Antabuse Thread

[beatle]

Antabuse Thread

As you might have read earlier on this thread, even after a couple days, Antabuse has its effect.

It disturbed me, but not as much as Cindi's new avatar.

[gelgit]

Antabuse Thread

From past misadventures, I can vouch that antabuse will linger in your system, and keep on working for 2 weeks plus after your last dose. g.

[SpiritGirl]

Antabuse Thread

Thank you for your responses. I certainly will take your word for it and NOT experiment. Does Antabuse stay in your system longer the longer you are on it? My plan for the moment is to continue to take it until I can abstinate on my own.

I have regarded the last 9 days as gifts. It has been hard as far as cravings go, and simple changes in my nightly routine, but the days have been wonderfully clear. I am so grateful for the opportunity to have something to "clean" me up as I was not able to do it on my own. Thank you, Cindi, for this thread. Without it, I would not even have known about Antabuse...

Have a good night...

[AMELIA]

Antabuse Thread

Spiritgirl, it sounds like you are doing really well. Congratulations on your 8 days. Yep I have 'tested' it too. It does work, and it does stay in your system. Which is great as far as I am concerned. There can be no grey areas......where I may be tempted to drink.

[jade555]

Antabuse Thread

antabuse

:new:HI everyone. This is my first time on this thread. I've been drinking for about 20 years. I don't know if I am an alcoholic or if I just plain like it ( specially when I cook or clean house). I do drink about 4 bottles of wine a week (didn't start out that way...). I went on Topamax for a while and the cravings decreased, but I didn't continue with it because my husband sees what meds I buy (he gets the insurance records) and he questioned why I was on "migraine medicine." I decided to go on Antabuse (through my doctor, and paying full price so my husband doesn't know I'm on it) because I have no will power to cut down or quit. I don't get stupid drunk or anything (even after a fullbottle of wine) nor does my husband notice me as intoxicated. I don't "bother" anyone nor do really stupid things when I drink. I just sort of keep to myself and really enjoy my wine but I feel like it's too much, it's gotta be too much - right? 4 bottles a week?

I just started the antabuse 5 days ago and after reading what you guys have said I am really scared about trying to drink anything. But I do have a couple of questions if anyone can help...

How soon does antabuse "kick in?"
For how long after the last dose should I refrain from alcohol?
For those of you who were on it and now are off, did it help you control your alcohol intake after?
HOw much wine is too much wine a week?
How do you know you are an alcoholic?
Does anything non prespcription (L-GLutamine?) really help decrease your craving for it?

Thanks for any info!

[jessie]

Antabuse Thread

Hi Jade,
First of all, there are many questionairs online to establish whether you are alcoholic or not. Problem with this disease is that you may not have passed the threshold yet but might be full blown alcoholic within a year. It's a progressive disease and the progress differs for everyone. 4 Bottles of wine pw does not sound that much, but the important thing is:- have you been drinking more and more and can you stop after a glass or two. If not, yes, then you probably have a problem. For normal people alcohol is not an issue - they can take it or leave it.
Antabuse kicks in immediately and stays in the system for at least 5 days.
Keep posting and let us know how you are doing.
All the best!

[jade555]

Antabuse Thread

Thanks for the info Jessie. I've been at 4 bottles a week for several years. I can't really (don't want to) stop at less than 2 glasses. I could physically stop but just don't want to because I enjoy it so. I don't get the shakes nor any withdrawal symptoms. I just thought maybe that with this antabuse I could stop drinking long enough to get into a new routine and feel comfortable without alcohol. Is that delusional or possible? I read where you have tried drinking while on antabuse. May I ask what happened?
Jade

[bean33]

Antabuse Thread

Hi Jade, I feel alot like you. If you read through this thread, you will see the choices you can have with antabuse. Like you, I don't have withdrawals, and I probably drink as much (or more) than you of wine in a week. I , like you, am not comfortable with my wine consumption. It's true, it's just not healthy, regardless of whether we fit into the definintion of 'alcoholic' or not, we know we want to cut down!
I have taken antabuse sporadically over the past few months. I have loved the time off, and have went back to same old same old upon re-entry. But, I am still thining and trying. If I take an AB I do not drink for at least 6 days, if I take more in succession I add so many more days onto it. I support your venture. Good luck and take care.

[jessie]

Antabuse Thread

Hi Jade,
With my "experiment" I took half a tablet ( 200g) in the morning. Then at 6 pm I had a glass of 11.5% white wine. My glasses are big, about 200ml. Within 15 minutes I started to feel stuffy nosed and short breathed, uncomfortably so. And my face started to flush right into my neck. Bright red, and I mean bright red! My brain felt swollen and heavy. The cherry on the whole experience was that friends came over for a visit and I jumped into bed, trying to hide my very noticable red face under bedding. Together with the stuffy nose I convinced them that I had flu and was extremely feverish! They felt so sorry for me because I looked so very ill and I felt such a liar!
Oh, please don't try it. Bean is right, at least 6 days.
Jessie.

[jessie]

Antabuse Thread

Jade, I must add. If I had been foolhardy enough to keep on drinking I would have started vomiting uncontrolably and probably landed in hospital. That's what the pamflet says. But I felt so bad that I can't imagine anyone drinking more.

[jade555]

Antabuse Thread

Thanks Bean & Jessie. This is all really new to me, the antabuse that it. Bean, you say that if you take 1 antabuse that's good enough to keep you away from alcohol for 6 days? Wow, that would be great. So from what I've read so far I understand that if I'm taking this regularly I shouldn't go near a drink in at least a week, right? My birthday is coming up fast (next week) and for the first time in over 20 years I think it's going to be a dry birthday. I'm ok with that. But I do have an event on Sept 5th I'd like to be able to have a few drinks at. How soon would you guys recommend I go off the antabuse before that date?
In reading this whole thread I see there is alot of support. Although I am new, I really do appreciate ya'lls insight!
Jade

[lucky 2.0]

Antabuse Thread

I took 1/2 a tab on Monday for the 1st time and just poured a glass of wine. Will let you know if I get sick.

???

[bean33]

Antabuse Thread

jade555, that's right. a tablet and i wont touch a glass of wine for 6 days. I know the directions say otherwise on the bottle; but I know myself-- I won't take a chance after reading the horror stories of our fellow thread compatriots.

[SunDaisy]

Antabuse Thread

Hi,

Does anyone have any information about combining topamax and antabuse? I'm on topamax and I'm doing pretty good at moderating, but I was thinking of adding antabuse to help me to go AF.

Any thoughts or experience with this?

SunDaisy

[jade555]

Antabuse Thread

Hi SunDaisy. I was on Topamx for a couple of months. It helped me as well with the moderation but not as much I would have liked. It's been a while since I was on that and I decided on the Antabuse to just quit completely, until hopefully I develop new habits. I'm not sure that I see why you would be on both. With Antabuse you just can't drink, period. Maybe the Topa would help with the craving - I suppose. I'm not a doctor, but I do get twitchy about combining any prescription drugs. I'm sure you could ask a pharmacist as well, or research it on the web. I also would like to quit smoking and am thinking I might try Chantix but not sure I want to that with the Antabuse at the same time. Though somewhere I read Chantix has a possibility of also helping with the alcohol as it "blocks" the pleasure you get out of. Anyhow, Good Luck.