General
29 Nov 07
30 Nov 07
Originally posted by mikelomI don't hear about antabuse much anymore. I hear that it will make you feel like you wish you were dead if you drink on top of it.
In serious answer to your question - go to your doctor and ask for Antabuse (Disulfiram). If you take one tab a day you will be severely ill if you have alcohol intake of any kind or level.
I've known lots of people who have been alcohol dependent, not necessarily aloholic but certainly dependent, who have tried Antabuse with good success. It is a great d ...[text shortened]... ould be, if you are serious about quitting for good, to take a 6 months course of Antabuse! 😉
30 Nov 07
Originally posted by kirksey957It's still the most widely used deterrent, for dependants and alcoholics. It can hospitalise you if you drink on it. Dramatically increases blood pressure and temperature. It breaks down the agents which normally process alcohol thru the liver - thus making you more dizzy and feeling like vomiting with severe cramps - so I'm told. 😉
I don't hear about antabuse much anymore. I hear that it will make you feel like you wish you were dead if you drink on top of it.
30 Nov 07
Originally posted by mikelomCould it be used as a cure for depression as well? If people felt ill whenever they got depressed they would learn to look on the bright side a little more.
It's still the most widely used deterrent, for dependants and alcoholics. It can hospitalise you if you drink on it. Dramatically increases blood pressure and temperature. It breaks down the agents which normally process alcohol thru the liver - thus making you more dizzy and feeling like vomiting with severe cramps - so I'm told. 😉
30 Nov 07
Originally posted by mikelomIt will also teach you to be aware of what you eat as well. Some foods have alcohol in them, and it doesn't all cook out. You learn to read labels!! You'd be surprised that even safe-looking frozen entrees have wine in them. I also got sick on olives, only mildly so. It could be that there was just a little bit of fermentation -- enough to trigger the meds without being enough to make me deathly ill.
In serious answer to your question - go to your doctor and ask for Antabuse (Disulfiram). If you take one tab a day you will be severely ill if you have alcohol intake of any kind or level.
I've known lots of people who have been alcohol dependent, not necessarily aloholic but certainly dependent, who have tried Antabuse with good success. It is a great d ...[text shortened]... ould be, if you are serious about quitting for good, to take a 6 months course of Antabuse! 😉
30 Nov 07
Originally posted by pawnhandlerI had that problem before too. I found it was the vodka and dry vermouth surrounding the olive. 😞
It will also teach you to be aware of what you eat as well. Some foods have alcohol in them, and it doesn't all cook out. You learn to read labels!! You'd be surprised that even safe-looking frozen entrees have wine in them. I also got sick on olives, only mildly so. It could be that there was just a little bit of fermentation -- enough to trigger the meds without being enough to make me deathly ill.
30 Nov 07
I got antabus-reaction as a side-effect from a combination of medication, none of which should have caused it. but together they did. it was 'fun'. the worst hangover and diarrhea combined. didn't stop me from drinking though.
I'd say you'll greatly increase the odds for staying sober by staying out of bars etc. for at least the first 3-4 months. after that it gets easier. after 6 months I had virtually no craving for alcohol. which was when I started drinking again.
30 Nov 07
I have never understood the 'craving' aspect when people talk about drinking. Sure, I have gone out and got drunk hundreds of times and a few years ago I was drinking enough each night that ,if I tried it now, it would make me seriously ill.
But it was only ever because the people I was out with liked drinking too, and we used to have some good laughs when we were all drunk - I never felt the need to drink on my own at all, for me it is not a required taste and is done purely for the effects.
30 Nov 07
Originally posted by Tyrannosauruschex*gasp* I have heard of such people but never actually met one. Now are you one of those heretics who also leaves alcohol in a glass and doesn't finish it?
I have never understood the 'craving' aspect when people talk about drinking. Sure, I have gone out and got drunk hundreds of times and a few years ago I was drinking enough each night that ,if I tried it now, it would make me seriously ill.
But it was only ever because the people I was out with liked drinking too, and we used to have some good l ...[text shortened]... drink on my own at all, for me it is not a required taste and is done purely for the effects.
30 Nov 07
No way, eh. I have paid good money for it, so it is getting drunk by hook or by crook.
I even sometimes scavenge drinks that other people have left undrunk (which can be surprisingly high if you go to nightclubs and there is a massive pile of bottles on a table) and help right the world of the wrongs of leaving undrunk alcohol.
30 Nov 07
Originally posted by PocketKingsI can help you.
It has cost me to many good things in my life recently, and I'm done. Any advice on how to be sure I don't start again?
