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    Antabuse question...

    Hello everyone

    Been lurking the boards for a long time. Was just wondering about antabuse. Have a friend who takes it, as and when she 'needs' it, but very much a choice. Without it her issues are still there. This is my only first/second hand experience with it so I wonder, is it worth it in the long run??

    I've read posts on MWO by folk who take it, but to me it doesn't really seem like they have their 'addiction' under control. Guess I'd worry about the SE's and liver function etc. Also read not so great to take if liver iscompromised. Wondering how alkies' livers can't be compromised

    #2
    Antabuse question...

    Hello Wobblehead (great name!!)

    I've just started taking Antabuse and your questions are valid. Regarding liver function, I had to have blood tests before the doctor would prescribe it and have to have follow up tests in a couple of weeks to ensure that everything is OK.

    Also, I've been having councelling along with the Antabuse and have been led to believe that whilst I do have AL addiction, it is more mental and habitual rather than chemically dependent (I can go without alcohol for a few days with no withdrawls etc). So for me Antabuse will hopefully break the 'habit'. My little comfort is to crack open a bottle of wine whilst cooking dinner and finishing off a second bottle by the end of the evening. I can go a couple of days without when the nagging little voice in my head starts justifying just 'a glass or two (or five or six!!)

    I hope that if I can get a few AF months under my belt, I will learn new habits which don't involve hitting the bottle.
    Never put off to tomorrow what you can achieve today!

    Comment


      #3
      Antabuse question...

      Hi Wobblehead,
      I have been on Antabuse for a LOOOONG time. Some view it as a "crutch", I view it as one of the many TOOLS available to quit drinking. If you had high blood pressure, would you feel like you were cheating by taking medicine? Or would you stop? I bet not. I have a different disorder, it's called alcoholism and Antabuse is my medication for it. Taking the pill is a choice, so everyday that I take it I am choosing not to drink. Also, your liver is an organ that can heal itself once it's no longer being abused. One or two Antabuse pills per day is nothing compared to the gallons of alcohol I was drinking! You asked if Antabuse is worth it? I say a resounding YES! My last drink was 461 days ago, so there is something to be said about the power of AB!
      :heart:I love my daughter more than alcohol:heart:

      Believe in yourself. You are stronger than you think.

      Comment


        #4
        Antabuse question...

        Any medicine you take is processed by the liver, so that's why most of them have warnings for those with liver damage. I bought mine on an online pharmacy as I don't want anything about alcohol on my medical record. I am a bit concerned about the SE but I'm more concerned about my alcohol intake.

        I can get to about 2 weeks on my own and then I start feeling as if I can moderate. Turns out I can't. I'm hoping AB will get me through the first 100 days and then I'll be strong enough to stay sober on my own. But if not, if the cravings are still really strong, I'll order more.
        Well it's all right now. I've learned my lesson well. You see you can't please everyone, so you've got to please yourself.

        Comment


          #5
          Antabuse question...

          Really appreciate the replies, thanks. They’re all really helpful. Got a couple more questions if ok.

          Snapdragon – totally get you with the habitual thing and my drinking pattern seems to be very similar to yours. Do you think it would be harmful to take AB without blood tests?

          K9 – you put it well and I can see that it’s a tool. Bit scared of having to take it long term if I’m honest. I really want alcohol to be a non-issue. I just want to not want it. Do you feel that now? Wouldn’t mind 461 days though.

          Siren – I like the idea of 100 days to break the habit. No way I’d want it on my medical record either but would be very scared of picking an online pharmacy. Can you tell me which one you use.

          Last question, what about being out and about and the hidden alcohol? No idea about how much causes a reaction. I wouldn’t want to tell anyone I was taking it (rabbit out of the hat) so what if someone had cooked with alcohol. Would I be sick? How much alcohol causes a reaction? Also products with alcohol content?

          Sorry for all the questions but a little freaked out about taking it. Coming round to the idea but scared!

          Comment


            #6
            Antabuse question...

            I've never had a reaction to anything OTHER than (obviously) alcohol that I chose drink. DO NOT try this. Please save yourself the misery. I can tell you from experience that I thought my head would pop off, and it hurt so bad I wished it would. The all-night-projectile-vomiting wasn't a fun time either!

            I use all kinds of products and don't have any reactions...everyone is different so you should be careful at first, but you'll soon get comfortable with it! They say cooking removes the alcohol content, but I choose dishes that obviously have none, if I can.
            :heart:I love my daughter more than alcohol:heart:

            Believe in yourself. You are stronger than you think.

            Comment


              #7
              Antabuse question...

              Thanks K9. If I decide to go that route no way I'm thinking about how much I could drink - just worried about the hiddens. Can I ask you, assuming you started from a point of wanting to drink, did taking the pill sort your head out? I'm scared my messed up brain would want to anyway. How did you feel when you first took it?

              Comment


                #8
                Antabuse question...

