notch to "TTFP" (Take The Fkn Pill!) but of course we always say it with LOVE! :h

Anyway, I am bouncing all over the place here. LOL I have NEVER had a reaction to anything other than alcohol, as in intentionally consuming alcohol while on AB. Believe me, you do NOT want to do this. My experience was something similar to poltergeist, head spinning and projectile vomiting (you get the picture. lol)

I use every product under the sun: hair dye, lotions, toners, astringents, moisturizers, nail polish remover, etc, etc....and nothing has EVER reacted to the AB. You should probably be careful at first because different people have varying sensitivy levels, but I think most people are fine.

Head on over to the Newbies Nest for lots of support and advice. We are glad you're here!

K9

[spotlessmind]

Newbie needing advice

Thanks everyone for the informative replies and welcomes.

I had a chat with a friend who is a med student today and she mentioned that Antabuse may not agree with me as I have a
nasty allergic reaction to meds that are sulphur based. That cancels out Antabuse for me I'm afraid, and that's hugely disappointing after reading the help it has offered others in staying abstinent.

I'm investigating other options that will be less likely to have dire reactions for me - Campral sounds promising, and I'll be buying some L-glutamine powder next paycheck as I have had moderate success with taking that on and off a year ago. I don't think I really gave it a long enough try so will take it 3 times a day for a few months and monitor my progress.

Pinecone - this site is an amazing resource and I've spent my day off going ape on the search function and reading all sorts of posts that have me considering plenty of useful options and ways to develop a plan of action.

K9, Ann Carolina and Snapdragon I'm so happy for your success with Antabuse. Well done guys So pleased you've found something that works for you.

JackieClaire - I watch a LOT of film and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is one of my faves. Seemed like an apt moniker for someone wanting to erase a painful aspect of their being, in this case alcohol abuse!

[spotlessmind]

Newbie needing advice

Oh, and just had to add I had a horrible moment today that gave me the urge to run crying to the bottle shop... I was cleaning my fighting fish Siouxsie's tank out and she went flying down the kitchen sink plughole! How I cried!!! I have a huge amount of guilt for not taking her out when swishing the water around and now she's long gone to the big rice-paddy in the sky

It took a huge effort not to go and buy a bottle of wine, silly I know, but I had a good cry and a hug from my Daughter and resolved to just feel awful instead of try and pickle the sad away. I guess that's progress???

[JackieClaire]

Newbie needing advice

Oh dear, could you not catch when she comes out at the drain pipe end. Probably a bit late now.
Anyway well done on not running to the bottle shop.:goodjob:

[spotlessmind]

Newbie needing advice

I live in an apartment block so wouldn't even know where the drain exits the building! Such a shame.

[LostSoul33]

Newbie needing advice

HI all, I am new to the site so thought I would tell my story. Now that I am learning about Antabuse, I may actually admit my addiction and go to my doctor and tell him about it. I have been a HEAVY drinker for the past 4 years. Meaning not a day went by that I havent had a drink. The idea of being sober scares me because Ive only dealt with life drunk.

It started off with pot smoking in high school and then college, everyday. I stopped for a few years once I started working but would still get loaded when I went out to a party (pretty often). Then in my mid-twenties, I would have a glass or two of wine a night to "unwind" while still smoking pot to fall asleep.

By the time I was 30, I was drinking about a bottle of wine every night and then 6 drinks in one sitting while out socially.

About 2 years ago, everything around me collapsed, I lost my relationship, my career most likely because of my addiction to alcohol. So, instead of dealing with my reality, I was so depressed that I just drank more and upped my drink of choice to hard liquor. I would drink from the moment I woke up to the minute I passed out. Living off my savings from the high powered career I lost due to my careless behaviour.

Everything I did throughout the day depended on alcohol - I would walk to a bar and drink alone and pick up from the liquor store to make sure I had enough before I ran out. I went from being a social butterfly to a closet drinker with nothing. The funny thing is that nobody knew. I was drinking vodka in a water bottle all day long. Living a secret life. Even my recent boyfriend who doesnt drink didnt know, which is strange because I couldnt remember 80% of our conversations but it was never brought up so I figured if the person closest to me didnt think i was a drunk no one would. But the joke has been on me.

For the past 5 months, it got worse, I have been drinking up 4 to 5 750 ml bottles of vodka per week, all alone. I gave up all hobbies, dont go to social gatherings anymore because I am either already too drunk or just prefer to keep drinking alone. I actually dont want people to see me drink-- talk about living a double life. These people must suspect something in my behaviour or just think Im crazy. My boyfriend just broke up with me because he couldnt take my "moodiness" and horrible temper (I never had one when I wasnt drunk) and I barely have any friends because I had managed to fight with all of them or just act selfishly by not being there for them.

Two weeks ago when I went to throw out my stash of bottles, I counted 12-- I had drank them in less than 3 weeks. The visual of me throwing away each bottle in the dumpster is what did it. I am done with living this disgusting life.

These are the changes I have made so far, last week, I tapered off the booze to 2 drinks a day and even skipped 3 days out of the week altogether. Im shaky, tired as hell, craving alcohol but getting through it. My doctor gave me some xanex (i told him it was for anxiety) so thats helping with edginess. I sent out my resume and got a number of calls back, this will be the first time I am working in 2 years.

I didnt drink Saturday or Sunday but had 4 drinks on Monday. Not proud about that but its Wednesday and I havent drank yesterday or today. I am going to bed feeling good that I have FINALLY opened up about this secret life I have been leading for so long.

Tomorrow I have a job interview and I hope it goes well. I have to become a functioning member of society again-- I have a great education and resume and my whole life ahead of me to meet a man, get married and have a babies. I cannot be alone anymore. I am committed to doing this and through this forum I dont feel alone. You have no idea what a release this has been.
So now that you know my story, I hope you will join me in my journey in restoring my life. I plan to take it one day at a time and if you dont mind, I plan to share this experience with you. Ive never posted on a forum before, just read others' stories while sipping a drink hoping that one day I had the strength not only admit I had a problem but to speak up about it and do something about it. You have all in your own way inspired to to get on this path. I envy all of you and thank you for giving me this time to listen.