Antabuse Thread

[Popeye]

Antabuse Thread

Update

I'm still sober and I have been despite some strong triggers. Remarkably, already I rarely think about drinking the way I used to; as some sort of release valve to get away from it all. I've noticed the way I think about it has changed a lot. I find myself looking at it as a poison, which of course it is. I never drank it for the taste (though some wine was OK, but I'd never get enough) just the effect so it's never been something I liked. I don't mind being in the company of people when they're drinking though I rarely put myself in that situation. I really don't miss it, though I know from experience that the cravings can and probably will come back any time, so I stay guarded against that.
I also listen to the hypno-CD's which I was slightly skeptical about at the start, but I really believe they work. I seem to have adopted some of the attitudes towards drinking that they are intended to encourage. However I think that without the Antabuse the temptation would have been greater.
Although I realise that I'm only starting to get better, it seems to be working for me.

Overit... I didn't want to get help. I thought I could do it on my own. Some people can so why couldn't I?
Then a day arrived where I knew that if I wanted rid of this monkey on my back and sort myself out, I'd have to ask for help; just bite the bullet.
Your life will have to change, but only in relation to your drinking and how you handle it. All the good things will still be there and you'll be able to enjoy them more and other, new good things may arise from it too.

[OverIt2007]

Antabuse Thread

Dear Popeye. Thank you for posting this. I found it very encouraging and have read through it several times. Im so glad things are working out for you. I am getting at a place more where I ask for help, but its hard when its so easy for me to stay stuck in my patterns. I have always been reluctant to ask others for help, but irronically I seem to be the one who gives help to others. Im also the worlds biggest procratinator, why not put it off until tomorrow?

Congratulations on changing your life, you should be very proud of the smart decisions you have made to gain your life back. I hope to be there soon as well... thanks for posting.

[spincycle]

Antabuse Thread

OverIt2007;602449 wrote: Spincycle, hope things are feeling better for you now. My greatest fear or issue with Antabuse is that I cannot imagine what it would be like to NOT be able to have a drink if I wanted one. Im afraid of the antabuse and I am afraid I would be the first person to drink and die from it. I dont know why I am so afraid to take it. How does it feel to know you cannot drink, is it tolerable? I really hope its going well for you now, keep posting!

Overit,

It feels angry and sorta remorseful actually. But also relieved. See, I did it tonight. I bought a pint of rum on the way home. I didn't want to, tried talking my self into it and out of it. My sick damn brain kept telling me I could try one, I could pace myself. I cracked the bottle on the road and poured just a cap full. Maybe a a quarter oz. 5 minutes into it my face got somewhat red, and my head starting hurting a bit. Tolerable, but I guess my sick damn brain needed to test it and make sure it was not a placebo effect. Overit, I really think you should try it. The power of the persuasion of this stuff, and knowing how long it stays in the body is powerful. It's hard, but REALLY effective. You won't be the first person to drink and die from it. Others have already. People who have been on antabuse and drink a liter of liquor, yep, dead. But if you are like me, you know we are killing our selves right now. Lady at work died last week, in her 50's, a drunk. Just keeled over.

Drinking on antabuse is like having unprotected sex with Pamela Anderson. It looks good. It feels good. You really want it and crave it. But ten minutes after you finish you remember that she has Hepatitis and now the shiat starts.

[OverIt2007]

Antabuse Thread

Doing any better Spinny?? Im sure it will get easier with time, it has too. I can relate to the resentment of being on Antabuse, although I am not on it. I am sure if I was on it, I would feel the same as you. We all wish we were normal, and could be like normal drinkers, but we are not. Its hard to face that truth and deal with it.

At least you are Sober! I am so jealous of you because I wish it was me. My heart is beating like crazy and I feel on the edge of a panic attack today. Why? Because I am not on antabuse so therefore I got shit faced drunk on vodka last night. Think of yourself as lucky to not be me. You are lucky to be Sober Spin.

[spincycle]

Antabuse Thread

Overit, feeling better today. Weekends are hard for me, trying to find something to replace the time spent on drinking. 2 weeks today. Trying to find new hobbies/time killers.

[OverIt2007]

Antabuse Thread

Thats GREAT Spin! Finding ways to fill up free time certainly is better than getting plastered and killing your brain cells! Recovery is a Process, and about healing. Hey~ I am not on antabuse, but I feel like I hit a REAL turning point. I havent had any desire to drink and havent in a while. Doing the supplements and also found a friend to talk to over the phone from this site.

