Antabuse Day 1

[mlisa]

Hi all,
So, I've had my Antabuse for about a week & have been trying to go AF for 24 hrs before I take my first dose. My addicts mind has been going crazy & I've literally not stopped drinking this last week, simply so I can't take the drug. How f**ked up is that. Today, I feel I really need to get a grip & get started before it's too late. I had my last drink at 10pm last night, I only stopped because my heart was going like the clappers & I thought I was going to have a heart attack. So, should I be "safe" to take one this afternoon around 2pm? If I don't take it by 3pm, I'm sure I'll be boozing again & so on & on it goes.
Thanks for your help.
x

[Cinders]

Antabuse Day 1

mlisa;1568548 wrote: Hi all,
So, I've had my Antabuse for about a week & have been trying to go AF for 24 hrs before I take my first dose. My addicts mind has been going crazy & I've literally not stopped drinking this last week, simply so I can't take the drug. How f**ked up is that. Today, I feel I really need to get a grip & get started before it's too late. I had my last drink at 10pm last night, I only stopped because my heart was going like the clappers & I thought I was going to have a heart attack. So, should I be "safe" to take one this afternoon around 2pm? If I don't take it by 3pm, I'm sure I'll be boozing again & so on & on it goes.
Thanks for your help.
x

Go for 24 hrs before you take it. All alcohol has to be out of your system.

Yes, I know how crazy the mind is. You can do this. Whatever it takes.

Hang in there and do not take the drug until you are clean, Have someone help you to get there. I did. It helped.

[mlisa]

Antabuse Day 1

Thanks Cinders. That's what I've been trying to achieve, but my mind is mental. So, you've been AF 7 months now? I can't comprehend how you must be feeling to have got so far. What dosage to you take? Have you had a reaction with perfume or deodorants? I've read so much that it seems so daunting! I know 100% that I will not drink...I've just got to get clean for 24 hrs!!!!

[Cinders]

Antabuse Day 1

mlisa;1568563 wrote: Thanks Cinders. That's what I've been trying to achieve, but my mind is mental. So, you've been AF 7 months now? I can't comprehend how you must be feeling to have got so far. What dosage to you take? Have you had a reaction with perfume or deodorants? I've read so much that it seems so daunting! I know 100% that I will not drink...I've just got to get clean for 24 hrs!!!!

I take 500 mgs/day. For some reason, perfume and vinegar don't bother me. It is personal, though. If they bother you, don't mess with them.

Whatever it takes. Seriously.

[spacebebe01]

Antabuse Day 1

Hi Mlisa and well done for joining us and giving this a go. I don't take antabuse anymore but have in the past and heres what I think and always fgund worked out for me.

I don't know if you've had a drink today or what time it is there so saying you haven't drank yet and its not 2pm yet either. I totally understand the thought that you will be stopping drinking and not be able to drink once you've taken the tablet being terrifying, but please don't think of this as you can never drink again, try to think in more short term right now, imagine how much better you will feel in a few days without the drink that will do for now. Firstly make sure you have no drink in the house, it will be dangerous to have it there when you have taken the tablet in case you cave in and drink it.

This may not be the absoloute ideal by the book waybut its way better than carrying on drinking which is harming yourself everyday. I don't know how much you have been drinking or drink anyway. It does take around 24 hours for 24 units of alcohol to leave the system, did you drink that much last night? Once you have ingested the alcohol the body starts ridding itself of it so unless you did drink all 24 units quickly at 10pm which Im guessing you didn't you should be clear.

I think you should wait as long as you possibly can, then when you know you cannot possibly go on any longer and will be off to the shop take half the tablet, you now cant have a drink and you can then wait until later to take the other half and from then on take one a day.

This may not be the absoloute ideal but its way better than carrying on drinking which is harming yourself everyday. Yes it would be better to do it the way cinders says but its not always possible for everyone.

For me antabuse did not react with anything, you just have to find that out as you go along.

Try to make sure you drink plenty of fluids and eat little and often.

Good luck

[Tom321]

Antabuse Day 1

That's not f..ked up at all. Everytime I set a quit date or was about to begin campral I drank like an absolute maniac leading up to it. You're not alone there. Wait 24 hours just to be safe. I think you will be amazed at the relief you feel once you start taking it, when the decision to drink or not is basically made for you, not by you. Best of luck
Tom

[Cinders]

Antabuse Day 1

You can do it. Have someone help you if that iis what it takes.

[mlisa]

Antabuse Day 1

I've made it through my usual start time & haven't cracked yet. I've re read the leaflet with the drugs & it said a minimum of 12 hours. I'll do my best to wait until tomorrow, but if I feel I'm gonna crack, I'll pop one straight away so that I can't. That's the plan anyway!

[Tom321]

Antabuse Day 1

I've know people who have waited the minimum of twelve hours and been fine. If it comes down to you drinking or taking it earlier than 24 hours, I personally would take it. Break it in half to be safe.

[mlisa]

Antabuse Day 1

Thanks Tom, yeah, I think taking it is better than starting drinking again because who knows when I'll stop then....a week, 2 weeks...it's anyone's guess! I'm only 3 hours off it being 24 hours anyway.

[joanna_d]

Antabuse Day 1

the three times i did antabuse, i started out preparing with 24 hours AF with the aid of benzo's (librium, to be exact).
to stay sober for 24 hours without that would've been very dangerous for me, and aside from that nearly impossible because of unconquerable cravings. that's what the reality of addiction is, isn't it? if it'd be easy to stay off booze, why need antabuse?

if you can't achieve the needed AF time without benzo's, you could try with them.

[treetops]

Antabuse Day 1

Mlisa. I hope you took the pill. I have only just read your PM to me and I will reply soon. Absolutely take it.AB kick started me into finally quitting after many trial runs and I am now over a year AF.
It's such a relief to not have the voices in your head. Wil I or won't i.

I was careful with perfumes etc but I used balsamic vinegar when I was on AB. No reaction be careful with desserts
I did not change any cosmetics or deodorants.
Anyway I will PM you but it's breakfast time here and I have to dash to work

[StuckinLA]

Antabuse Day 1

Ativan was a godsend when I stopped drinking. Well, it was also a bit of a nightmare before I stopped, taking a pill the in the morning to stave off the withdrawal until I started drinking in the evening, but then when I did finally stop it really helped keep the withdrawal and the anxiety at bay. Still had a hell of a few days, but it was manageable. And (for me) the benzos were easier to taper off of than alcohol (thank all that's holy, I've never been into pills).

You could try going to an Urgent Aid and complaining of a panic attack/anxiety disorder. If you're in alcohol withdrawal your vitals will most likely be sky high - and everyone in the room will have a pretty good idea it's withdrawal, but if you deny drinking a lot they might set you up with some benzos. In my case, I lucked out with a script and all - they might've just been trying to get rid of me, who knows, but whatever it worked out.