Antabuse

[K9Lover]

Is anyone here taking Antabuse only? I have been on it for most of the year, and attribute my sobriety to it. Just wondering if anyone else has used it by itself to achieve sobriety.
K9

[Greg]

Antabuse

Hi K9, I have just started taking it as my only medication, after having a relapse recently. I did use it when I quit drinking 19 months ago, but at that time I was also using a couple of other medications to reduce my desire to drink. I have found Antabuse to be valuable in stopping me playing silly games inside my head, in which I debate whether or not I should have a drink during the coming night. These games usually consist of me trying to tell myself it's ok to have a drink for "just one more night", and that I'll do something about sobriety "tomorrow". In a bizarre way, this is literally taking things one day at a time, although in the opposite way that the saying means of course!!

I find that I don't even need the full dose of Antabuse to stop myself drinking, as I know even a smallish dose (50 mg each day) will make drinking too unpleasant to be worth doing. Maybe I am just more sensitive to it than others, but I once drank again after not taking this small dose for two days and felt as if my head had been split open with a sledge-hammer. That was enough to convince me not to try and drink over the top of this drug.

Here in Australia, this drug is often frowned upon by doctors now, even though it can be helpful. They seem to think you have to be drunk 24/7 to be serious enough to be prescribed it, and they will usually try to prescribe Campral instead, or sometimes naltrexone (not the Sinclair way).

Good luck with your sobriety, which sounds to be going great already. Even though I took a couple of other things 19 months back, I still attribute that sobriety largely to the Antabuse, since I would have probably just made up excuses to drink otherwise.

[Murphyx]

Antabuse

I've always wondered why Antabuse isn't mentioned here more often. It seems like potentially a really valuable tool. Are there any serious SEs with it?

[Guest]

Antabuse

Murphyx;1176291 wrote: I've always wondered why Antabuse isn't mentioned here more often. It seems like potentially a really valuable tool. Are there any serious SEs with it?

Only if you drink on it, then the SEs are severe - which is the way in which it works!

I had a bad experience with some antabuse I bought online 8 years ago. Was ok for a few weeks then slowly began to get ill, had 'flu-like symptoms with rash, aching joints and actually had a fit in the Drs surgery. He was convinced I'd drank on it because these are all side effects of having a drink on it, but they are usually immediate not creeping up over weeks. I can assure you I hadn't touched a drop having detoxed for 7 days before starting the AB and was even avoiding vinegars and sauces. Dr then said the tablets could have been anything.....I've been too scared to try since then but did wonder if it could have been my alcohol content of my perfume causing the reaction?

[K9Lover]

Antabuse

I haven't had any side effects on it (except of course the one time I tried to drink after being off it only a few days). I am still able to use any product I want to (nail polish remover, perfume, lotions, hair color, etc.). The ONLY thing it reacts to is alcohol (for me), which is why it has been such a God send. I am fortunate enough to get it prescribed my by doctor, so I know exactly what I'm taking. Ordering medication online scares me (although I know that's the only option for many people...and I'd do it if I had to!). I highly recommend Antabuse for anyone willing to commit to it. Once you've taken the pill, there's no more inner-battle...you just know you CAN'T drink.

[Greg]

Antabuse

Murphyx;1176291 wrote: I've always wondered why Antabuse isn't mentioned here more often. It seems like potentially a really valuable tool. Are there any serious SEs with it?

Hey Murph, Antabuse seems under-utilised in general. Medical reports I've read state that, when given without any other treatment measures and left up to the alcoholic to take it, the drug isn't very helpful. However other reports exist which state that supervised Antabuse treatment has quite a high success rate (not sure how long-term that success is however). The temptation is always there to stop taking the tablets if an alcoholic is profoundly dissatisfied with their life, and convinced that more alcohol is the only thing that can help them feel better. That's why I made sure I also had other drugs there at the same time, to make things emotionally more bearable (although that sounds like a p**s poor excuse, just reading back over my own statement!).

I've heard it does produce some unwanted side effects in some people, even without any alcohol at all being taken. From memory a few psychiatric side effects have been mentioned with high Antabuse doses (e.g. 500 mg/day), and I think one or two other issues. I think these things are fairly rare, but it's recommended these days that the maintenance dose only be around 125-250 mg per day, with 500 mg only being given for the first week or two.

[Murphyx]

Antabuse

Greg;1176929 wrote: The temptation is always there to stop taking the tablets if an alcoholic is profoundly dissatisfied with their life, and convinced that more alcohol is the only thing that can help them feel better. That's why I made sure I also had other drugs there at the same time, to make things emotionally more bearable (although that sounds like a p**s poor excuse, just reading back over my own statement!).

