Antabuse and foods and my view of AA

[Mary]

As I'm a newbie sober person who has no plans of enjoying the side-effects of this drug, can you please tell me what I can't eat? I know about vinegar and cough syrup and obviously sauces made with a wine base but is there anything else that anyone has struck? Also just to say that about six months ago I gave up drinking cold turkey. I lasted about a week, went to an AA meeting and then got pissed after it. Antabuse is heaps easier with the threat of feeling crap if you drink and also not having to watch people nod their heads in sympathy with you at a dumb religious meeting. I know it works for some people but not me. Before (even just last week) I would rush home from work to get pissed by 6pm, then text and abuse my friends and family. Tonight I'm going home to cook a nice dinner, have a swim and read a good book with a hot cup of tea. Although I know it will be a long time that I continue to feel the pull of "beer o'clock" at 4pm I am going to replace that with exercise. Drinking has put on a lot of weight and absolutely murdered my bank balance. I have goals now and I am going to achieve them. Good luck to you all.

[Darryn]

Hello, I have a bottle of Antabuse sitting here on my counter prescribed by my doctor but i have a few questions about it that no one can seem to definitively answer and I'm a bit scared to take it till i know. This is a question for people who have actually been on it and have tried these things.
Can you use topical things like lotion, deodorant, sun block etc. that have some alcohol content in them without getting sick? or is it only if you ingest alcohol?
Also, I do a cycle of injectable steroids from time to time which is a 1cc or 1ml muscle injection that is about 2% alcohol. Will that small of an amount make me sick?
All comments are appreciated!
Darryn

[Mary]

Well I'm up to day 11. Had no side effects and feel so much better. My eyes have whites, not reds anymore and I've already lost 3.5kg. I haven't had any cravings at all for alcohol. I think at last I have found the help I needed to kick this disgusting habit. I even have the energy to exercise now and am walking about 6km a day. Next step is to stop smoking. I've set a date - the 1st of April. Any tips? As far as lotion and deodorant go Darryn I've used them and been fine. Dunno about the steroids - check with your doc. I'm very dubious about what I eat now and although I have avoided being sick so far I am very keen to stay that way. I'm now cooking each night when once I would have drank about 10 beers by then and ordered in junk. All my food is prepared with fresh meat and veges and I'm enjoying the taste much more.

[Rudy]

Mary -
I find the urge to drink about 10X that of tobacco, but everyone's different. Maybe the excercise will help.(Hard to do cardio without thinking about smoke damage.)

Darryn -
Have never personally injected anything, but have had enough IV's to know there is NO WAY to "back off" the way you can with "sipping lite beer". Leave this up to the doc. Even with that, I'd make sure I'm near the ER.

[Carol Ann]

Hi Mary,
I used Nicorette chewing gum to give up smoking. It worked for me - gives a bit of a nicotene rush together with the ashtray taste of having chain smoked half a packet of cigarettes. Yuk!

Regards
Carol Ann

[kelcey]

Darryn wrote:

Hello, I have a bottle of Antabuse sitting here on my counter prescribed by my doctor but i have a few questions about it that no one can seem to definitively answer and I'm a bit scared to take it till i know. This is a question for people who have actually been on it and have tried these things.
Can you use topical things like lotion, deodorant, sun block etc. that have some alcohol content in them without getting sick? or is it only if you ingest alcohol?
Also, I do a cycle of injectable steroids from time to time which is a 1cc or 1ml muscle injection that is about 2% alcohol. Will that small of an amount make me sick?
All comments are appreciated!
Darryn

Woops. Sorry about hitting the "post comment" button too soon last time before I commented. Anyway, Darryn, I use deoderant with some alcohol in it and have never had a problem. I don't use lotions with alcohol though. I do use hair spray and that hasn't bothered me, either spraying it on or breathing the vapors.
I was going to suggest you ask your doctor about the injection with alcohol in it. But maybe you do steroids for bulking muscles and don't want to mention it to your doctor who prescribed the antabuse. I suppose you have been hearing all the stuff on the news lately about the dangers of steroid use, but that is not my business or why I replied. So good luck.

[Cheryl Arlington- MA]

Thank you for the information on the body lotions and body creams. My question now concerns nail polish which contains Denat Alcohol, and nail polish remover which the bottle just says it contains alcohol. I got out of rehab today, and will begin antabuse this Thursday. I am starting to get scared and would appreciate any help.

