Antabuse Questions From Former Member

[Choochie]

Hi,

I see that several of you used to or are currently taking Antabuse. I just started on it and have some questions I'm hoping you can answer. I ordered my supply from River, and am doing this on my own. For multiple reasons, I don't want to go through a doctor.

Have you had SEs from it
How long have you taken it
Did a doctor suggest not taking it longer than a specified period of time

I'm not worried about drinking while on it -- I'm a total coward and have a healthy respect for how sick it can make you if you do. The only downside I see:

I could just stop taking it, wait the suggested time, and be back to drinking
It won't stop cravings
SEs

I suppose I should mention that my goal is to be completely AF (at least at this time) - not to moderate or take another drug to curb cravings.

Thanks!
Choochie

[Spiritfree]

Huge success story story with a MWO member and Antabuse:

https://www.mywayout.org/community/showthread.php?72559-Skullbaby's-Progress

[Choochie]

Thank you so much. Do you happen to know why he stopped taking the AB? Maybe he just didn't need it anymore? I'll read more in depth. Just didn't see it at first glance.

[neophyte]

* Have you had SEs from it

No, but I once had a beer the day after, very unpleasant. so obviously dont mix

How long have you taken it

over a year now, but not consistently, I take 250mg every sunday or monday. I don't use it as per the instructions. I take baclofen already so have very minimal cravings. Though I found myself still drinking bottles of wine. My cravings always start when im on the train back home, the thought of relaxing wine / voodka after work, still gets me even today. the thoughts dont last long vs before baclofen. However, its nice to know that there is antabuse in me to keep me honest.

This protocol also allows me to have drinks on the weekend (nothing excessive) once or twice a month with friends. My friends are all big drinks, and I'll have 5 ciders and call it a night. before it would have been a bottle of vodka. I dont crave any more after that.

Did a doctor suggest not taking it longer than a specified period of time

I asked a doctor for it, and he basically said no and that it wasn't good for me. How about counselling? So i went my own way, as i had done with baclofen.

I'm not worried about drinking while on it -- I'm a total coward and have a healthy respect for how sick it can make you if you do. The only downside I see:
I could just stop taking it, wait the suggested time, and be back to drinking
It won't stop cravings
SEs

Try just having one beer, and you wont do it again. If youre worried about drinking, then perhaps you should look at an anti craving medication. Antabuse is just a punishment tool if youre naughty

I suppose I should mention that my goal is to be completely AF (at least at this time) - not to moderate or take another drug to curb cravings.

Baclofen + antabuse is a good combo, i wouldnt have so many sober days without the extra help of antabuse.

[Pie]

I took Antabuse to support my quit starting in July, 2014. Took it regularly, though at declining doses, until January. Like you, I ordered from River, and still have a supply on hand in case I need it. I never drank on it, but did get a reaction once after spending time in a room full of paint/varnish fumes. Antabuse was an important part of my quit plan. And yes, you could stop taking it and drink again if you choose to.

[sunshinedaisies]

Choochie - I took it to try and give me a couple of AF days periodically - I do not take it the way it is supposed to be taken. I have been chastised on this web site before for doing things the wrong way so am not sure if I should open up here. Please feel free to PM me ..... I am not going to say any more. Am happy to talk via PM or e-mail .....

Hugs, Sun x

[Choochie]

Sun, thank you. I will PM you, probably tomorrow.

Pie, I'll try to read around the site to get more of your story. Thanks for the feedback. Did you decide to quit the AB in January because you were secure in not needing it anymore? Did you have health concerns about being on it longer than six months? That's part of what I'm trying to figure out -- how risky it is generally (not the drinking on it part -- I totally get that). I just wonder if it hurts the liver and if it's advisable not to be in it for longer than, say, six months.

Neo, are you saying that you can take 250 mg. AB on, say, a Sunday and then have drinks the following weekend without having a reaction? Just curious how that could be timed? I see that both you and Skullbaby did a combo with Bac. That sounds worth considering for me down the road, depending on how I do. I know there's a wealth of information here about bac, and I see the links too.

SF, I read Skullbaby more in-depth. Sounded like he just stopped the AB when he felt he no longer needed it.

I can never quite get to a point where I'm sure of the direction I want to go. Lots of bargaining (with myself) that hasn't worked......I have quit for periods of time and have had some success but.......

Anyway, really appreciate the information from all of you.

[neophyte]

Neo, are you saying that you can take 250 mg. AB on, say, a Sunday and then have drinks the following weekend without having a reaction?

yes i get no reaction, take it on sunday, then on a friday or saturday if i drink, i wont get an reaction. dont take my word on it though, do your own research for how safe this is.

