Antabuse for Alcohol Use Disorder User Reviews (Page 3)

• dbrie...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 14, 2018

"I used Antabuse to stop drinking in the '70s - blackouts, etc. Used pure will power back then. Then I started drinking again for about 15 years after being sober for around 30. Then used Antabuse for about 3 years. We moved and I ran out of Antabuse I tried to quit again and my Primary Care Physician wouldn't prescribe it. So, found another doctor who would. Finally, at about 8.3 to 10 ounces of pure alcohol every day (computed via volume and ABV %), I've been alcohol-free for a couple of weeks. Without it, my will to be sober would have broken 100 times a day. It makes me pretty sleepy at first, but, from experience, my energy will come back. Only have to make the decision once a day."

• Kempff
• April 2, 2017

"I've been taking it for a week after a long period of heavy drinking. I've tried other drugs to stop cravings but with little success. The Antabuse gives me no choice but to not drink. The hard part is taking it but once I did I felt a sense of relief knowing I wasn't going to drink that day. It's not easy but it does work or at least give you a break to get your thinking straight."

• Mother...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 27, 2016

"My husband is an alcoholic and has been taking Antabuse for a week now. In the last 2 days the Antabuse hasn't stopped his excessive drinking. The pills haven't had any effect on him. I am really disappointed, I really wanted this to work. I know he was definitely taking the tablet everyday, because I watched him dissolve it in water then drink the whole glass. Now, I know there's no stopping his drinking, it's all up to me as a mother to leave him, because this behaviour is not acceptable around young children. So sad."

• liquo...
• October 7, 2016

"I've been experimenting with this drug for over a year. I have pages of stuff to say but that is not what this is for. I know that I won't be able to use this forever but I have no choice but to do what works for now. With a lifetime of struggle, this negative reinforcement is the only thing that has ever worked. I want to warn anyone that takes this medication. I have tried every combination of dose vs time laps and alcohol quantity, including smoking alcohol. That 2 week gap between your last dose and your first drink, do yourself a favor and stick to it. What happens if you don't is unpredictable. I have experienced nothing to severe reactions not even found on the net."

• Swimmer
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 23, 2019

"Antabuse worked for me and my drinking. I had no side effects whatsoever & I am a 75yr old gal. I was scared to death to drink. I stopped taking it after 3 1/2 months & I honestly have not had any desire & I am beyond words happy to be sober."

• bill...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 4, 2020

"Four months on Antabuse 250mg a day. Feel great back to the gym and eating healthy. No more cravings cause I know it's not an option. See how I feel in 6 months. Also attend Smart Recovery + Dharma recovery meetings."

• Kayzee
• January 6, 2017

"I initially started on Antabuse when I realized I could not stop on my own. My fear of side effects from drinking on it was sealed after I purposely had a half glass of alcohol while taking it. You develop a funny taste in your mouth, flushing and heart racing. I think effects are worse the longer you've been taking it and how much you drink if you decide to drink around the time you took it. When I was ready to discontinue the drug, I read you had to wait one week. At that point I had been taking about 250mg per day for a couple of months. When two weeks was up, I had a glass of wine. I had a reaction, it wasn't severe, but I had the hot flushing, racing heart, and yucky stomach feeling. So for me, the drug was still in my system."

• Anonymous
• December 15, 2011

"Helped me break a long-cycle of binge drinking but after 3 weeks I found the side-effects too much to deal with- constant drowsiness, fatigue, muscle pain, nausea and stomach cramps. Good luck to everyone who can make it work for them!"

• Dallas
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 6, 2019

"I've been taking antabuse consistently for 9 years. I've had a few attempts to drink on it and pretty much has put me off all alcohol as I now don't enjoy the taste at all. I recommend it 100% if you're wanting to stop drinking permanently."

