Antabuse Thread

[Cinders]

Antabuse Thread

SecondChance,

How horrible!!

I do not know what your $$ circumstances are but a "doc in a box" visit is usually about $80.00, I am not sure about the cost of Antabuse, I imagine much cheaper than daily wine..

My daughter is continuing to drink. I talked to her briefly yesterday at about 3:30 and she was barely coherent. Luckily her husband comes home early from work so he gets my granddaughter.

I am trying hard not to let this get me.

Love,
Cindi
XVI

ps, Counseling is also a good idea, anyway!!

[Lucy Van Pelt]

Antabuse Thread

Hi guys!

I just wrote this really long post, and it got lost...UGGHH

OK...quick version. I am now around 30 days...(gotta do the math) and feeling amazing. I never could put even a couple days together before. I actually stopped the meds last week. Two reasons: I had the flu, and knew I wasnt going to drink anyway. Also, we are going on a cruise next week, and when I started this, I was considering going off meds to allow a glass of wine or two on the cruise. Don't worry, I may not do this, but my sister will be with us and I don't want her to wonder why I am not drinking AT ALL (dont want to tell her about antabuse). I also never did drink too much when away because there was no way to hide it anyway.

Don't worry, I have NO plans to go back to daily drinking. I have about 6 months of antabuse here, and if I have any inkling I may go back to old ways, I will be popping that pill immediately.

My first post was very detailed, but I just want to say that life is so much better. 5pm is now more or less just a time of day. I know I have a long way to go, but I see the light at the end of the tunnel here.

Second, although a doctors care is best, I have to say that if you CANNOT get started on antabuse that way, I would say do it on your own. Compared to the drinking I was doing on my own, the antabuse is so much better. I have now had about a month without that poison in my body, so for me, the risk/benefit of antabuse w/o a doctors care is worth it.

Cindi- thinking of your daughter daily. I cant imagine how hard that is. You are doing everything you can by taking care of you. The rest is up to her. but i know you know this.

Hi Det and all else who have been here.

with love

Beth

[Lucy Van Pelt]

Antabuse Thread

That was such a watered down version of my first post. Just want you to all know that going off the meds now is not AL talking me into doing things that will lead me back to where I was. I really am not afraid of that. I would like to be able to stay AF now without antabuse, if I can. If I can't...I will be right back on. I dont EVER want to go back to where I was. I would like to be able to have that occasional drink on vacation, or at a party, but I have no illusions about it. If it is too hard, then I will let that go as well. I may or may not have ANYTHING to drink on this vacation, and if I do, I am assured it will be controlled. If I find it just making me yearn for more...well, ok, I will have learned that it is not worth it. Either way, I am not deluding myself here. I am done with my nightly hidden drinking til I am drunk reutene. If that means no occasional drinks...I can live with that. So, in a way, this is a controlled experiment. I think I am ready for this. And I may choose to drink nothing at all. I am putting the power in my hands this week, instead of the pill. But no illusions...if I need that med upon my return...it is a done deal. Just want you all to know where I am at with this.

OK

Hope that makes more sense.

Beth

[Cinders]

Antabuse Thread

Beth,

Why don't you take the Antabuse with you, just in case you find you need it while on vacation?

Doesn't mean you have to take it.

AL can ruin a beautiful vacation, too.

Good luck!!!

Love,
Cindi
XVI

[Lucy Van Pelt]

Antabuse Thread

Hi Cindi-

The Antabuse is as good as packed...

I am quite sure i won't need it...I just know my drinking behavior on vacation...but...I am bringing it anyway.

[boozehag]

Antabuse Thread

I dont know if you can buy Antabuse online but I had an interesting find the other day. If you take tablets for tinnea (athlete's foot) it contains the same thing as Antabuse and you cant drink if you are on them without same side/similar side effects as Antabuse. The tablets are called Nizoral and you can only get them here by prescription. It might be a lot easier to convince your doctor that you have really persistent tinnea between your toes (but strangely enought its not that bad at the moment!) and you have tried all the creams including the Nizoral cream (as I did). I havent actually tried them yet as I am trying the Champix first (refer other thread) but I will keep them in reserve and at least they will stop me drinking while I am on them (3 week course) and at least my very mild tinnea will be cured ........ maybe..

