First time posting. I’ve been trying for years to stop alcohol. It has gotten deadly in my life. My Dr. Prescribed Antibuse. Any knowledge on the subject?
I know quite a bit about it…ask questions and I will try and answer them…
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I just want to be sure its safe and that it work. I’m on my last nerve with this.
I’m on it, have been for a couple months. I haven’t had any adverse reaction or side effects to it- I’m very careful about ingredients and making sure there’s no alcohol- mouth wash, cough syrups, and no hand sanitizer either. This is my first time in recovery so I can’t speak a ton about it being easier than last time etc cuz it’s my first rodeo. But 86 days sober and the medication is a safety net if you have a trigger. From what I’ve heard it can take weeks to get out of your system too so many others have said if they were on it and didn’t take it for a few days then drank- even just the first drink or sip-they were incredibly sick. And I’ve also known others that drank while on it too and were really really sick. So it’s not going to stop that mind game- you’re going to have cravings and triggers but knowing that even just a sip will make you super super ill may be a safety net to help you rethink it.
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I’m using it and finding it emensely helpful. I know in the past I’ve heard people questioning it because you’re supposed to be developing your skills in saying no on your own. That wasn’t working for me. That I absolutely cannot drink and have a two week buffer where if I decided not to take it I couldn’t drink because it stays in your system gives me that much time to talk to myself about why I would throw away what I’ve achieved so far. Not advocating it for anyone else, just saying for me it’s worked for the first 50.
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I take antibuse 200mg tablet. This has helped me stay sober as it is a safety net for me… previously if I wanted to hit the ‘fuck it’ button there was nothing to stop me other than my own resolve… well like most people I did relapse many times…so I suggested antibuse to my doctor who agreed…
Antibuse is usually prescribed for a minimum of 6 months and can really help people who need additional help at the early stages of sobriety…it helps you start changing your ingrained drinking habits, again this can take over 6 months to do; you can’t just take a drink when you want!
You have to stop and think!
Antibuse makes you violently sick if you drink alcohol on it… basically your body cannot metabolise the alcohol properly as the antibuse inhibits a particular enzyme…the partially metabolised alcohol makes you feel very unwell. I have not tested the effects but know a few people who have and they are horrible!
Everyone is different so this is my experience with antibuse… no issues with aftershave, alcohol based mouthwash and deodorants…I have never tried or ever would take any food or drink that contains alcohol…
Antibuse will not work on its own… you need to do the usual recovery help as well e.g. AA, smart and CBT… you need to change your mindset and your relationship with alcohol…
I now only take antibuse infrequently…2 times a week…I have been taking it for 9 months and could probably stop taking it now… but my plan is to stop after Christmas and keep a small supply just in case I have a strong urge… which I don’t really get anyway…I hope this helps
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Hi @Mephistopheles . I did not know it was toxic to your liver…I will check that out…I agree that antibuse on its own is not the answer…the key is learning to enjoy life without alcohol…to not miss it… AA and smart are good for this…
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Totally agree it’s not a cure all! And still need to do the work- I think of it as another tool in my toolbox right now. But I’m also doing iop, AA meetings, sponsor, and graduated inpatient too. It is not great for your liver either I do agree, but it’s better for your liver vs drinking however agree it’s not a long term medication to be on. And if you have bad liver damage already I would assume it would not be a good thing to be on. Thank you for bringing that up!
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Thank-you😊
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Thank-you all for your answers. It does reassure me I’m on the right track.
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Thanks! I really didn’t know anything about the drug other than it existed.
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Hi @raiannmorse how are you doing? Just wanted to check with you that all is going ok? Are you still taking antibuse? Be good to hear form you
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Yes! Thank-you for asking. I am continuing to take Antibuse(Disulfiram). It is a great safety net for me. I’ve been trying to beat this addiction for years. For this to work you need to be completely committed to your sobriety. You have to take it for it to work. So when the monster rears its ugly head you are prepared.
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I saw a report from Dr. Jennifer Ashton on Good Morning America about medications being severely underused for alcohol and opiate addictions. Disulfiram ( Antibuse) is #1 on the list of medications that is recommended. She compares it to 2/3 of cancer patients not being offered chemotherapy.
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Hi glad you are doing well… I have reached a stage where my urges and old habits have started to fade I still take antibuse if I feel slightly vulnerable but most of the time I am just doing willpower alone…it has taken me 9 months to get to this stage…how long have you been sober now…?
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This time? To be honest I haven’t been counting. I’ve started over so many times. I have had several long stints of sobriety over the years. I always let myself get pulled back into thinking I could handle it. But then it got to where it’s like it wasn’t even me. If there was alcohol around I would give in, one big old gulp and I was gone for 3,4,5 days. Not gone but blackout functioning drunk.
Really about 1 month.
Good for you on doing a month…I had many relapses…plus stopped antibuse so I could lapse in the past…but every time you try there is a chance that it will ‘stick’ this time round… also I have been reading alot on sobriety; this really helps me out and put alcohol in its place, and for me not to miss alcohol at all… keep going
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Well I don’t have another relapse in me. It takes me like 6 or 7 days to even begin to try to act human after I have one of my binges. Its by the grace of God I am here. I should have died so many times. I’m not doing it again, thus the antibuse.
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I’ve been working on this for years. I’ve researched and read so many studies on alcoholism. I’ve been to many AA meetings. Therapy, outpatient t reatment. Learning everyday day new tools to deal with this. My mind knows a lot of the stuff. The antibuse works as a safety net for me. I don’t trust myself anymore. And I desperately do not want to drink.
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