Posted by Philidor on September 7, 2004, at 19:22:34
In reply to Re: Disulfiram or Antabuse for Alcoholism, posted by SLS on September 7, 2004, at 10:02:42
Sabrina,
I've been on Antabuse for 8 months now since going on a drinking binge that scared me so much I decided to stop.
Antabuse has been around a long time. I guarantee you, it takes all the fun out of drinking. And it is much cheaper than much more expensive and supposedly better drugs like Rivia.
Now, the studies will tell you that none of these drugs for alcoholism, when they're actually tried on alcoholics, do much good. The main problem is that people just get tired of being sober, and quit taking the drug.
But for me, Antabuse is helpful because much of my drinking was done on impulse. I know damn well I shouldn't drink, but a sudden "what the hell!" urge would cause me to fall off the wagon. For me, Antabuse prevents that happening.
I can't go back to drinking unless I plan it, because the stuff stays in your system for a week or more even after you stop taking it. So for me, it does the job.
I now take other drugs that relieve the shyness that I treated before with the booze. But they don't make me drunk or crash my car or throw up on my shoes.
And after 8 months sober I have had the necessary time to break my old habits and replace them with healthier ones. So I've found the stuff helpful, although I don't intent to keep taking it forever. (It can cause liver damage in the long run).
Phil
poster:Philidor
thread:387596
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040904/msgs/387814.html