Also I read this article.... I had some serious "lightbulb" moments when I read it, never realized a few things before.

Check out in some of your "free time" if you wish...

Addiction Recovery Skills and Coping Strategies

Glad to hear its getting "easier" too

[Ready4Control]

Antabuse Thread

Well I'm on day 14 of Antabuse, and have spent a good amount of time today reading this thread. It's been very comforting, and I am even more happy with my decision to start this regimen to assist in my taking control of my life. Two items that I have concern over are; 1 - in the 14 days since I've started, I have gained 5 pounds. My eating habits have not changed (lapband controls quantity) with the exception of a couple of tootsie roll pops the first few days to combat sugar cravings. For this, I have decided to cut back on the doses to 1 every 5th day - we'll see if the weight gain is connected to the drug. Curious though that no one else seems to have this! Second item, my best friend is getting married in Cabo in October. I've been playing with the idea of stopping Antabuse a couple weeks before we go to "allow" me to have a drink should I chose too. Now why, I wonder, am I planning this? Isn't the whole idea of why I started down this path to stop drinking? I'm fine these 2 weeks, miminal cravings, don't miss it in social settings. I know if I start with "just one" glass of wine, it'll keep going. The smart side of me says TAKE A PILL the day we leave, and take my pills with me. Luckily I have several months to get more control of my situation and set my mind before we leave.

Thanks for letting me get this off my chest. Congrats to all of you who have made the steps you want too, and best wishes to those of you still working towards your desired results

[Popeye]

Antabuse Thread

Hi Ready4Control,

I toyed with the idea of stopping the tablets for a week to have drink one weekend just to prove to myself that I would be OK. It played on my mind for a while, after all I could always go back on them again. Then it struck me as such a ludicrous thing to do. Like you said, the reason I'm taking Antabuse in the first place is to help keep me dry. It's of the utmost importance to me now that I can demonstrate to myself, not just to other people, my ability to keep control of my drinking. If I give in to it then I've lost again, and that's not going to happen. Going to functions and having a good time without drinking is always possible. It depends on my frame of mind on the day, but it's not as important as maintaining my belief in my ability to look after myself and not let alcohol take my life back by degrees. I'm lucky insofar as I don't feel the social pressure to drink any more. I'm comfortable not drinking in company, and I don't mind other people doing so if they choose but I know that I can't drink like ordinary people. I couldn't control it and I'm so happy that now I feel I can. I'm not going to give it an inch, because it WILL take it's mile and a lot more.
I have changed my lifestyle and the way I think about alcohol has also changed the longer I stay away from it. I'm happy with my progress and I don't want anything to lead me back to where I was.
Taking Antabuse has been great for me, though I have to say that I am a little disappointed in myself that I didn't have the will-power to do it by myself. I am confident that I will one day be able to come off the tablets and not drink, but until I'm advised otherwise, I'll keep taking them.

[caysea]

Antabuse Thread

Hi All
Just a little info on what happened to me when I was taking antabuse.I told my Dr. I wanted to use it to stop drinking.He gave me the prescription and I started it with great results.I didn't know about mwo nor did I research enough about our problem to realize I needed more.I need a plan which I didn't have.For 6 months I didn't drink and thought finally i was in control. I than stooped taking the pills and started to what is called here mod.Thinking I was in control.Well I wound up after a few months back to daily drinking.No change and disappointed. I then decided to educate myself and found this site the day I was going cold turkey.I have been successful this time because of mwo and a lot more info about what to do and watch out for.If you are at all considering not taking your pills and drinking you have not mentally committed to stop drinking.The pills are a tool but not the answer. You have to make not drinking the most important thing you do each day.It will be your will power combined with a plan and using what ever tool you find helpful to get al out of your life .If that is truly what you want.If you have not committed fully you will be finding another bottom and maybe that will be what you need.I just hope on the ride down you haven't ruined your's or someone else's life.

Stay Healthy and Keep Fighting
AF 5-16-08

[karens]

Antabuse Thread

Thank you!