[kelly]

I used a body spray which had denat alcohol in it. i did not even put it on my skin, just on my shirt, but i think i injested some of it. denat alcohol is denaturalized and i believe is one of the purest form of alcohol, but it dissolves very quickly. i was sick to my stomach for 2 hrs afterwards. I have been using a lotion that has alcohol in it with no effects, but i am skeptical about everything, it seems that nausea likes to cling itself to me with this med. i am only on it for a week now and am still trying to figure out why i feel so crappy all the time.

[Belinda Shale]

Next wave of the research is now available? Can you help?

Hi

As you may know we are running a research blog into the diagnosis, treatment and lifestyles of people who have sought help for alcohol abuse or dependence. Or even just heavy drinking.

We are now on the second stage which looks more at medication and psychotherapy. It would be really great if you could spare a few minutes to have look and share your thoughts

http://www.thepatientconnections.com/blog.asp...

Please remember that all responses are completely anonymous and this study will help shape new research into this area.

Email me if you have any queries about this project.

Thanks

Belinda
belinda.shale@thepatientconnec tions.com
The Patient Connection

[atlhelp]

Day two and I am still drinking, with little or no side effects. Weird.

[chris]

hi-i've been taking antabuse for two weeks but i still miss drinking quite a bit. has anyone heard of an antabuse injection that lasts for 30 days? has anyone tried the vivitrol injection?

[atlhelp]

Naltrexone is supposed to help with the cravings. The latest study show that naltrexone combined with cognitive behavior therapy has the best relapse rate. Antabuse can get you out of the habit and get you started but I have not seen where it is successful long term all by itself. I don't think injections are allowed in the US of antabuse but I am not sure.

[marika]

As far a lotions and/or creams, my hands both broke out in a bumpy red rash til I switche to using vaseline on them. However I couldn't find a facial moisturizer without alcohol in it & my face was breaking out with a new zit every day! Weird for moisturizers to all have alcohol in them as alcohol is very drying, seems like a contradictory oxymoron!

[chris]

hi-i've used oil of olay and that seemed to be fine for me.

[Trace]

A word of caution for you ladies out there - I started on antabuse two days ago. Used nail polish remover yesterday (acetone free) and had to get to ER within half an hour. I was violently ill, tingling in fingers, numb feet, heart palpitations, dizziness, increased blood pressure. I was so scared!!!! I did spill some of the polish remover so I guess i probably got a lot on my skin and inhaled too. Take care!

[Kackie]

marika wrote:

As far a lotions and/or creams, my hands both broke out in a bumpy red rash til I switche to using vaseline on them. However I couldn't find a facial moisturizer without alcohol in it & my face was breaking out with a new zit every day! Weird for moisturizers to all have alcohol in them as alcohol is very drying, seems like a contradictory oxymoron!

I studied esthiology at the Aveda institue and I know for a fact that there is no alcohol in their facial products. Try them - they make great, pure products.

[chris]

hi-i've been taking antabuse for 26 days now with virtually no side effects. does anyone feel a sense of relief when you take it? i figured it costs me about $.50 a day compared to the alternative i'm starting to think this cheap pill is a lifesaver.

[Marie]

Has anyone had problems with salad dressings,keptchup etc ( due to the vinegar), while taking antabuse?

[Yes and No to Antabuse]

Marie wrote:

Has anyone had problems with salad dressings,keptchup etc ( due to the vinegar), while taking antabuse?

I've been on 500mg Antabuse for 3 weeks..I've not had any problems with foods, perfums, hair sprays etc. I am glad to be on this...without it I would have drank today.

[Sophie]

Hi, wow its strange I have heard alot of negativity about aa on these blogs. How would you quit without it? The thing is, when you quit you are supposed to be so willing and desperate that you try anything 100% or you end up dead, in jail, or at a mental institue. My grandma died and my uncle is in and out of the mental institute in Portugal (where he found alot of drugs) Anyway, I am starting on antabuse as I am going to visit my family in England tomorrow and I am scared since I only have 2 months of continuous sobriety.
I am highly surprised by the idea that people think it is ok to experiment here and there, its just not a good idea, you are risking your life every time.