[treetops]

I took a short course of AB back in 2012 to kick start a final quit. I was ready to stop but needed something to take all doubts and possibilities out of the equation. If I recall I think it did make me quite thirsty, so I drank more water than usual and then found I had to pee a lot at night - so really broken sleep. Its hard to tell at the start though about any physical side effects because these could also be from quitting.
I was advised to try AB by my GP and a medical addiction specialist. This was after various other methods of quitting including a small but disastrous trial of naltrexone. I already had a compromised liver and so I was not keen on taking AB. However a liver specialist weighed things up and suggested that if the AB helped to get me AF - it would be better than continued drinking. I can't recall the dose but I only took a small amount every few few days. It did the trick though and helped me get some AF months and learn new patterns. I stopped AB after about 3 months. I didn't have a desire to drink and I stayed sober. I would have to say in my case that taking AB had to be done with a lot of caution and very close monitoring of my liver enzymes. I ate a very careful diet and took supplements like milk thistle as well, But my liver thingies were still well outside the 'normal' range even after 3 months AF but at least they were not getting worse.
Anyway as I said I quit AB - but I kept on being sober. MWO helped a huge amount with this. I also quit any addiction specialists, face to face support groups, and all other medications. Over the years my liver seems to be much much better and enzymes are 'normal' (whatever that means).
In short - for me, AB was my kickstart but I was ready to quit. I felt huge relief in not having to make a decision about whether or not to drink, or have supplies of AL on hand, just in case. At the time, I was making big decisions in my work area - and I didn't need the hassle of worrying about AL or when I would next get to drink, or worrying about if I would ever quit etc etc etc etc.
It made social situations simple too - I just had to say I didn't drink AL. I am not usually a person who see's things in such rigid yes or no ways - but in this case I think it just may have saved my life.

[YouKayBee]

I tried AB many years ago following a home detox and had been I think 10-14 days AF when I started it. I didn't have it prescribed instead I ordered it from a pharmacy website. After about 1 week of use I had flu-like symptoms, a rash and collapsed in a fit.

I have not touched a drop of alcohol.

My GP (Dr) told me off for ordering online and was convinced I must have had some alcohol. The experience was so frightening that I have never tried it again.

[Choochie]

Neo, thanks! Yes, of course I would always do my own research/be responsible for my choices. It is helpful to know about different options, though, so thank you for posting.

[Choochie]

Treetops and YKB, many thanks for your stories. I think I'll just stay on a low dose for a while and then figure out what to do. This will buy me time. I can always stop the ab and go back to drinking, but I'm hoping I'm ready to stop once and for all.

YKB, your reaction makes me wonder if you were exposed to some product that had alcohol in it? Guess you'll never know, but that must have been terrifying.

[Pie]

Hi Choochie,

Here's the thread I'm using as a journal of my quit, including Antabuse use. https://www.mywayout.org/community/sh...Cat-Dragged-In
You're welcome to anything in there that may interest you. I stopped taking it regularly when I felt it wasn't needed, just because when it comes to meds, I'd rather get by on as little as possible. Never had concerns about liver damage from Antabuse. I can't imagine anything could ever come close to doing as much damage to my organs as alcohol abuse.

[YouKayBee]

I was really careful, avoided sauces and vinegars. I made my own food and there was not any alcohol in there.

It has been suggested it could have been the perfume I was wearing!

Treetops and YKB, many thanks for your stories. I think I'll just stay on a low dose for a while and then figure out what to do. This will buy me time. I can always stop the ab and go back to drinking, but I'm hoping I'm ready to stop once and for all.

YKB, your reaction makes me wonder if you were exposed to some product that had alcohol in it? Guess you'll never know, but that must have been terrifying.

[Choochie]

Pie, thank you for the link -- it helps to read people's stories. I could really relate to Skullbaby's issues -- the anxiety and depression that came with a hangover -- the absolute absence of those negatives when not hungover.

I'm hoping that I can take the AB long enough to pave the way to no more drinking. I think I'm much more addicted psychologically than physically. The AB could give me time to change my thinking. I've never reached the point where I didn't feel like I was missing out on something, so I was always drawn back in. I also want to take as little medicine as possible. Everything seems to have a price, esp. if you use it for too long.

YKB, I have heard that about perfume because I think they all contain alcohol.

The only thing I'm experiencing right now is a bit of a stomach ache. Weird, because I haven't found anyone who has mentioned that in all my research.

Thanks again everyone for the feedback.