Will Antabuse Help?

***Chy*** · 07-23-2009, 10:15 AM

Antabuse, also known as disulfiram, was approved for the treatment of alcohol abuse years ago. The question is, does it really help cure you of alcoholism?

Antabuse is prescribed for people who want to stop drinking. If you do drink while taking antabuse, most information will tell you in much too mild terms it causes “negative reactions”, but in real life it goes a lot further than that. You can actually have a stroke or a life threatening response if you drink while taking it.

When you drink, the alcohol will metabolize into a chemical called acetaldehyde, which is toxic and is a major contributor to your hangover symptoms. The body then transforms acetaldehyde in another chemical called acetic acid, which is a milder chemical.

What antabuse actually does is prevent the transference of acetaldehyde into acetic acid. This results in your body building up a level of acetaldehyde up to approximately ten times higher than you would normally have when you drink.

What Are the Results?

This elevated concentration of acetaldehyde in your system while you are drinking and taking antabuse will cause a reaction. Flushing to the point of your face becoming literally beet red is a common one (a rather obvious feature of skyrocketing blood pressure), and heart palpatations is another.

You can also suddenly have respiratory problems, chest pain, and vomiting. These are the mild symptoms.

The “severe”, or should we say life threatening symptoms would include respiratory arrest, congestive heart failure, convulsions, and even death.

The Problem with Antabuse

The problem with antabuse is it doesn’t take away the cravings for drinking. And that’s what anyone suffering with alcoholism who really wants to quit, needs.

There have been studies done, where a smaller percentage of users of antabuse have been successful, because taking the antabuse got them out of the habit of daily drinking (most likely because they were truly fearful enough not to drink while taking the antabuse).

The Conclusion

The conclusion is obvious to any of us that abuse alcohol. You have to ask yourself (once again) am I deadly serious about quitting? And as many times as we genuinely want to stop for good, we find ourselves picking up that drink we don’t want in record time. So consider, since drinking on antabuse for an alcoholic isn’t uncommon and the consequences could be deadly, it may be a wiser choice to find another avenue to stop drinking alcohol for good. Source

jgull2010 · 12-12-2009, 06:50 PM

I remember in my 20s using Antabuse. I didn't know what else to do and I knew (or was told) how sick I'd get if I drank. I waited a few days without taking the stuff and tried to drink. Oh my...good thing I was young. I doubt I'd survive the reaction today.

Negative reinforcement is not always the answer. Antabuse is an external thing. I think the answer has to come from within us.

J.

***Chy*** · 12-12-2009, 08:06 PM

Thanks for posting and welcom jgull! I can't agree more.

JDSOBER · 12-13-2009, 01:37 AM

Oh my goodness antabuse - The first halfway house I was in about 1988 1989 some where in there it was mandatory to take it all they had to do was tell me that I might die after 6 mos probation they took me off of it.

I had a roommate who drank with it and he was never the same again this was very popular in South Florida.
Maybe it was good thing for at the time- I remember being scared to breathe in that place though- so no I dont think it cures alcoholism as obvious it took almost 20 yrs to get 1 yr clean and sober.

There had to be a change take place and its a reprieve contigent on my spirituality The "cure" of alcoholism is when we are finally relieved from the mindset of hopelessness and despair which only happens through a spiritual connection. Just like the drink though we can pick up the thought-life of hopelessness and despair any time we want. It is sure to drive us back to the drink though except for a power a greater than ourselves.

What we get cured from is the seemingly hopeless state of mind.

Awesome topic!

jgull2010 · 12-18-2009, 10:38 AM

I'm an addict...but it isn't alcohol or some other drug that is my problem. It is the way I think. If I focus on living mindfully, living responsibly, not judging life or other people, then I am doing good. Sure, there are times that inner addict will whisper to me but I don't have to listen. All I have to do is be aware that it isn't ME that wants to drink or drug but it my addiction.

If I live in the day, in the "now", then I don't have to feel hopelessness. I also can wake up in the morning remembering what I did the night before!

*scaredykat* · 12-18-2009, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jgull2010

If I live in the day, in the "now", then I don't have to feel hopelessness. I also can wake up in the morning remembering what I did the night before!

So true. Life is so much better living one day at a time.

