Antabuse User Reviews & Ratings (Page 4)

• bat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 22, 2020

For Alcohol Use Disorder "Antabuse works well for me and my alcohol issues. I tried drinking while taking this, and I did indeed get sick. However, like others have noted, I get very lethargic after a few weeks - I can’t exercise, and I tire very easily. So, I can’t stay on it for very long. Note: Every account I have heard of people being able to drink while on disulfiram so far has been second-hand, always a significant other and never from the person who was actually taking it. This should give most people a big clue that these folks on disulfiram were not actually ingesting the drug."

• Phi...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 28, 2020

For Alcohol Use Disorder "I tried Antabuse 15 years ago, and unfortunately, while I was abstinent for 9 months, I had a stroke due to it. However, I am finally alcohol free for 5 years due to the hard work of my local mental health team and CGL drug and alcohol service, and now indeed work for them, helping people beat the drink just like myself, so never give up trying."

• Amo...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 6, 2022

For Alcohol Use Disorder "I was first prescribed Antabuse (125 mg per day), and I was less than thrilled about it because I liked to drink beer. For about a year, I took it and lost between 50 and 100 lbs. It was glorious. It did coincide with some minimal dieting and fasting, but not for the whole year. I've always had a stupid slow metabolism, so I thought, 'Yay, my metabolism is finally functioning.' Should've known better. It was the Antabuse. I gained everything back when they took me off it. Just got back on it today. If you have it and you've lost some weight, stay on it and don't drink. Also, you might be surprised how much of what you buy has alcohol in it. Make sure you buy the right Zquil/Nyquil lol and get powdered vanilla extract. Worked great with SlimFast and liquid dieting. Good luck :)"

• Bea...
• August 30, 2016

For Alcohol Use Disorder "I started taking Antabuse to try and short circuit my inability to resist picking up at the drop of a hat. I now had to wait two weeks and, more often than not, would decide not to drink after all. So, for me, it's been effective. Reading these reviews, I've learned a lot about side effects that I never would have connected to my taking Antabuse. I never knew that Antabuse had any sexual side effects until now. This is a concern to me. Drowsiness, tiredness, tingling in my feet, are further side effects. These reviews have been very educating. My five years on Antabuse are over, for sure."

• Tho...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 11, 2018

For Alcohol Use Disorder "I am so frustrated. I have been on Antabuse now for three months - my wife gives it to me, and I really resent her. I am 50 years old, I am happy to control my drinking, but sometimes after a long day or when I am away on business, I really just want to chill with a nice cold beer. I started Antabuse because once every 10 days I would get drunk, and knowing that my wife would be pissed off, I would get nasty and defensive about it. I wouldn't drive or cause any other trouble. I would drink 10 beers during the course of an afternoon, Uber home, and go to sleep. I've tried AA for years now and was on Antabuse before - never managed to abstain for more than 2 months. My view is this - I am going to drink alcohol again. The more I am forced not to, the more dangerous it becomes for me because at some stage I am going to rebel and overdo it and probably kill myself. I am a successful professional, father of 3."

• Suz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 26, 2023

For Alcohol Use Disorder "I think it's a great medication! The only side effects I've had are very slight drowsiness, which I like because I have insomnia anyway, and a funny taste in my mouth. Personally, I am having to make my husband watch me take it each night, though, so I don't skip out on taking it! It's best to have someone keep you accountable for taking it! Overall, it is a wonderful med, and I don't see why it isn't utilized by more people!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 16, 2020

For Alcohol Use Disorder "My husband is an alcoholic, drinking anywhere from 12 to 18 beers in a 5-hour period and has tried Antabuse 2 times now. The first time, he lasted taking the pills for a month and stayed sober for nearly 2 1/2 months, then started drinking again. He got back on Antabuse again, I would give him the pill every morning and watch him take it, and I found out he has still been drinking. He drank a whole 12-pack while on it. He did have a flushed face, but he did not become violently ill like the precautions mentioned, so now it becomes my decision on what to do next. Very disappointed in this pill."

• RNa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 30, 2020

For Alcohol Use Disorder "Antabuse is a joke! My spouse has been to rehab two times and sent home with a prescription for disulfiram after the second stay. What we were told about the medication would scare you about the drug, however, it hasn't proven to provide any side effects, even with the person drinking heavily and taking the medication at the same time. I've read so many articles and books that all say the same thing, and I guess my husband is in the 1% not affected by the medication. Can you explain?"

