Concerned about antabuse

I actually dont know. My husband ordered them and persuades me to take them. I dont really like doing it, but he does it in front of our son, so I feel I have no choice.  He crushes them up and mixes them with juice and watches me drink it, as Ive pretended to take them in the past, then gone out and got hammered.  

I do understand his concern but I dont think I can really stop drinking properly if its not my free choice.

Anyway this stuff seems quite weak. Hubby and son are away, so I'm worried I'll just keep drinking. Hopefully, I wont do anything daft....

Well, then you have no idea what you are taking, hopefully it is just a compound of innocuous substances. Worst case it could be something bad for you.

If it isn't making you feel unwell whilst you continue to drink, it is unlikely to be Antabuse. And to be quite honest, I've never read a good word said about Antabuse.

 

Ok. I'm not drinking anymore. I have got a bit flushed, but its getting better. Obiously I know its stupid. I have ended up in A and E before a few times, but I really dont want to again.

Thank you, I feel better for you now.

Remember that when a physician prescribes a medication for you, he/she takes on the responsibility for doing so.  Did you doctor explain why he/she wouldn't prescribe you it?

There could be a number of reasons - most likely that it really should only be prescribed by a specialist in alcohol issues.  However, it could also be that your doctor doesn't believe it is the right treatment for you - as proven right by the fact that you have drank on it.

I would suggest another appointment, with both you and your husband if possible.  You need to be party to an informed discussion about all of the available treatments out there and then be party to making a choice about which YOU feel is suitable for your circumstances.  Your doctor may suggest that you are refferred to alcohol specialists for this discussion as it can be very involved.

One of the main things is that you must be fully engaged in the recovery process.  That means that you find an option that you can commit to following fully and completely.

Good luck and I wish you well!

Thankyou.

My husband hasnt got any faith in the alcohol professionals, as we have begged for help in the past when I've been rushed to A & E after drinking and collapsing on antabuse, and was very ill, and they offered no follow up support.  They just wont prescribe antabuse to me anymore, so my husband has bought it from the internet for a few years now.  It doesnt really work, because the more he pressurises me to take it, the more I just try to think of ways around it, and want to drink, so no I'm not committed to stopping.  My problem has been binge drinking and then getting into risky situations and getting hurt or arrested, not drinking consistently every day. I'm not an addict in that sense like alot of people I know. I just find that life without alcohol is flat and meaningless with no highs and alot of lows - all this talk of feeling so much better the longer you dont drink - nope, havent experienced that.

Oh, I hadn't seen your reply before I posted mine, Joanna We clearly both feel the same about this old-fashioned and horrible method of 'treatment.'

Okay, then perhaps spend 5 minutes reading this link on this very website.

https://patient.info/health/sinclair-method-for-alcohol-use-disorder

Antabuse obviously isn't working for you.  So, do you spend the next 'x' amount of years pointlessly doing the same thing, and seriously risking your health in the process or do you both take it upon yourselves to do your own research and find an alternative?

There are many options for help but sometimes you need to look after yourself and do a little research for yourself first.  You've already started by posting on here so don't stop now

And yes, now I can understand why your doctor will no longer prescribe you Antabuse.  With your history of drinking on it, the next collapse could kill you.  If I was a doctor, with that possibility, I wouldn't prescribe it to you either!  It simply isn't helping you and the worst case scenario is that the next time you are rushed to A&E they can't save you......  I don't mean to try and scare you but that really could happen if you continue to drink on antabuse.

Hate it with a vengeance, Paul.  It does nothing to solve the AUD problem and is SO dangerous.

Glad you posted too, I was hoping you would. Thank you.

You are much more experienced in this type of thing than me, but I really felt I had to step in quick to try prevent further drinking on it.

In addition, ursulauc62, here is something else to discuss with your husband.....

Antabuse was discovered in the 1920's.

Let's put that in perspective for a moment.... it's nearly 100 years old now.  That's older than Alcoholics Anonymous!!  Imagine how many scientific and medical discoveries we have had since then.  Do we still treat cancer using a medication discovered in the 1920's?

At the time, it was the thought to be the best solution (and it may well have been) but it does nothing to help curb the cravings or stop the compulsion to continue once you start, which is why it is so dangerous.

Things have changed since then and not only do the scientists have a better understanding of how AUD acts in the brain, but we have newer, safer and more effective medications than Antabuse.

This happened to me...and it was almost fatal...not only because I drank on it...but because it built toxic levels in my system and my feet were numb for 6 months...almost to the point of disabiling me from walking at ALL.

Yes, Missy. I can't believe it still hasn't been banned.

Paul..you have been on the site for a long time I assume...

And we are tied at 6 stars....lol

I must post ALOT.

Probably about 18 months since I first posted here

I feel that I've only been here a short time, but the time thing that says how long you've been posting has me at six months. Sure enough, just checked my emails and it was around the end of August I went to see Addaction the first time.