07-23-2009, 10:15 AM	#1
*Chy* Recovery Wench Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: El Paso, Texas Posts: 426 Thanks: 393 Thanked 437 Times in 262 Posts	Will Antabuse Help? Antabuse, also known as disulfiram, was approved for the treatment of alcohol abuse years ago. The question is, does it really help cure you of alcoholism? Antabuse is prescribed for people who want to stop drinking. If you do drink while taking antabuse, most information will tell you in much too mild terms it causes “negative reactions”, but in real life it goes a lot further than that. You can actually have a stroke or a life threatening response if you drink while taking it. When you drink, the alcohol will metabolize into a chemical called acetaldehyde, which is toxic and is a major contributor to your hangover symptoms. The body then transforms acetaldehyde in another chemical called acetic acid, which is a milder chemical. What antabuse actually does is prevent the transference of acetaldehyde into acetic acid. This results in your body building up a level of acetaldehyde up to approximately ten times higher than you would normally have when you drink. What Are the Results? This elevated concentration of acetaldehyde in your system while you are drinking and taking antabuse will cause a reaction. Flushing to the point of your face becoming literally beet red is a common one (a rather obvious feature of skyrocketing blood pressure), and heart palpatations is another. You can also suddenly have respiratory problems, chest pain, and vomiting. These are the mild symptoms. The “severe”, or should we say life threatening symptoms would include respiratory arrest, congestive heart failure, convulsions, and even death. The Problem with Antabuse The problem with antabuse is it doesn’t take away the cravings for drinking. And that’s what anyone suffering with alcoholism who really wants to quit, needs. There have been studies done, where a smaller percentage of users of antabuse have been successful, because taking the antabuse got them out of the habit of daily drinking (most likely because they were truly fearful enough not to drink while taking the antabuse). The Conclusion The conclusion is obvious to any of us that abuse alcohol. You have to ask yourself (once again) am I deadly serious about quitting? And as many times as we genuinely want to stop for good, we find ourselves picking up that drink we don’t want in record time. So consider, since drinking on antabuse for an alcoholic isn’t uncommon and the consequences could be deadly, it may be a wiser choice to find another avenue to stop drinking alcohol for good. Source __________________ The Addicts Guide

12-12-2009, 08:06 PM	#3
*Chy* Recovery Wench Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: El Paso, Texas Posts: 426 Thanks: 393 Thanked 437 Times in 262 Posts	Thanks for posting and welcom jgull! I can't agree more. __________________ The Addicts Guide

12-13-2009, 01:37 AM	#4
JDSOBER TOGETHER WE CAN! Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Missouri Posts: 2,048 Thanks: 2,014 Thanked 3,014 Times in 1,578 Posts Blog Entries: 4 My Mood:	Oh my goodness antabuse - The first halfway house I was in about 1988 1989 some where in there it was mandatory to take it all they had to do was tell me that I might die after 6 mos probation they took me off of it. I had a roommate who drank with it and he was never the same again this was very popular in South Florida. Maybe it was good thing for at the time- I remember being scared to breathe in that place though- so no I dont think it cures alcoholism as obvious it took almost 20 yrs to get 1 yr clean and sober. There had to be a change take place and its a reprieve contigent on my spirituality The "cure" of alcoholism is when we are finally relieved from the mindset of hopelessness and despair which only happens through a spiritual connection. Just like the drink though we can pick up the thought-life of hopelessness and despair any time we want. It is sure to drive us back to the drink though except for a power a greater than ourselves. What we get cured from is the seemingly hopeless state of mind. Awesome topic! __________________ Last edited by JDSOBER; 12-13-2009 at 01:43 AM. Reason: to add to it

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Messages:

12-12-2009, 06:50 PM	#2
jgull2010 Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 22 Times in 10 Posts My Mood:	I remember in my 20s using Antabuse. I didn't know what else to do and I knew (or was told) how sick I'd get if I drank. I waited a few days without taking the stuff and tried to drink. Oh my...good thing I was young. I doubt I'd survive the reaction today. Negative reinforcement is not always the answer. Antabuse is an external thing. I think the answer has to come from within us. J.

12-18-2009, 10:38 AM	#5
jgull2010 Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 22 Times in 10 Posts My Mood:	I'm an addict...but it isn't alcohol or some other drug that is my problem. It is the way I think. If I focus on living mindfully, living responsibly, not judging life or other people, then I am doing good. Sure, there are times that inner addict will whisper to me but I don't have to listen. All I have to do is be aware that it isn't ME that wants to drink or drug but it my addiction. If I live in the day, in the "now", then I don't have to feel hopelessness. I also can wake up in the morning remembering what I did the night before!

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