Antabuse Thread

[Journey]

Antabuse Thread

Chelle12, Yes you can take prozac with antabuse. My doc started me on the prozac with the antabuse but I had some made side affects from the Prozac so he switched me back to Lexapro that my OB doc gave me after having my second baby.

[sami]

Antabuse Thread

Here's what I've learned about Antabuse: it doesn't work if it just sits on my counter and I don't take it. I had hoped that just having it would be enough to keep me from drinking, but alas, it wasn't. So I just (gulp!) took my first pill-----only half of one b/c I'm really scared of it.
I am so grateful that I have such a wonderful doctor. I was seeing her earlier this week b/c of very high blood pressure and headaches (hmmm.....wonder what caused that!) and she prescribed some blood pressure medication. I decided to bite the bullet and ask her if I could safely take it w/ Antebuse. I told her that I had a prescription, even though I hadn't yet taken any. She told me that she hardly ever prescribed it b/c it could make people so sick. I said, "Only if I drink." She asked if I would consider something like AA rather than Antabuse, and I told her that I wouldn't go....it's a shame thing for me. So she left to make sure I could take the meds together, returned and told me that I could, and that was that. Thank God for such doctors!
Another one I had once when I asked for a prescription for topomax made me feel like the scum of the earth.
Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone on this thread that has shared stories and been so supportive!

[sami]

Antabuse Thread

Oh, and the blood pressure med she prescribed for me.....is also used for patients going through alcohol withdrawal. Smart lady, that doc!

[sami]

Antabuse Thread

teeth whitening gel?

Was just getting ready to use some teeth whitening gel (the kind that goes in trays made specifically for you), and thought I should check the ingredients. It does contain some alcohol. I don't swallow it, but it does get on my gums sometimes. Anyone had any experience w/ this?

[Carmac]

Antabuse Thread

Good for you Sami -

Talking to your doctor is always hard. As for the gel whitening - I haven't tried that and wouldn't risk it myself. I'll just have to brush more!

Good luck! Erin

[Cinders]

Antabuse Thread

Sami,

I am very excited for you. You are about to find out that life sober is awesome. My bp went down after I quit drinking so keep an eye on it. You don't want to get low blood pressure.

In the first couple of weeks, concentrate on doing whatever you need to do to feel good. Make being sober more important than anything else right now.

After the first 10 days or so of sobriety, your body starts feeling so much better, being sober becomes a much happier prospect than drinking.

Stay on the Antabuse as long as you feel the "need" to drink.

Learn how to deal with the urges that come. Remember, we all have urges to do things we shouldn't. For some reason, when it comes to alcohol, it seems more important.

But, they are just thoughts and you can blow them away.

Best of luck on your new life.

You have made a real commitment. I am proud of you.

Love,
Cindi

[difficulttimes1]

Antabuse Thread

hey guys, well i had the same thoughts as some of you on here that why take the antabuse everyday if it stays in your system anyway? well, i d take it one day, then a half of 250mg two days later, then four days later a whole or half, etc. and i wanted to drink one day when i was out at a restaurant. i thought to myself, " i bet it has to get into your system anyway" and i drank. nothing happened. i recently said to myself i wont do that again, but figured the same thing when i wanted to drink. "well nothing happend the first time so might as well do it again" when i was craving a drink. well, i know now that it does take a few days of at least 250mg to get into your system to work. should i have been screwing with it like that? no way in hell. i took a scary chance. it is a day after a lousy all ady drinking binge. and i feel like hell for messing up. i now feel like a failure and what if i mes up agin? but i KNOW that if i take the right dosage everyday, i wouldnt be so stupid and drink. but im so scared. ive gained weight also. so two bad things on top of eachother. i want a drink right now-11 am! i plan on going home soon and taking the antabuse. i hope i do. i woke up in the middle of the night and thought to myself that this disease is hell. worse than other diseases. its a mental hell too.

[difficulttimes1]

Antabuse Thread

By the way has anyone had trouble losing weight or gained weight on antabuse?

[Carmac]

Antabuse Thread

Diff -

OK - Before you take the Antabuse...make sure you have been away from AL for at least 24 gours or you an get a bad reaction from the alcohol still in your system.

And yes, as Sami said - it will do you no good if you don't take it.

Your thoughts are right on track though....playing with the dosages and drinking only creates further issues. Mental, emotional and physical.

As for the weight - I found I lost a bit on it.

Stay strong and you CAN do this!

[bloggy]

Antabuse Thread

I was wondering where you got the Antabuse from?

I have read some online stores do sell a weaker form of antabuse- I have 'tested' and cannot drink for at least 7 days after taking just one pill. I guess it also depends on the individual.

I cant find anything that indicates antabuse might promote weight gain. I have stayed around the same weight since I began to take it- but I am taking an absolute minimal dosage- the reason being that I am very sensitive to all meds and am afraid if I were to take the full dose I would get side effects.

[Journey]

Antabuse Thread

This was a first for me.... Antabuse works! I wanted to drink the other day and I new I couldnt. All the other times I would get the urge and I would fight it but I would give in and go to the store and buy a bottle. Not this time, It was so nice to win and not take that drink. I feel that it was a big step in the right direction for me!

[Cinders]

Antabuse Thread

Journey,

EXACTLY!!

And, over time as you want to drink but can't, you begin to realize you can retrain yourself in your habits.

I have many triggers (all of us do) and each time I hit a trigger than makes me want to drink but I can't, I learn how to get through it.

It is a great tool. But, remember, it is not a cure. If you quit taking it too soon and are not committed to being AF, you will end up back at square one. I did.

I am back on it and going to stay on it until I know without a doubt I am going to be AF for life.

Cindi

[Journey]

Antabuse Thread

Thanks Cinders, My doc wants me to stay on it for a year. I have a doc opt Thurs to see if my GP will due a panel of blood work on me. Iam sure he will want too when finds out my other doc put me on Antabus. My hair is falling out and I am bruising really easy, I think its from not taking all my vitamins due to the Gastric Bypass surgery, I hope its not from the Antabuse. I have not had any side affects and I take a pill every morning.

[Chelle12]

Antabuse Thread

Journey;405652 wrote: Thanks Cinders, My doc wants me to stay on it for a year. I have a doc opt Thurs to see if my GP will due a panel of blood work on me. Iam sure he will want too when finds out my other doc put me on Antabus. My hair is falling out and I am bruising really easy, I think its from not taking all my vitamins due to the Gastric Bypass surgery, I hope its not from the Antabuse. I have not had any side affects and I take a pill every morning.

Hi, just wanted to say that my hair is falling out and Im bruising really easily too and Im not on the antabuse yet! I dont think it will be a side effect of the AB, more likely its an effect of the AL.

[Cinders]

Antabuse Thread

Journey and Chelle,

Bruising and hair falling out are signs of liver issues.

Once my daughter stopped drinking (she fails from time to time, sigh) those things started getting better. Her hair is back with a vengeance.

If your liver panels come back, they may take you off the Antabuse. In my case, I take it every other day now to help my liver but that is often enough to keep me from drinking.

Good luck!!

Cindi