I've been reading this thread all morning. I've been debating about whether or not to try AB but was really worried about the side effects. I'm convinced now that i need to do it. I've been in rehab, tried Campral but back to my daily blackouts. I wake up each morning and say "I can't live like this anymore"....but by 5pm I just can't resist the urge. I think if I take the pill in the morning, I simply won't have a choice in the pm. My daughter filmed me drunk the other day with one of her friends. I didn't like what I saw at all...disgusting actually. Thanks so much for all of you who have posted on here. I'm hoping that my doctor will give it to me, but I may order online. Wish me luck!:new:

[madmadam]

Antabuse Thread

hi I'm new !! Please tell me why people cant understand that we are really sick. I got no help from my husband, he is thinking that i can quit from one day to another. But he cant quit smoking he cant even stand without a cigarrete couple hours. His dad was an alcoholic and died couse of it in his early 40'

I been reading this site 3 days straight and its like light ina tunel Thank you guys for bbeing here - I'm ohnly 25 been drinking half of my life , i have a smaall baby
when i'm out of al i can drink mouthwash or rubbing al :upset: been arested been in hospital been agresive fighting embarassing myself all the time etc. i'm so young why me why !!!!!!!!!!! No one in my familly has ever been drunk !!! i was so in love with my husband and so he was with me, but now we just exist next to each other. i love him so much and i know it will never be the same he will never look at me like he used to. I bit him every time i'm drunk - everyday. And the next day i drink becouse he is not "so in love with me" - no wonder. He doesnt believe in AB I do .
I'm so scared that i will drink anyway. I hope he will give me the money for AB.
Forgive me my bad english but i'm not a native speaker. I been in US only 3 years and thats what i have learned without any classes.
Regards
momster madie

[karens]

Antabuse Thread

Hi Madmadam....You are sick, it is a disease...don't let anyone tell you different. And don't question whether or not you are an alcoholic because from what I read, you definitely are......they say in AA, if you wonder if you are an alcoholic, then generally you are. I wish I would have stopped when I was 25....I feel like I've wasted half of my life and the most important years of my kids lives (I'm 37). I'm scared and nervous (today is day one...again), but I'm hopeful because of AB. I've tried every other thing and nothing worked (although I can honestly say that I only did AA for 90 days.....they say that if you go to meetings regularly, you will make it. I may give that another try. I can totally relate to your problems with your hubby. I just got divorced last year. When I checked myself into rehab, he wasn't supportive at all....but I did it for me. Our marriage never would have worked anyway because he is an every day drinker....he's just able to handle it better than me.

Anyway....trust me, do it for you and for your baby because if you wait until you're my age, you will have screwed up your kids and so much more. Good luck!

[madmadam]

Antabuse Thread

karens thank you so much , Your post means a lot to me I have no one to talk to, i beg my dog to making me stop drinking and i talk to him about it - seriously. Karens , first time i feel like nobody's judging me first time someone is actually - talking to me - WOW what a good start

[Ready4Control]

Antabuse Thread

GOOD NEWS!!!! I posted a few days back at 14 days AF on Antabuse, but noted that I had been gaining weight with no changes in normal eating habits (7 pounds in 2 weeks!). I started taking the meds once every 5 days. Last pill was Tuesday a.m., and this morning I was down 3.5 pounds. Honestly - no change in eating habits!! I just know that the meds were keeping me retaining water, or something along those lines! I take my next dose on Saturday. Good news is that I still have NO cravings.....in fact, I had some lobster bisque today and found out it had some sherry in it, cooked, should be fine, but also sherry in a cream "topping" as well. Could have been psychological, but I felt a minor headache for most of the afternoon after that. Well, this is working for me, I'm not gaining weight and should be back on the losing track for awhile. I'm riding this Antabuse train for awhile!!!!!!!!:yah:

[Accountable for Me]

Antabuse Thread

I haven't read this thread in a very long time....

I just started back onto the Antabuse on Sunday evening. I haven't been on it for quite some time as I was told it wasn't available here anymore in Canada. Well, the manufacturer isn't making it anymore a compounding pharmacist can make it.

So anyway, for some reason my new doctor has me on 500mgs a day. I haven't seen anyone on here take it at 500mgs, for a whole 30 days? I am instructed to take 2 capsules (250mgs each) a day. I have been pretty much more AF this year and had a couple of bad nights in May, so I don't understand why I am starting so high and staying high?

The thing that concerns me is the side effects over the last couple of days. I have been having headaches on and off and I am feeling so darn tired all of a sudden. I drink lots of water - lots, and eat well; take supplements, etc.... so I am wondering if this is too high of a dosage?

Has anyone else been prescribed 500mgs daily for 30 days? I was on 250mgs/ once a day the first time around and had NO side effects. I have eaten pickles, sauerkraut (not made with wine vinegar) and have had absolutely NO dietary issues; the same as the first time I was on this.

I see my doctor on Tuesday and will tell him how I am feeling on this at the moment. I know he will probably reduce it and all will be fine. But I am just curious if anyone else has ever done the 500mgs for a whole month?