You have to decide to go one of two ways. You either go 'cold turkey' and stop all alcohol intake or you do the 'slow revision method'. I'll lay both of these out for you and you can decide which one you want to do. The worst thing you can do is to do nothing and continue on your course. The good news is that you can get off alcohol w/o dying!
Method 1:
You tell your doctor that you can't stop drinking. He puts you into drug rehab for 30 days. After that you have to attend AA meetings 3-5 times a week. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying this in a derogatory manner. These AA meetings often fill a person with just what they need to accept life and move on. Sometimes, if you are single, you even meet a woman who has the same problem and the two of you move in together and live happily everafter! (ok, maybe I'm exaggerating a little, but at least the relationship works long enough to get you through the hard parts).
Method 2:
This is for people w/o health insurance, can't afford to take time off work and/or are not strong enough to commit themselves. It is also a much more elaborate method because it allows you to drink as you ween yourself off the booze.
Look at the brand of alcohol that you are drinking at home and throw it away. Now don't get scared on me... Throw away every bit of alcohol that you have in your home (don't stop reading, I'm with you).
For example, if you like whiskey and coke, you get rid of all the stuff. Then you go to the booze store and buy a 5th of something you hate the taste of... maybe vodka. And buy a mix for it that you don't like too. For example, if you are a whiskey drinker then buy vodka with grape pop for a mix. Horrible stuff *shudder*. But guess what? It's much harder to not drink alcohol than to drink it with something that doesn't appeal to you!
Maybe you aren't strong enough to not drink, but at least you can do this one thing. Make yourself drink this nasty stuff whenever you are too weak to not drink. Pretty soon your mind starts telling you that you don't like this $hit.
You will have the urge to go get your favorite drink, but you can resist that - you have decided not to put yourself in a hospital and/or support group and have compromised your situation, so you are going to make it on your own. My personal experience with this 'program' is that I drank less and less (because I did't enjoy it).
You can PM me if you'd like more info.
Arrakis
30 Nov 07
Moderation, that's the key for me. I, too have felt the addiction to alcohol...but the key is...don't beat yourself up, and don't drink every day. It's been difficult at times when I've had a particularly bad day at work and I want to have a cocktail or two, but instead, I do some form of exercise...jogging, swimming, etc. I find that if I tell myself I can't ever have any alcohol, then I am wanting to drink every day, but if I allow myself to get a bit crazy on weekends w/out guilt, then I am fine during the week.
30 Nov 07
nobody gets further than the recovering stage ,even though they might be in it for the rest of their life,its a one day at a time thing,but if you do screw up ,it dont mean your completely screwed ,just get back on track,dont trust AA ,the first thing they want you to do is tell them your name
30 Nov 07
Originally posted by PocketKingsI found it helpful to focus on how much better i felt after i stopped. I had loads of energy and it felt good. I felt happy.
It has cost me to many good things in my life recently, and I'm done. Any advice on how to be sure I don't start again?
I realised that drinking wasn't really the problem and i was using it to self medicate for other issues in my life, so I have started to address those issues.
Now I drink again and have a hangover today, but I try not to overdo it.
I suggest asking yourself why you drink in the first place, and you may find that alcohol isn't really your problem either. If this is the case, perhaps moderation would be a happier and more sociable goal.
I hope that helps.
Good luck.
30 Nov 07
Originally posted by twiceaknightThis thread's like a ruddy AA meeting!
I found it helpful to focus on how much better i felt after i stopped. I had loads of energy and it felt good. I felt happy.
I realised that drinking wasn't really the problem and i was using it to self medicate for other issues in my life, so I have started to address those issues.
Now I drink again and have a hangover today, but I try not to ove ...[text shortened]... haps moderation would be a happier and more sociable goal.
I hope that helps.
Good luck.
Hi, my name's Mike and I'm a lapsaholic! 😏
Esp when it comes to Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. 😉
30 Nov 07
Originally posted by twiceaknightWell, I went to my first meeting last night. I have to say it was really weird, but I think it was actually helpful. But all I can still think about is what I lost because i drank to much. I feel better physically being sober, but the problem is that I'm sad, and thats why I want a drink. But I havn't in 3 days, which is good for me.
I found it helpful to focus on how much better i felt after i stopped. I had loads of energy and it felt good. I felt happy.
I realised that drinking wasn't really the problem and i was using it to self medicate for other issues in my life, so I have started to address those issues.
Now I drink again and have a hangover today, but I try not to ove ...[text shortened]... haps moderation would be a happier and more sociable goal.
I hope that helps.
Good luck.