Alcoholic, 5th a day - Addiction & Recovery Message Board

ekocdnamur · 03-13-2003, 10:08 AM

Hi, I have a drinking problem. It hasnt effected my work. I drink everyday I am off. I usually leave after a few, a drink from bar to bar. I used to start arguments at home to make the leaving easier, however now I just leave without even caring. My wife is great but she has put up with alot. I am thankful everyday she is still with me and our children. She drinks also and can put down alot too, however she doesnt leave the house and doesnt want to anyway. We both use the excuse that if the other would stop we could. It is probably true for her however i would still probably continue on the sly. I am to old and stubborn to go to group therapy or believe that it could help me to help myself. It is to the point i need to take something like anibuse, to help control this. I wonder is there anything without prescription that I could take daily that would do the same or similiar thing. I was told you have to get anibuse from a doctor and go back every couple of days for the next treatment. that much back and forth, not good. too many bars and lounges along the way.

GinaLee · 03-13-2003, 01:02 PM

Hi...

Gosh, so much to say, so few brain cells still working to write what I want to say. (I do understand where you are coming from)
When I was on antabuse, I was given a one month prescription. They may have changed the law on it now... I don't know. I requested the prescription and the doc wrote it.
The last time I took antabuse; my resolve just wasnt there and I knew it. So I only took half a pill a day just in case I got stupid. Then one morning I said "screw it" and didn't take any. That night I drank...slooooowly and even tho I knew the consequences; I just couldn't force myself to abstain. It didn't take too long to start feeling the drug working against me. My heart palpitated horribly... I felt really hot..but not sweating. I can't remember all that well but I don't think I drank more than one that night... but the next night I made up for lost time.
Honestly, unless you really want to quit.. don't take the antabuse... it could kill you.
Naltrexone is supposed to be good for taking the need for alcohol away but you need to be sober for about a week (I think) before your first pill. It didn't work for me...but then I didn't try going sober for a week.

------------------
Gina

openseason · 03-13-2003, 03:17 PM

The problem with Naltrexone is that in addition to taking away the pleasure of alcohol it lessens all other pleasures as well. That is why people do not like to take it. Addiction is the result of too few dopamine receptors in the addicts brain.