Antabuse Thread

[Green Goddess]

Antabuse Thread

Hi All,

I have decided to try Antabuse and so have been reading this thread for the past few days. It feels like a good option for me at this point as I am an impulse drinker and all of your comments confirmed my thoughts on it. However, I would prefer not to go through my doctor for a few reasons, and was wondering if there is a discreet, reliable, online, no rx needed, site that I can order from???

I haven't been to the MWO site for a while, but always feel wonderful and welcome when I'm here thanks to all of you.

Love & Light - Green Goddess

[Cinders]

Antabuse Thread

Darn, I posted a response and "saw" it and now it is gone.

AFM,

My doctor says my trigeminal neuralgia has nothing to do with Antabuse and everything to do with my TMJ and migraines. Somehow they are all related. Something is impinging on the nerve.

I am on Tegretol, now, and I pray it helps and I am not allergic to it like I am Topamax.

As for the Antabuse. If I don't take it. I drink. It is that simple. I need draconian measures to keep me from drinking. So, I sure pray the Antabuse has nothing to do with these headaches. I really do.

Love,
Cindi

[ready2change]

Antabuse Thread

Oh Cindi...my heart feels for your pain. My dad was diagnosed with trimengal neuralgia AND bells palsy, as he has facial paralysis on one side of this face. He get severe stabbing/shooting pains in his face. He has been taking Lyrica for the pain, and it helps SOME, but he gets totally knocked out by it.

They have now diagnosed him with Ramsey Hunt syndrome and he is currently undergoing his second nerve block procedure tomorrow to try and alleviate the pain. Please keep us posted on how your doing on the Tegretol and if it is helping any. I totally can relate to the type of pain you are experiencing, having watched my dad for the last year. My prayers are with you for some relief.

R2C

[Cinders]

Antabuse Thread

Ready,

Thank you for your kind words.

I am not a baby about pain but this pain has been unbearable. Truly.

I keep trying to jerk that darned guy off my back that is stabbing that ice pick into my head.

Oh well. Life is the way it is. I hope the new meds work. I will let you know.

In the meantime, I will keep taking my Antabuse because it is the only thing between me and death from alcohol. Truly.

Love,
Cindi

[ready2change]

Antabuse Thread

Cindi, you had mentioned Lenair...are you still going to pursue that? I hope the best for you...you deserve some peace.

[Cinders]

Antabuse Thread

Ready,

Yep. I called and left a vm that I am ready to put down my deposit and take the early August date.

I have my fingers crossed he gets the vm before he gives away the slot.

I am so ready for Lenair!!!

Love,
Cindi

[beatle]

Antabuse Thread

Some updates from me:

1) ANTABUSE (that's what this thread is about, so it comes first)

I took Antabuse for a week or so after I sobered up a few weeks ago, then stopped because of the side effects and I didn't feel I needed it BUT, as stated, I kept it on hand for "back-up". Well, I took one tablet on Saturday morning to insure I would not drink that night as we would be at a party and I knew the temptation would be great and the avoidance difficult. It worked great, of course, and I never even considered a drink. SO, today (Monday), I was out with some friends and after many weeks not drinking, I thought I would try a glass of wine... well, after a short time, I looked like a lobster (and felt like one too)! SO! Good news... it really works and it really stays in your system. (This is in compensation for me feeling like an idiot for ever thinking of drinking again in my life.)

2) TRAMADOL/TEGRETOL

I think there might be some confusion about these two very different medications, both of which I am an expert on, like almost every legal drug known to mankind.

-TRAMADOL is a pain reliever that I love dearly (probably most alcoholics will love it, I guess). Anyway, it does a great job on headaches, especially those you get from over-drinking AND from ANTABUSE (hmmm, anyone see a connection?). Fortunately, it is not highly addictive. Unfortunately, it is highly constipative (which may account for the former).

-TEGRETOL is an anti-convulsive medication used for epilepsy, that also is used for detoxing alcoholics and for bi-polar treatment. In general it is a mood-stabilizer, not known to be addictive and fairly mild. I have used it and like it well, but it interferes with thyroid medication, so I had to stop it. (grapefruits also interfere). I have found lithium orotate to have the same mood stabilizing effects as Tegretol.

3) LENAIR: I have been there and it was not a miracle for me, but it had its effects. I'm not going into detail here, but I will be happy to answer questions if there are any.

[Marshy]

Antabuse Thread

:hijacked: Beatle, very interesting that Lenair didn't work for you (not so interesting for you obviously ).
I do have questions, but I might PM you.

