What is Antabuse/Disulfiram and How is it Used in Alcoholism Recovery?

Antabuse is a prescribed medication that is often used in alcoholism treatment. It also goes by the names Disulfiram and Antabus. Many have found tremendous relief from alcoholism due to this medication. It has proven to be quite effective to help with alcohol cessation. 

The questions that many people have are:

• Are there Antabus reviews that prove its effectiveness?
• Where can you buy Antabuse?
• Is the Disulfiram pill more effective than the Antabuse implant?
• How long after stopping Antabus can you drink?
• How long does 125mg of Disulfiram stay in your system? 

When it comes to medications for alcohol detox, people frequently have a lot of questions. You probably have many questions yourself, that you would like to have answered. We are here to assist you with getting the help you need.

The Disulfiram/Antabuse Definition

Antabuse works by making people acutely sensitive to alcohol. Because of this, when people take Disulfiram, they immediately have a negative response when drinking. The drug causes them to feel as though they have a hangover when they drink any alcohol at all.

The Antabus classification is as a disulfide, just like the name Disulfiram suggests. Disulfiram tablets should only be used under the care of a qualified physician. Disulfiram is known as a Schedule 4 medication.

How Long Does One Disulfiram Pill Last in the Body?

One Disulfiram pill can last in the body for a very long time. This is because of the Antabuse half-life, which is between 60 to 120 hours. The Disulfiram half-life means that this is the amount of time it takes for half the drug to exit the body. As much as 20% of one dose of Antabuse can remain in the body for a week, or even longer in some cases. This means that you could react negatively to alcohol for as long as 2 weeks.

People often wonder, how do you drink on Antabuse?. The answer is that you really can’t. Even if you wait several hours after your last dose, it could cause problems.

Disulfiram and Antabuse Use

The Typical Antabuse Dosage

Most doctors recommend for their patients to begin taking Antabus 500mg at a time. This dosage is given daily for one or two weeks. After this, the dosage may be cut back to Antabuse 250mg a day. This is the typical maintenance regimen for most people. There may be some cases where Disulfiram 125mg will be prescribed for maintenance if that amount is effective.

How Long Does it Take for Antabus to Work?

Antabuse will start to work within 1 to 2 hours after you take it. Of course, everyone’s Antabus reaction time will be different. Some people may feel its effects right away, while others might take a bit longer.

How Long Can You Take Disulfiram?

Antabus is actually approved for long-term Disulfiram use. In fact, studies have shown that it only contributes to longer periods of sobriety. While people who take it often do suffer from relapses, they are usually quick to get back on track. 

Many doctors believe that Antabus is a remarkable drug that has the capability of helping alcoholics recover. In both Europe, and in the United States, Disulfiram is frequently prescribed to those with alcoholism symptoms. It has been approved for long-term use.

The Long-Term Effects of Disulfiram

People who are taking Disulfiram should be sure to make every appointment with their doctors. It’s important to follow up with your doctor while taking this medication because of the risk of long-term side effects. 

Taking Disulfiram long-term can put you at risk for: 

• Heart disease
• Liver disease
• Diabetes
• Skin conditions or rashes
• Chronic fatigue 

Fortunately, most of the side effects of Antabus are mild in nature. People can usually overlook them because of the good the drug is doing for them. One of the more difficult Antabuse side effects is weight gain. People should be aware of the chance of gaining weight prior to starting this drug.

Antabuse Abuse and the Risks Involved

There are some drugs that are taken to help with addiction recovery that can be abused. The good news is that Antabuse isn’t one of them. Even so, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t risks involved with taking it.

People will frequently try to figure out how to get around Disulfiram so they don’t feel the effects.

They may do research on how to get Antabuse out of your system fast so that you can drink. It’s really not possible. Antabus is a drug that takes some time to leave your body. There are no shortcuts with this medication if you choose to drink alcohol while taking it.

Is There Disulfiram Prescription Assistance?

If you don’t have health insurance, prescription assistance for Antabus may be available for you. You also may be able to buy Antabuse online through an Internet drug store. In some cases, you can find Antabuse online cheap. Unfortunately, you cannot purchase Antabuse over the counter, and you do need a prescription.

Is Antabuse Right for You?

At Northpoint Recovery, we know that you have just been given a lot of information. You may have been thinking about taking Antabuse for quite some time. You only hesitated because you didn’t have all the information necessary to make the right decision. 

It is our hope that you have found this information to be useful. When it comes down to it, Antabuse is much like other addiction drugs. It has its benefits, but it also has its drawbacks. It might be helpful for you to talk with your doctor about whether or not Antabus will work for you. 

If your doctor feels that this is not the right choice for you, there is still hope. It might help you tremendously to talk with someone about alternative addiction treatment.

You may find that an IOP program offers you the flexibility you need as you recover. Even if you do begin using Antabuse, an IOP program can help to support you moving forward.

Every alcoholic faces different challenges, and everyone has their own sobriety goals. Regardless of what your goals are, we are confident that we can help you achieve them. It might seem impossible to stop drinking, but Antabus can help with that if it’s right for you. There are many methods of recover that can help. 

Do you have additional questions on whether or not Antabuse is right for you? Contact us to get more information.