Antabuse Thread

[stepintime]

Antabuse Thread

Helllooooo, Just an update from me....

...Despite being in a bit of a bad place (emotionally) on the 31st, I am so absolutely chuffed to say I didnt drink!!
I am making sure I take the antabuse daily, and will be eternally grateful to my doctor, for having the balls to allow me to have this drug, when no other doctor would give it to me.
I am heeding the advise of the long term abbers here, and staying away from the less serious ones. For too long, I have made excuses for my 'slips', and have now realised the only way fo me to do this is to ...as AA would say...."stick with the winners".
Special thanks to WIP, Heavenly, Beatle, and Popeye too. And a very dear and special member, who has stuck by me no matter what shite I've thown at him. X

I am proud to be a member of the antabuse appreciation society !!

On day 18 of my new life !!!!

:l

[CS04]

Antabuse Thread

I just took an Antabuse today for the first time. My husband doesn't want me to take it, because it is so serious (he has a medical background), and also because this is not my own prescription. But I am so tired of the roller coaster, and desperately need some more AF time. I am kinda scared. But it's done.

[cyclefan]

Antabuse Thread

CS04;550086 wrote: I just took an Antabuse today for the first time. My husband doesn't want me to take it, because it is so serious (he has a medical background), and also because this is not my own prescription. But I am so tired of the roller coaster, and desperately need some more AF time. I am kinda scared. But it's done.

Sincerely, best of luck with it CS. I admire your bravery.

[CS04]

Antabuse Thread

Thanks, Cyclefan!

[dill]

Antabuse Thread

CS, Hi! Check back in and let us know how it goes for you. I wish you well!

[CS04]

Antabuse Thread

I'm on Day 3, but feeling antsier than the last two. I worked all day, and hubby is out (drinking).

[CS04]

Antabuse Thread

Day 4

Hi there,
How many days does Antabuse stay in your system? I took 1/2 a tablet Monday afternoon, maybe around 1:00 pm (EST).

[stepintime]

Antabuse Thread

CS04;552469 wrote: Hi there,
How many days does Antabuse stay in your system? I took 1/2 a tablet Monday afternoon, maybe around 1:00 pm (EST).

I took a tab last tuesday, and drank on the friday. Was sick for the following 3 days. It's something I definately wont be repeating.

Probably slightly different for everyone, but I think 5 - 7 days.

Are you thinking of drinking then?


I am with antabuse 100% now. Am taking it at 5 o'clock every night, am more determined than ever, and have NO desire to drink.

Think I finally found the answer in a bottle ......

......a bottle of antabuse!

Regards

Step

[stepintime]

Antabuse Thread

One thing my 'slip' did, was make me see I was viewing everything wrong. I started to feel a little resentful of taking the antabuse, and so rebelled.

I now view it differently. I see the antabuse as a friend. A friend on my side. A firewall against alcohol. I am not fighting it on my own anymore.

[CS04]

Antabuse Thread

Thanks, Stepintime. It is now witching hour for me! But I just cracked open a...LaCroix lemon flavored seltzer water, and I feel better already. Other MWOers have told me that 2-4 days after taking half a tablet have been OK. But I do not want a reaction, esp. since I haven't told hubby that I took it.

[stepintime]

Antabuse Thread

It's just a shame how hard it seems to be for certain doctors to prescribe it. Then your husband would be more comfotable with you taking it.
I couldn't get a doctor to prescribe it to me either at first. A special friend of mine gave me some, then a new doctor, ....seeing that I was ok on it, and was going to take it anyway ... agreed to give it to me.
Can't you see whether you can change to a more open minded doctor?
Ask your friends/colleagues for recomendations. Thats what I did. And I found a saint.

[Groundhog]

Antabuse Thread

My Experience

Very new guy here. :hiya: Thought I would share experience for what it is worth. :cents Day 6 on AB. Found this thread very helpful in making my decision btw. GP was thankfully accommodating given okay liver tests from earlier checkup after I was AF (very hard) for about 15 days before tests (tricking the system, or so I was thinking). Take 1 x 250mg daily in morning. Got a little queasy after shower last two days in morning. Might be shampoo and conditioner (both have ceytl alcohol). Plan to switch to AF brand tomorrow. Overall, think AB is a goodsend as I don't even have the option to stop for the daily six pack (or way more) after work. Taking the first pill was really, really hard and I waited an extra two days to drink as a parting goodbye to my best friend, but once the pill was down the hatch I was overcome with sense of decision and freedom like I finally said "enough." Don't mean to be corny, but am very grateful for even a chance to reclaim my life even if it means using a pill to get it started. Sober and drugged with AB is better than the alternative IMO. :hitme:

[veritas]

Antabuse Thread

I have just equaled my AF record of 23 days. It has been the first time I have managed for so long in 18 years. Ante buse has played a role here and has been my best friend. I am just so grateful to the clever person who made the ante buse discovery.

I made the mistake in the past of planning relapses and trying to have it both ways. I have had to come to the realisation that it doesn't work. Everytime I relapse, I have to start all over again. I am tired, my liver is tired, my bank balance is tired.

To those wanting to try it out, it has been the best thing that I could have done. The feeling of freedom, the lack of white knuckeling is unbelievable. Without ante buse so much energy was used on an internal struggle. That struggle has been taken over by a morning commitent, and then it's all over. I can just focus on life and living.

[lilnev]

Antabuse Thread

Hey, all. I've been taking antabuse for the past week, and I think it's going to work well for me. I just have to make the decision once each day, in the morning, rather than deciding that I'm still not going to drink, again and again, throughout the afternoon and evening. A little scary, giving up my ability to seek refuge in alcohol if the world becomes too stressful, lonely, or boring. But I have to quit, and will-power hasn't been cutting it.

I asked my doctor about it, and she seemed reluctant -- wanted to do a full physical first, and then talk about it. But her next availability was six weeks out, and after thinking about it for a while, I decided to just do it on my own via River Pharmacy.

Anyway. Only side effect has been headaches. And this morning I noticed that a headache started shortly after my morning coffee. So I poked around online, and found that (1) Antabuse can potentiate the effects of caffeine, and (2) coffee contains acetaldehyde (your body processes ethanol to acetaldehyde to acetic acid; antabuse blocks this second conversion, and the buildup of acetaldehyde is what causes the extremely unpleasant antabuse-alcohol reaction).

Has anyone else had headaches on antabuse, and/or noticed a response to coffee? I suppose I'll drink decaf for a few days, then diet cola for a few days, and try to isolate the source of the problem....

[OverIt2007]

Antabuse Thread

After a bad drunk last night, I have been thinking of taking antabuse today. I suppose one of my fears about taking it is, how I will react when I know I cannot drink. I hope that makes sense. When I get my cravings for a drink, I usually cave in. Now that I cannot drink on meds, how will I react? I wonder if I can handle it. I would probably get really really upset, lol. I am not an everyday drunk. Im a binge drinker about every 4 or so days. Wondering how you handle the cravings on antabuse? Does your mind set change quickly? Thanks guys