Even in that short time, I've had my eyes opened about the industry and it makes my blood boil. There should be mass sackings across the whole industry.

It's not as if you can even change your GP, the new one would probably be no better and once he saw your history notes, he'd probably say, 'no thanks'.

I agree that it is a scandal RHGB and nobody cares too much. I have recently been receiving e-mails about some conference coming up for health professionals, social workers, probation officers, the voluntary sector etc. which is about 'Multi-agency approach to alcohol problems.' Looking at the agenda, it's all about how all these many people can work together to help people (probably in the most patronising way possible). There is NOT ONE mention of any medical treatment.

It's like they are keeping people in jobs that have absolutely no effect on the problem of excessive alcohol consumption whatsoever and they have clearly missed medical advances made over the past few years.

I feel like paying the massive fee to go, just so I can stand up and and shout 'You're all talking ********, you have no clue what you are on about and it doesn't matter how many times you all meet up and talk the same **** you will still have no impact on this problem!!!

I'm not going though

Hmmm. 

If someone hacked into their projector system and launched an (ahem) impactful slideshow on continuous loop...

Could be fun Subliminal messages maybe

Do you work in this sector Paul?  I have been to the Lifeline Project meetings a few times. I was assigned a key worker there after ending up in hospital a few times after getting drunk and overdosing on diazepam.

The thing is, the relationships with 'service users' are totally based on trust. I know people, including a family member who drinks very heavily daily - at least two bottles of wine, sometimes more. She manages to hold down a job, and so seems to think she has in 'under control'. But of course shes told her doctor and the Lifeline people that she is drinking much less than she is, and because she looks Ok, they believe her.

I have been to their meetings as I say, and was actually quite shocked by the amount some people were drinking - very high number of units! There was one guy who had cut down from 200 a week to 130 and the group facilitator was telling him how well he'd done and when tentatively suggesting he could try cutting down more, met with amused resistance - I'm OK as I am, I feel fine, I dont even get drunk on that amount -etc....

I stoppd going to the meetings because the self congratulatory atmoshere of the group of people who were drinking at such dangerous levels that they its just a matter of time before a life threatening illness was too difficult for me to cope with.

Dont get me wrong - I have been very resitant to treatment, but taking an antabuse every few days and then have a sulk, then going out for a brisk walk and a coffee, and then getting on my exercise bike and doing 10 km a day, and feeling how fit I am getting is to me far preferable than the self delusion which seems so all engulfing amongst so many.

I think the point is, that there are far better, far more helpful and FAR less dangerous medicines that Antabuse. They used to think lobotomies and electric shock therapy were wonderful.

Yes I agree antabuse is dangerous. My family member was prescribed something - it might have been naltrexone - and she took it for about a week. It made her feel sick and gave her insomnia, though it did cut her alcohol craving. She couldnt function normally - get enough sleep to get up and go to work, so she stopped taking it, and is now drinking daily and heavily again.

Any of these medications have to really be taken in a closed supervised environment, otherwise no, they wont work.  I know that here in the the UK and in most other countries there simply arent the resources to properly help people to stop drinking, so maybe other strategies, like making alcohol more expensive might be helpful. Years ago almost everyone smoked. Now with so much adverse publicity and the enormous costs of a pack of cigarretes most people dont, - its just not the done thing anymore.

I used to love drinking, and I still someimes think I might be able to drink sensibly again and enjoy it. My brother-in-law, who was a very good friend died suddenly in his sleep a few years ago. He was an alcoholic and also had diabetes, which was type B, then tured to type A. People tried to help him - his brother - my other brother in law who is a doctor, spoke to him on the phone about a week before he died.  He felt ill and didnt like being ill - he didnt accept it - he hated it!  But he wouldnt stop drinking. His brother told him he had to change his lifestyle.  He contracted a chest infection which turned into pnemonia. He didnt realize this, went to work, went to the pub with a friend, went home to bed, and a few hours later was dead. He lived on his own. If he had been married maybe the warning signs would have been spotted early enough to get him to hospital.

We were all devastated - he was very loved. He was 56. I'm totally sure he didnt want to die. If he fully realized the danger he was in he would have done more about it. He was scared of illness and hated being ill. He had a succesful business and lots of friends.  People like that need someone to take over and help them, because they wont do it themselves.

Raising taxes is just another way to take money away from poor people and give it to rich people - it is a blunt instrument, just like speed cameras, not a substitute for proper policing.

If the people in charge really cared, they'd learn what the problemw are and from that, the solutions, but they are not that bothered. Plus we live in a 'where there's blame, there's a claim' society, which sometimes holds them back.

Most drugs, including naltrexone have a settling in period, With naltrexone, it is not normally taken every day, but on days when you're going to have a drink. But then all this should have been explained in perfect detail, but probably wan't. It is why so many people end up coming here, they get better advice than they do from the medical profession.

