This is my first post, though I first found this site over a year ago.
I am pushing 60 and have been drinking three glasses of wine to a bottle day for the last ten years. My husband drinks even more but thinks that we do not have a problem.
A few years ago, I confessed to my doctor and she gave me a percription for Antabuse and Trazadone - a anti-depressant. I was able to drink a half glass of wine on the Antabuse without side effects - if I drank any more than that I'd get covered in red blotches and my heart would start to race. I was able to get by for three months, then went back home for the holidays. My entire family drinks. I spent Christmas covered in red spots thinking I was going to have a heart attack. It really does take two weeks off of Anabuse before it is out of your system and you can drink.
When I found this site, I bought Topa off line. I stayed with it for three months inspite of terrible side effects - headache, body aches, tiredness, forgetfulness. I cut back from a bottle to one glass day. But, as soon as I stopped taking it, I worked my way up to a bottle again.
Next, I tried Campral which really did not have much of an effect on me at all.
So, I went back to Antabuse and Trazadone. I recently started taking an over-the-counter product called lithium orotate. It is inexpensive - under $20 for several months supply, and it seems to be working. I bought it at the Vitamin Shoppe. (There is a more expensive brand called Serenity. The testimonials on their Web site are worth reading.).
There is an abstract of a study done which you can find by searching on 'lithium orotate and alcholism'.
I have stopped taking the Trazadone which made me spacey. The lithium orotate does not seem ot have any side effects and it is safe.
Thanks for listening - It is good not to have to walk this road alone.
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