Disulfiram and Sick: What Users Say

• Bec...
• June 11, 2010

Disulfiram for Alcohol Use Disorder "My boyfriend has been on Antabuse for a few months now, and for the most part, just the thought of drinking scared him. He takes this pill daily at the same time. Now, after witnessing one of the sickest people I've ever seen due to one drink while taking this medicine, I'm scared for him. He literally was bright red, his body was on fire, and the sickness he felt was something he had never felt before and never wishes that he had drunk. He was in massive pain. This drug works wonders, but under no circumstances, no matter how much stress you have in your life, DON'T DRINK while on this medicine. You have absolute helplessness over the situation. There isn't an antidote."

• Anonymous
• March 9, 2012

Disulfiram 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."

• Moa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 3, 2018

Disulfiram for Alcohol Use Disorder "Antabuse works! It really helped me stay sober for 3 months. I didn't even think about drinking because I just knew it wasn't an option. Well, a few days ago I drank 3 light beers. I was violently sick! I threw up 3 times and couldn't even hold water in my system. I'm glad it happened because I will never drink again as long as I'm taking Antabuse."

• hon...
• September 3, 2010

Disulfiram "I have tried this medication without success. When my cravings became too difficult, I would stop taking the medication and plan my drinking for 4 to 5 days later, which sometimes wasn't enough time to get the medicines out of my system and I became very ill. My recommendation is if you are going to use this medication and you don't trust yourself, have someone else administer the pills to you and keep you accountable. Congratulations to those who have found success with this. I'm trying Campral next."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 1, 2020

For Alcohol Use Disorder "My husband is an alcoholic. Nothing has worked until he started on Antabuse. He tried drinking while on it and got very ill while driving, wrecked his truck, and landed in the hospital. He counts on taking this pill to keep him from drinking, but now we can’t get it. I called the manufacturer, and they said they have stopped making it! He is back to drinking again. He tried other pills, and it didn’t work. Why would they stop making something that helped? They are playing with people's lives."

• Aar...
• November 2, 2020

Disulfiram 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."