Any views/reviews on Antabuse/Disulfiram
 

My $0.02 is that Antabuse is a good TOOL to add to a RECOVERY plan. Not a solution to not drink.

Yes, you can have dire side effects if you drink on them (I did that when I had no plan to quit but wanted to seem like I was) and they are a little hard on the liver. Not meant for long term use. I used them the first 90 days of sobriety, carefully monitored by my psych - as in, she wanted me to come to the office every day to get mine but that wasn't feasible, so I got a sheaf of papers and every day took it, signed it with when and where, and had a witness signature.

I put AA and a lot of other stuff as my foundation and this was, again, just a tool for early use. When I went back to work in a restaurant at 5 mo sober, we discussed using it again - I had a very strong program by then and we decided I didn't need to take it.

I had no side effects.

From the little bit you told us, sleeping and then taking a drug aren't a recovery plan.

I agree with August. It is a useful tool as part of a recovery program.

Stand alone they are no good.

I see you asked the same question in your other thread too Al. Your best bet is to talk with your doctor about any prescription med, especially if you are already taking others.

And as others have said, most "anti craving" or other drugs related to recovery are only meant to be a supplement to a full plan. AKA there is no "magic bullet" pill that will cure your addiction or make all the symptoms go away.

I haven't used either, but I've learned from members here that it can be a tool, part of a program. Essetially, you need to do the work. :)

I vote a BIG NO....if you end up slipping on this and there is a good amount in your system you can end in the hosptial.

Antabuse does nothing for cravings....I have taken it....it is not meant for that...it is meant as a deterrent because of how sick you will get if you drink on it....I know many Drs won't prescribe it anymore because it can be dangerous.

Campral is an awesome drug that honestly takes away ALL cravings....
And if you were to slip you feel nothing.

I definitely agree that you have to have a solid recovery plan to back up the medication, and be really ready to get and stay sober. I took antabuse for a while, then I started testing it. I found I could take a sip or two of wine. Then I figured if nothing happened with that, I'd go for a half glass. Not much happened. So I went for a full glass. I turned a little red in the face and neck but not much else. So I gave two glasses a go and found I could pretty much handle that. I turned very red and my heart started racing a bit.

************PLEASE NOTE. According to the specialists at the outpatient center, my ability to drink that much on antabuse without severe reaction is an anomaly. Sometimes antabuse doesn't "work" the way it should for certain people. But you don't know. And drinking while on antabuse can be life-threatening. I was playing with fire by testing it. You would be too, so don't do what I did. Note that I also had this reaction up to two weeks after stopping the medication, it stays in your system for at least that long.

^^^^I had the same experience Mera. I played with fatal fire when I drank on it. And I had what I considered mild reactions- one day of intense leg cramping/borderline seizures, a hugely red face(so I am sure BP thru the roof) and maybe something else I didn't consider enough of a problem at the time.

There is also a loophole with antabuse- plenty of people use it and then plan ahead for a day to drink. I've generally heard that somewhere around 11-14 days it will be out of your system. Another way to play with fire.

Hi Al

Antabuse is not suitable for everyone - so despite the opinions you may read here, however erudite, the only opinion that really counts is your Drs.

D