OK, back to the joys of Antabuse! I'm using it as and when I feel I need extra help. I usually take one or two a week but do take it every day if I hit a difficult spot. No side effects yet, except a bit of drowsiness the first few times I took it. It's definitely stopped me drinking on several occasions when otherwise I would have drunk.

[Cinders]

Antabuse Thread

Beatle,

How funny about the Tramadol/Tegretol post.

I am on both. My doc said it may be a while before the Tegretol takes effect (and today I am in incredible pain) so she gave me the Tramadol to use in the meantime.

Unfortunately, it isn't touching the pain.

Love,
Cindi

[gelgit]

Antabuse Thread

Cindi, I am so sorry for all the pain you are enduring! Lenair will probably help as is sounds like she has somewhat of an "in" with moving frequencies and energies around. Nerve pain is a monster phantom. If you can't get to Lenair soon, I might suggest that you try and find a chi gong practitioner. They also can remove energy blockages or enhance and rebalance. I, personally, have had remarkable results from treatments but my "Master" is in L.A. far from Sweet Home (I spent my first 5 years living in Alabama and my memories are very sweet) Also, just wondering, do you have an aversion to garlic or cilantro? I recently learned that neuralgia type pain can be caused by a buildup of heavy metals and not liking either is an indication.
About antabuse. Since i haven't taken it for 6 days and, yes, it was still in my system as of Sunday) my headaches have gone. They went away for awhile and then came back stronger. I don't get any rashes, but I have a general feeling of heaviness, sort of a dullness all around, when I take it and, I only take 1/2 every other day. My little waltz with a wine bottle over the weekend seemed to calm my beast and I'm not craving yesterday or today. I'll hold off until tomorrow and take my 1/2, on schedule again. I hope you get some relief SOON! xxx g.

[beatle]

Antabuse Thread

Cindi, I don't know what your doc told you, but mine said that even though the regular dose of tramadol is about 3 caps per day, you can take 2x 50mg caps of the tramadol up to 4 times a day. It takes an hour or so to kick in, but I do believe it will touch the pain if you get the right dose. You know how I hate drugs, but I love this one (except for the constipation!). I hope hope hope you get some relief soon!

p.s. this is my naturopath doc who said this. She is generally careful about prescribing drugs and was surprisingly loose about this one.

[ready2change]

Antabuse Thread

Cindi, you might want to ask about Lyrica...as i said, it doesn't "kill" the pain, but it helps my dad.

[SpiritGirl]

Antabuse Thread

Hi All,

Day 8 for me tomorrow. Prior to Antabuse, I would not be able to say that. I just couldn't muster the will power to do it without help. And of ALL weeks, I decided to start on my vacation. It was an intentional decision because I am with my kids (parents and brother too - but that wasn't a concern). And I did not want to disrupt their week with my drinking. So here I am... The cravings have been hard, especially with everyone around me drinking wine on a nightly basis.

The interesting thing I wanted to share is that Antabuse is unlike any other med I have used. I have fortunately not needed alot of meds in my life (up until my divorce, now I have a couple) - but when I DID take medication I could always FEEL the affect it had on me - thus I knew it worked. (ie. the fever was GONE - the antibiotic worked, the eye infection has cleared up - the eye drops worked, I slept through the night - the sleep aid worked...etc) I don't really KNOW if Antabuse works for me because I am too scared (thanks to the people on this thread that have experimented with AL on Antabuse) to test it. I have had NO side effects - NONE. I have had vinegar, mustard, AF beer, pickles - no reaction. I have had no headaches and no fatigue. If I didn't feel the pill go down my throat I wouldn't know that I had taken the Antabuse. Now, honestly, I am not surprised with the lack of side effects. I am not overly sensitive to much of anything - particularly medications.

I am 8 days AF for the first time in at least 2 years because I am TRUSTING that the Antabuse will not allow me to have AL without an adverse effect. I have read the posts from members of this thread and it scared the "bejeebies" out of me. So, thank you to those who have shared their experiences.

P.S. Is it POSSIBLE that the Antabuse is not working for me? What do you all think? .... Still not going to test it! :eeew:

[Cinders]

Antabuse Thread

SpiritGirl,

Nope. It is not possible it is not working for you.

I am the same way. No side effects.

However, I did test it once and trust me, you do not want to do that.

Love,
Cindi

[jessie]

Antabuse Thread

No Spirit Girl, it is not possible that the Antabuse is not working for you. I also do not have any reaction to Antabuse, but I am one of those who experimented...major mistake! I will guarantee you that if you take a drink while on Antabuse you will find out within 15 minutes that it does work for you. Don't!.
Love
Jessie