• Jenny
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 25, 2018

"After trying abstinence, hypnotherapy, meetings, I was finding that nothing worked. This was a last resort for me. After a few days of taking Antabuse medication, I drank and found it very uncomfortable to do so. My eyes were bloodshot, my face red and flushing, chest hurting and feeling nauseous, eyes blurred, dizzy and ready to pass out. Despite this, I still drank a few more times and had the exact same reaction. If I drink now I mostly throw up and pass out for a few hours and wake up really sweaty. It has really taken the joy out of drinking. Every time I drink on this medication the more adverse I feel to alcohol. I've started drinking alcohol-free alternatives because what's the point in drinking alcohol but throwing up and passing out after a single? All I know is that I will keep taking the medication, and I'm wanting to drink less and less. I wouldn't recommend this as a first port of call but if you've tried a few things and nothing seems to work then give it a go."

• Skyefal
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 16, 2020

"Started antabuse on December 27. 250mg a day. Still taking it every day. Some slight fatigue, but no more anxiety, no more drinking, lost 5 lbs without trying. Fear of the interaction with alcohol keeps me from drinking. This drug works. If people say it doesn't affect them when they drink, I suggest they prove it to the manufactures. I probably will need to take this for the foreseeable future. If it's too expensive, ask for the generic brand, disulfiram. It's been around for decades, there's no reason it should be expensive. This works, so grateful I started!"

• Kimme
• August 7, 2008

"I have been using antabuse for a month. I have had some side effects as in some nausea and headaches. I still feel that the benefit of the prescription far outweighs any side effects, nowing this has really given my family a sense of security."

• Anonymous
• June 15, 2009

"I have been on it for three days and although I have urges the possible effects of taking a drink far outweigh the urges. This is a drug I would recommend for any alcoholic trying to get help. This pill and regular AA meetings are the combination that is helping me. I have been sober for 8 days now. Was in hospital for the first 5 days to detox."

• Bill
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 7, 2019

"Antabuse has worked well for me, l have been sober nearly two months. The fear of the bad medical reaction was enough to boost my will power to avoid alcohol. At around 42 days on it I "tested" it with a shot of tequila in a bottle l found around the house. I drank it slowly over 10 minutes. Shortly after my face was red and head was pounding. Veins in my forehead were protruding, heart rate was racing, a bit scary. I drank plenty of water to try to counteract. The reaction lasted about 45-60 minutes. This stuff works. Price was very cheap, but I live in Spain."

• Marga...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 15, 2023

"As far as I am concerned, Antabuse has absolutely saved my life. I have worked hard over the years to stop drinking through many different kinds of programs, including AA and Therapy, but the obsession and craving never really left my mind, even if I was abstinent. I finally decided to try Antabuse and it has been a game changer. My doctor said that when she has a patient who wants to try Antabuse, she knows they are serious about wanting to stop drinking. That was me. She started me out at 500 mg a day and now I am on 250 mg a day. For me, taking Antabuse eliminates any question about drinking. The Internal struggle and conflict is simply gone. I can focus on other things and move on with my life. I feel very fortunate to have found this."

• RNano
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 30, 2020

"Antabuse is a joke!! My spouse has been to rehab 2x and sent home with prescription for disulfiram after 2nd stay. What we were told about med would scare you about the drug, HOWEVER, it hasn't proven to provide any side effects, even with the person drinking heavily and taking med too at same time. I've read so many articles, books that all say the same thing and I guess my husband is in the 1% Not affected by the med. Can u explain??"

• Fynn
• October 17, 2019

"I am going share this to several groups, as it well worth reading everyone experiences. I am nearly 5 weeks on 200mg of Antabuse daily for alcohol problems. I did a 7 day detox program and had no withdrawal side effects thank goodness. It is the FEAR of even taking one glass of wine and its side effects is a real motivation, and I have only had a few times when I wish I could, I know what triggers it, usually having something happen, I have always been a bottle of wine a day, I run my own business and was working 16 hr days 7 days a week, and the wheels really fell off so I think for the first time ever I seriously upped the bottles to 3 day, worst decision ever, it was hell, ended up in hospital once, kept having bad falls the list goes on. It was hell and the likelihood of dying would probably happen, and ruining a good business I knew I had to take action, its been a real long 7 months Does anyone take 100mg daily?"