[Fresh Hope]

Antabuse Thread

Just read this entire thread...thanks for your posts and honesty, I am considering AB..But I may have my own horrible form of AB built into my messed up sleep problem, recently diagnosed with severe sleep apnea,,,AL makes it worse, as do sleeping meds, which I take also, I must use the air flow CPAP machine and if I don’t the Doc has to report me to license bureau and have my drivers license pulled, like someone with seizures etc.

Read through this thread has really helped me...to scared to go to sleep now because I stop breathing so often and for so long my heart stops, hundreds of times a night...feeling very sorry for myself...and I do know many – most people in the world have problems with no end in sight that make mine seem laughable....

and while sipping my first glass of wine last night I got so freaked out that it would contribute to my apnea I actually went and poured it out and not even back in the bottle...down the sink...

So this thread has given me perspective and hope and I am very impressed with all of you. I am in shock about my machine and sleeping with this horrid contraption for the rest of my life

And apologies if I have taken this thread in the wrong direction, just wanted to say that your AB diary has helped me get perspective.
FH

[Prest4time]

Antabuse Thread

I took my first Antabuse about five hours ago and have felt absolutely fine, but now that I am going to bed, I'm starting to feel very queezy.... ick. Anyone else feel a little "off" at first? Its making me nervous. I'm having to concentrate to not get sick. I was sure I had waited long enough since last drinking, so that should not be the problem. Maybe its just coincidence or my nerves.

[Determinator]

Antabuse Thread

Prest.....talk to me. how you feeling now?

[Cinders]

Antabuse Thread

Prest,

I never had any reaction to it at all.

You feeling better? Let us know!!

Love,
Cindi

[Prest4time]

Antabuse Thread

Well I did get sick, but only once thank God. But I felt pretty darn green for about an hour before, so it really scared me. I had absolutely nothing to eat or drink that contained vinegar or anything borderline food-wise, mouthwash, skin creams, etc.

I think I have told some of you before, but I am just extremely sensitive to every medication I've ever taken with the exception of a few. So hopefully that was just my body telling me it was not happy that I had put a new prescription in it, and it will shape up and cooperate. The fact that the drug is still in my system and I am feeling good this morning is a good sign I hope.

Thanks! Hoping today will be much better.

[Cinders]

Antabuse Thread

Prest, how is the AB going?

Prest,

Have you kept up taking the Antabuse and having no more sickness?

I am on day 24 and so amazed. I am starting to evolve into someone who isn't "thinking about drinking" all the time. It is amazing.

Just checking in on you and your experience.

(I do think the Gabapentin is helping greatly, too, since it is keeping my anxiety at bay.)

Cindi
XXIV

[gelgit]

Antabuse Thread

Here's my 2 cents worth.... 1/2 of a 250mg. keeps me from temptation for 4 days at least!! I can just open the container and sniff it and almost get a reaction if I've been drinking. The stuff scares me to death!! I wouldn't suggest anyone take it without a doctor's O.K. and that's not saying much as I did have an MD's prescription for it. But, I keep it around and it's always there for a last desperate tool.

[Cinders]

Antabuse Thread

Gelgit,

You must be very sensitive to it.

I have never taken any meds without my doctor's approval and script.

I have absolutely no bad side effects from Antabuse. However, I have NOT tested it, if you know what I mean.

I did gargle with Listerine and spit it out a couple of times. No problem.

I wear perfume and hairspray with alcohol and no reaction.

I believe after 30 days, I am supposed to try to "test" it with 1/2 a drink to see how I react, based on reading some of the literature. I am afraid to. I absolutely HATE throwing up. Which is hilarious since I had gastric bypass 3 years ago, talk about throwing up!!

However, I am using Antabuse as a long term solution to let me change my patterns and deal with counseling without caving to the drink.

Cindi
XXIV

[gelgit]

Antabuse Thread

Thanks, Cindi, for your imput. I can't take it long term: 10 days in a row at most and then I get sick from it without "testing"....I've taken it many times!! Ten days is usually enough to get me over a hump. I wish I could take it long term, but then, I wouldn't be here now!!