I don't agree Greg. I think that makes perfect sense. Not just the cravings, but also the other stuff going on in our heads will still exist, so they need dealing with

K9Lover wrote: Once you've taken the pill, there's no more inner-battle...you just know you CAN'T drink.

Which could be a great way of dealing with the habit hangover those who are post-switch on HDB experience, when they keep on drinking despite having no cravings.

Antabuse does seem to be potentially a useful adjunct to treatments such as HDB as well as obviously working on it's own as it has done with K9Lover.

[K9Lover]

Antabuse

Regarding Greg's statement about the alcoholic just discontinuing Antabuse if they chose to...yes, that is correct, you COULD do that. But it does take at least 5-7 days for the Antabuse to leave your system, and hopefully within that time you would have time to think about making the decision to drink. I've had those thoughts myself "If I stop taking these today, by next Friday I can drink"....but then I "wake up" and realize that I do not want to drink!!! I know it isn't for everyone, but I truly credit my sobriety to it. Yes, there are ways around everything...but the point is that each one of us has to make a decision to be in control. My little Antabuse pill just makes that decision a heck of a lot easier to come to. In case anyone is wondering, I don't go to AA, and haven't had much support (I hid my drinking very well...so nobody even knew it was a problem). I've basically just buckled down and stuck with my decision. Guess it's good to be THIS stubborn sometimes. LOL

[Cinders]

Antabuse

Sigh. I drank on Antabuse.

I do not want to go into the "SE's" because they were too horrible to discuss on a web or anywhere else.

If your mind is in the place where it can realize that the SEs of Antabuse are enough of a deterrant, then that is great. Take Antabuse.

If your mind is not in the place, don't take it.

Cindi

[Accountable for Me]

Antabuse

I used antabuse a couple of times. IT is a remarkable tool; only if one commits to taking it. It does take the mental battle of whether to drink or not away. Cause' you can't!

As Cindi did, I decided to have a couple of drinks on it once. I had only started to take it the second time around, taking one capsule - 250mgs. Well, I had 3 regular servings of ciders on it and it wasn't pretty. I turned as red as a tomato, heart was racing, and my face felt like it was on fire. Not nice. Never did that again. And I was soooo stupid for even trying it.

But, if you are committed to sobriety and take it as prescribed, it can be extremely helpful.

[mariec]

Antabuse

I tried a couple of times to take it but with no results, i did actually drink while taking it had one hell of a rash!

[Doggygirl]

Antabuse

I know a couple folks who say that Antabuse saved their marriages. Their spouses were to the end of their respective ropes with the lying and drinking. An interesting use of the pill is that it can be taken in the presence of someone whose trust has been completely blown. At least they know there will be no drinking for a few days (assuming the warnings are heeded).

Just another thought about antabuse for anyone who might be trying to find a way to buy time getting sober AND trying to save a relationship.

DG

[mycall]

Antabuse

I'm currently taking baclofen to hopefully rid myself of cravings.

Although on a low dose, I have some unpleasant side effects which I'm hoping will settle down as time goes by.

I'm almost certain that the side effects are compounded by the fact that at the moment, I'm still drinking. Just wondering if, by taking antabuse (where I absolutely could not drink!) the side effects would subside sufficiently for me to continue with the bac.

Also, does the antabuse stay in your system for 5 - 7 days after the first dose or is it cumulative?

Good for you for sticking with the regime - it takes courage and determination

[Guest]

Antabuse

Mycall for most people stopping drinking reduces baclofen SEs to a manageable level. You do need some days of abstenance before taking AB though (or at least it's recommended!) and from what I remember AB does stay in your body for days afterwards. So once you take it even if you stop you still have to wait a time.

[Murphyx]

Antabuse

Doggygirl;1177244 wrote: I know a couple folks who say that Antabuse saved their marriages. Their spouses were to the end of their respective ropes with the lying and drinking. An interesting use of the pill is that it can be taken in the presence of someone whose trust has been completely blown. At least they know there will be no drinking for a few days (assuming the warnings are heeded).

Just another thought about antabuse for anyone who might be trying to find a way to buy time getting sober AND trying to save a relationship.

DGThat is an absolutely fantastic idea. I'll remember that. Thanks DG.

mycall;1178115 wrote: I'm currently taking baclofen to hopefully rid myself of cravings.

Although on a low dose, I have some unpleasant side effects which I'm hoping will settle down as time goes by.

I'm almost certain that the side effects are compounded by the fact that at the moment, I'm still drinking. Just wondering if, by taking antabuse (where I absolutely could not drink!) the side effects would subside sufficiently for me to continue with the bac.

I'm very interested in the idea of Antabuse as an add on to baclofen. We need guinea pigs to try it out, so I'd say give it a go.