Disulfiram and Increased Heart Rate: What Users Say

• Euc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 18, 2015

For Alcohol Use Disorder "Well, I had tried everything to beat the demon booze. Tried Nalmefene, Campral, and Naltrexone medication, went to countless AA meetings, etc. But nothing worked. Then I did some research and saw this medication, and thankfully my doc prescribed it. I have been on it for 6 days and stupidly enough decided to see what would happen if I had 1 can of lager on the fourth day. I managed to get through half the can, and suddenly the symptoms began. Flushing, my throat felt like it was swelling, thought my heart was going to pop out of my chest, it was pounding so much, and then I experienced uncontrollable shaking like Shaking Stevens. Then I burst into tears. Felt awful! This tablet is a brilliant deterrent."

• Anonymous
• March 9, 2012

For Alcohol Use Disorder "So, I've been battling alcoholism for years - about a decade (and I'm 30). I've been to 2 treatment centers and an outpatient program with the longest stint of sobriety being a solid 109 days. I've gone from being 100% alcohol dependent in my mid-20s to sober to recreational drinking, but almost always I'll end up on benders or sneaking it. Anyway, I tried Antabuse about 6 months ago and took it for about a month... drank on it repeatedly and got so sick each and every time, so I just stopped taking the pills. I'm talking beet red face and neck and chest, heart racing, etc. I'm back on it now. I started yesterday and vowed to take it for 6 months."

• Bob...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 17, 2017

For Alcohol Use Disorder "Been a 'problem drinker' for a long time. Alcohol is EVERYWHERE, it's just too hard to have the willpower never to pick it up again, and one drink leads to many more. Antabuse should be advertised more. I wish more people knew about it. I borrowed some from a friend who was done with it (yes, I know I should have seen a doctor). It works fabulously. Of course, I experimented to see the effect. A half glass of beer, and my face and eyes would turn red, my heart would beat increase, my breathing would change, and some degree of fatigue and dizziness might ensue. It keeps me in check in the way I want, and I've got my excuses not to drink lined up when the situations arise. I find myself eating healthier and no hangovers!"

• Kay...
• January 6, 2017

For Alcohol Use Disorder "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 250 mg 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."

• Bil...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 7, 2019

For Alcohol Use Disorder "Antabuse has worked well for me, I have been sober nearly two months. The fear of the bad medical reaction was enough to boost my willpower to avoid alcohol. At around 42 days on it, I 'tested' it with a shot of tequila in a bottle I found around the house. I drank it slowly over 10 minutes. Shortly after, my face was red and my head was pounding. Veins in my forehead were protruding, my 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. The price was very cheap, but I live in Spain."

• 250...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 10, 2022

For Alcohol Use Disorder "YOU DO NOT WANT TO DRINK ON THIS STUFF! I took this medication last year for about a month. Decided it might not hurt to have one light beer, so I gave it a try. Within 10 mins, my face got super red, flushing, bloodshot eyes, pounding heart - lasted for about an hour. I decided I wanted to drink at a Christmas party, so I stopped taking it for a week, thinking it was out of my system. It wasn’t! The effects didn’t hit me until hours later, then my face started flushing again, and that was it. The next day, I have never been so sick in my life. I was throwing up for hours, very intense anxiety to the point where I thought I was going crazy. It was absolutely horrible. I then later read that this medication can stay in your body for up to a month. The medication scared me so bad that I decided to stop taking it. Nine months later, I am back on the drug. Knowing now I cannot drink on this med is helping me stay sober."

• Jee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 28, 2019

For Alcohol Use Disorder "I have been on the Antabuse medication since 08/28/2019. I only take 100 mg every 2 days. It works for me as I am absolutely terrified of the effects that it has. I was on this years ago on 200 mg a day, and I decided to try a bottle of wine and see what it does. Well, I thought I was dying. Head pounding, heart racing, full red body rash, vomiting uncontrollably. This medication works. Even though I am only on 100 mg every 2 days, I am too scared to drink. But the craving for alcohol does not go away, as my partner drinks every night when he comes home from work-4-5 bourbon and coke. I feel I am spinning in my own world when he tells me I am the alcoholic."

• bee...
• July 3, 2015

For Alcohol Use Disorder "Had a drink while on Antabuse. Felt nauseous, heartbeats increased, bloodshot eyes, headache. Never drank when taking again."

• Aar...
• November 2, 2020

For Alcohol Use Disorder "I tried Antabuse, the first time I drank on it, I was sick, but after 48 hours, it did nothing but make my heart beat fast. You have to take it every day for the best results."