                Hi Wobble,

                I have a couple of things to add about craving after taking AB, well for me the minute I take the pill my mind actually gives a sigh of relief that it doesn't have to go thru the never ending torture of , when can I get it, where can I get it, can I have it in the AM if off work, how can I hide it when around family, and on and on. I actually have awful craving when not taking the AB and almost none the minute I take, my brain just seems to adjust somehow.

                I've never had any reaction to any kind of food or product and I don't worry about that now.

                Anyway, give it a try, I order it from River.

                Comment


                  #9
                  Antabuse question...

                  Hi Playland, thanks for responding. I can't imagine my brain adjusting where I'm at right now but good to hear that yours did. You've answered a massive fear and the more I read, the more I'm thinking about giving it a try. Good to hear too that you've had no adverse effect from food/products. Off to look at River. Thanks

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Antabuse question...

                    Hi Wobble - reading your post is like looking into my own head!!:H

                    I spend months wondering about Antabuse - should I or shouldn't I - it seems like a real long term commitment - do I really not want to drink for such a long time, what if I change my mind and want a drink (you have to wait several weeks after your last tablet before it's safe to drink).

                    In reality these are ALL ridiculous excuses - I've been struggling to stop my AL addiction for years - so why am I desperately clinging on to it. I suppose its a bit like grief - the death of something that has been so important and familiar in my life.

                    I even waited four days after picking up the Antabuse from the pharmacy before actually taking it. It sat in my drawer whilst I weighed up in my mind what taking this long term means to me.

                    I took my first tablet on Monday 1st April (I'm not playing the fool anymore!!) Day 4 AF for me.

                    I feel quite liberated. I had a real craving for a glass of wine last night - but I CANNOT have one - so why bother wasting the time thinking about it. I went shopping last night and walked down the wine aisle looking at the bottles (not with longing or wanting - but just because I can - and it's the first time I've ever window-shopped in the alcohol aisle!!)

                    I woke this morning and didn't think twice about popping my AB tablet - now I can rest in peace for today too.

                    I found this really interesting article which will answer almost every question you have about Antabuse - Antabuse-Disulfiram Guide for Recovery

                    Keep in touch and let us know what you decide.

                    I found this really interesting article which will answer all of your questions
                    Never put off to tomorrow what you can achieve today!

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Antabuse question...

                      Hi Snap, you got my head right (ouch) but did read the article. It's good and answers loads of my questions. The comments made me nervous so still mulling it over. I'm worried about ordering online without checking my health status but no way I'm going to the docs. Read your posts elsewhere and they really made me think it's a good thing. Can hear how it's helped you.

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Antabuse question...

                        I wouldn't be to worried about the whole health check / blood test thing if your generally in good health (as much as one can be when drinking to excess).

                        Just one every say 3 days would put enough fear into me not to touch any booze and I couldn't see that dong any damage to my liver any more so than all the drinking that I'd other wise be doing.

                        I've tried TSM and want to try Baclofen but not until I've enough funds to build up a big enough supply. I might give Antabuse a go just to give myself a couple of weeks break here and there.

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Antabuse question...

                          Hi Kino - thanks for the reply. Well my update is that finances eventually dictated my choice. Checked out River as recommended but the dollars gave me impetus to stick to willpower. Had one binge since my last post, the rest Af - I'm happy with that. Will see how it goes.

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Antabuse question...

                            Goldpharma have Antabuse cheap. Works out about ?15 delivered (UK) for 40 tablets. Should be about the price to the US(?)

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Antabuse question...

                              Snapdragon;1487723 wrote: Hi Wobble - reading your post is like looking into my own head!!:H

                              I spend months wondering about Antabuse - should I or shouldn't I - it seems like a real long term commitment - do I really not want to drink for such a long time, what if I change my mind and want a drink (you have to wait several weeks after your last tablet before it's safe to drink).

                              In reality these are ALL ridiculous excuses - I've been struggling to stop my AL addiction for years - so why am I desperately clinging on to it. I suppose its a bit like grief - the death of something that has been so important and familiar in my life.

                              I even waited four days after picking up the Antabuse from the pharmacy before actually taking it. It sat in my drawer whilst I weighed up in my mind what taking this long term means to me.

                              I took my first tablet on Monday 1st April (I'm not playing the fool anymore!!) Day 4 AF for me.

                              I feel quite liberated. I had a real craving for a glass of wine last night - but I CANNOT have one - so why bother wasting the time thinking about it. I went shopping last night and walked down the wine aisle looking at the bottles (not with longing or wanting - but just because I can - and it's the first time I've ever window-shopped in the alcohol aisle!!)

                              I woke this morning and didn't think twice about popping my AB tablet - now I can rest in peace for today too.

                              I found this really interesting article which will answer almost every question you have about Antabuse - Antabuse-Disulfiram Guide for Recovery

                              Keep in touch and let us know what you decide.

                              I found this really interesting article which will answer all of your questions
                              Thank you so much. This info was much needed.

                              Comment

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