Well your'e right. When I was told about naltrexone, it was offered as something to be taken every day. When I explained that I didnt drink every day or even every week, but binged sometimes, I was told it wasnt suitable for me.  This was the Lifeline project medical staff. I dont know where you work obviously there is a better approach there.

Paul or Joanne are the Naltrexone/Nalfemene experts here, I'm sure one of them will drop by to give their advice.

I really didnt mean to offend anyone.

I was on the phone to my husband an hour ago.  Hes taken our son to Sweden for a few days, and they went out for a beer the other night - sons 19. Only a couple as its so expensive! I've been giving him some vitriol about being on antabuse, and now its wearing off I'm thinking of having a beer myself.  

Husband and son dont normally drink at all at home. They both work hard, and deserve to relax. To be fair he didnt have to tell he he had a beer - we are always very honest with each other though. I do feel quite agrieved though. I'm stuck at home with a cold, so why shouldnt I relax too?

Difficult one this.

I don't think you have.

Your main focus right now, is that beer or wine calling you?

Yes, I do I worked in the NHS a few years back but now work privately and am glad to be able to use treatments that work without being restricted by policies which have nothing to with effectiveness of treatment

Sad to say - right now - both.  

Ursula -

RHGB has it right. It's your brain trying to get you to go fetch it's "favorite toy" and eventually it will have it's way.

So really, it's up to you whether you want to use Campral and stop drinking altogether (RHGB knows far more about this than I do), or go with Naltrexone. The latter reduces your drinking over a number of months and eventually allows you to choose whether you want to drink and how much you want to drink. The plus with Naltrexone is that after a 2 day washout, on the 3rd day (still not drinking) you can "reprogram" your brain to learn a healthy activity to replace the drink, as on the 3rd day your opioid receptors will be quite sensitive. Any activity that releases endorphins will get the job done, exercise, sex, watching a great comedy, perhaps a massage with the right music and scents, even eating chocolate. So it's kind of like getting two meds for the price of one in that respect. 

Do you still have access to Lifeline? It sounds like that would be the best shot to get ahold of the medication.

The downside of the Naltexone would be the side effects, which largely seem to be temporary. It would be good to make a plan to work on capping the upper limit of your drinking as that seems to be where you get into trouble. Nal will eventually handle that, but you can speed the process with mindfulness and partnering with your husband, if you can get him on board with this. 

Sound advice ADEfree. 

Yes its a toy, and sadly with lifes current responsibilities, the best one I've got.  If I could get the same kick out of something else - not drug based obviously - then I need to know about it.

The problem is the age old one - the more someone tries to take it away from you, the more you want it.  The longer I'm without it, the more I want it. 

I've just had a beer and wine, and feeling better already. Need to keep it under control.  Hubby and son back tomorrow night, and they've arrived back before and I've been in hospital or missing. Cant do that to them again. Problem is no friends locally, except sister who is an alcoholic anyway, and shes on holiday at the moment.

Google the Alcohol Deprevation Effect.

This explains why those with AUD continue to crave drinking the longer they have been trying to whiteknuckle some form of sobriety.

If, after reading about it, you think it applies to you then PLEASE resolve to do something about it and look at all your options to do so.

It will only get worse.

You need to take the proper medication to help sort it.

Diazepam for the initial withdrawal and then, Campril/nalfemen/naltrexone to calm it down or stop it.

But only you can decide this.

Unfortunately I have a problem with addiction to diazepam too, which I am on a reduction programme with right now.  Been taking a few too many over the last few days. I had been doing really well.   Maybe the Campril along with the diazepam programme would work for me.  Hard to know anymore. I've been down so many routes. I've been sectioned a few times after OD's on alcohol diazepam and antabuse.   Really dont want that to happen again. 

The trouble is opening up 'officially' about my issues. Seems to be one step forwards, three steps backwards as far as being taken as a serious member of sociey goes.  Havent had a driving licence for years, and if I have an ambition in life, getting it back is number one.

I wonder if there isn't a moderation group you can plug into. Might help in the meantime and you could get some skills to help you control the quantity. Looks like Moderation Management has meetings in London and Salford. There are probably other organizations around, maybe Lifeline can help you find something?

If you like, you can go to the CThree Foundation website and click on the Options Save Lives forum link. You can certainly get some "moral support" over there, while you set up your local support. 

I think it would be different if you saw a clear way forward, not the abstain, relapse, abstain cycle that you've had to put up with. Get your choice back, the license will follow. I have faith in you, Ursula.

Well, like Paul said, forget Antabuse. If you're on diazepam, I would have though that you could come off alcohol, but I would check with your GP. And then go for Campral, but that means no drinking, if you wish to continue to moderately drink, then it is nalfemene/naltrexone.

I know I make it easier than it sounds, all straight forward, but it won't come to you. You're going to accpet that you are going to have to find a way, make a plan, one that you can stick to.