• Kee
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 25, 2019

"My husband is a serious alcoholic. He is 77 years old and has been hospitalized 6 times in intensive care over the past two years. He was on life support two of these times. All this was caused by drinking. To make matters worse he is disabled but can still drive and get around when he is sober. His doctor prescribed Antabuse 250 mg. The first day he took it he drank 2 bottles of cheap wine and the meds did nothing. He just got drunk! Today he took a second dose. Same thing happened. After 2 bottles of wine all that happened is he just got drunk. I'm at the end of my rope trying to help him. I have also had him committed to substance abuse programs. He wouldn't stay the required 28 days. The last one they released him after 3 weeks. I brought him home on a Saturday and he was drunk on Sunday. Please, can anyone recommend something else to help him. I've done all I can."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 16, 2020

"My husband is an alcoholic, drinking anywhere from 12-18 beers in a 5 hour period and has tried antabuse 2x now. First time he lasted taking the pills for a month and stayed sober for nearly 2 1/2 months, started drinking again...got back on antabuse again, I would give him the pill every morning and watch him take it and found out he has still been drinking. He drank a whole 12 pack while on it. He did have the flushed face, but he did not become violently ill like the precautions mentioned...so now it becomes my decision on what to do next...very disappointed in this pill."

• Pietie
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 23, 2018

"My son started to use this over the weekend. He almost died in an accident in 2014. He has been drinking severely for years. As parents who love him so much it has been such a difficult time. Lots of tears, financially cleared out, in between jobs, friends trying to help him and praying day and night for my son to stay alive. May this be the answer to our prayers. Some things we cannot do alone some of us need more help."

• Paste
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 3, 2020

"I am baffled by the positive reviews posted here for Disulfiram. Each time I attempt to recommence Disulfiram treatment it is only a matter of days before I start feeling nausea, insomnia and worsening depression symptoms. Make no mistake, I consume zero alcohol while on it. Equally baffling is the lack of reviewers with similar experiences. What's happening here?"

• Beach...
• August 30, 2016

"I started taking Antabuse to try and short circuit my inability to resist picking up at the drop of a hat.I now had to wait two weeks and ,more often than not, would decide, not to drink after all. So , for me, its been effective. Reading these reviews, I've learned a lot about side effects, that I never would have connected to my taking Antabuse I never knew that Antabuse had any sexual side effects, until now.This is a concern to me. Drowsiness, tiredness, tingling in my feet, are further side effects. These reviews have been very educating. My five years on Antabuse are over, for sure."

• minne...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 26, 2023

"Love this medication. I've struggled with drinking for nearly 5 years. This medication was my last resort to try. I don't notice any side effects. I take two pills in the evening every day. Out of pure curiosity (and stupidity) I did try drinking to experience the after effects of the medication. After about 15 minutes of taking a shot, I was incredibly flushed. Soon after I experienced extreme dizziness, nausea, headache, just overall a very unpleasant feeling for roughly 4-5 hours. I am actually glad I found out how terrible these after effects are, because now more than ever, I know I cannot have a sip to drink. I will continue to take this every day to keep myself accountable!"

• Suzan
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 26, 2023

"I think its a great medication! The only side effects I've had are very slight drowsiness which I like because I have insomnia anyway and a funny taste in my mouth. Personally I am having to make my husband watch me take it each night though so I dont skip out on taking it! It's best to have someone keep you accountable for taking it! Overall it is a wonderful med & I dont see why it isn't utilized by more people!"

• Phil
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 28, 2020

"I tried antabuse 15 yrs ago and unfortunately whilst I was abstinent for 9 mths I had a stroke due to it. However I am finally alcohol free for 5 years due to the hard work of my local mental health team and cgl drug and alcohol service and now indeed work for them helping people beat the drink just like myself so never give up trying."