• Sle...
• July 16, 2022

For Alcohol Use Disorder "Have been taking Antabuse for 14 days now, and side effects hit me on day 6. Incredibly tired all of the time. Can feel a tenderness or tiredness behind my eyes. Feel like sleeping all day. Went from doing a walk, swim, and yoga each day once I was sober to barely being able to get out of bed and walk the dog. I am also forgetting things and living as though nothing seems important or clear anymore. I am only on 100 mg each day and was going to wait for another week to see if the side effects would wear off, but feel as though my quality of life is worse than when I was drinking, and I am becoming depressed, which even when I was drinking I would have never described myself as. I thought this drug would be my holy grail of recovery after five rehabs, so I am very disappointed. But this is no way to live. I want my motivation and spirit back! Not drinking out of fear, but motivation might do the same."

• Jee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 28, 2019

For Alcohol Use Disorder "I have been on the Antabuse medication since 08/28/2019. I only take 100 mg every 2 days. It works for me as I am absolutely terrified of the effects that it has. I was on this years ago on 200 mg a day, and I decided to try a bottle of wine and see what it does. Well, I thought I was dying. Head pounding, heart racing, full red body rash, vomiting uncontrollably. This medication works. Even though I am only on 100 mg every 2 days, I am too scared to drink. But the craving for alcohol does not go away, as my partner drinks every night when he comes home from work-4-5 bourbon and coke. I feel I am spinning in my own world when he tells me I am the alcoholic."

• Pol...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 5, 2020

For Alcohol Use Disorder "I am a moderate-functioning alcoholic and have now been on Antabuse for six weeks. This is the second time I have taken it. It works great for me, but again I have to stop because of side effects: headaches (the worst of my life), nausea, lightheadedness, and feeling bone-tired. These get worse the longer I am on it. Maybe I produce enough alcohol in my digestive tract to cause problems. I have read that this is a thing, though I don't know if it's true."

• fun...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 6, 2020

For Alcohol Use Disorder "I asked my doctor for Antabuse myself. I drank half a bottle of whiskey every evening (and up to 1 bottle on the weekend) with no hangover symptoms at all, nor stomach or other problems (that I know of anyway). I started taking Antabuse immediately after getting it, the first 3 days 400 mg (start dose), and after that 200 mg daily. During the weekend I used deodorant and skin disinfectant containing alcohol to check the effect, but nothing happened. Now I started drinking again, 2 whiskeys daily at the moment, only 15 minutes after taking 200 mg of disulfiram, but still no effect at all. I really hoped that the disulfiram would keep me away from alcohol. Any users with firsthand experience that have the same problem? It really baffles me that some can't even use hand disinfectant without getting a headache, and I can just keep on drinking. Just FYI: I'm not proud that my liver doesn't seem to respond to disulfiram, I'm past the stage (and age) that I thought this might be a cool thing."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 27, 2021

For Alcohol Use Disorder "I have tried Antabuse many times over the years, and certainly when on it, it has kept me sober. However, I don't think I can take it again as the side effects for me are just too bad. I came here to see if anyone else is getting severe side effects. Almost immediately after taking it, I become very strange. Exhausted, severe confusion, huge memory problems (as if nothing is real), and also some type of mania. Last night I felt so strange and anxious I actually drank three days after my last dose as I thought I was losing my mind. Very sad as I know without the side effects it would absolutely be the answer to me destroying my life. I would love to know if anyone else has these side effects."

• Eve...
• August 17, 2020

For Alcohol Use Disorder "After tapering down with Librium, I then went on to Antabuse 200 mg. One evening I drank some wine and was actually hoping to get a reaction, nothing happened at all. My doctor has put me on 400 mg now, and I really hope it works. I am so desperate to stop my two-bottle-a-night habit."

• Mic...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 1, 2021

For Alcohol Use Disorder "I have been taking Antabuse on and off for about a year now. Off because my addiction is powerful, and I would mentally relapse before actually doing so. I was originally on 250 mg. I would only get a mild to somewhat severe rash, which could be subsided with antihistamine. And most recently, even after two weeks of consistent 250 mg, I drank… and nothing. No rash, no vomiting (never did). Absolutely no reaction. I opened a new bottle. Took it for a week, then drank. Again, nothing. This concerned me a lot because I wanted that violent reaction. I recently went up to 500 mg. I have been taking that for a week. No reaction to hand sanitizer or even rubbing alcohol. I took a shot of vodka to “test” it. Nothing. I felt a buzz, and my lips and ears tingled. That was it. I am terrified. My psychiatrist is, of course, skeptical that I’ve been taking it because she has never heard of it not working. Especially originally having some side effects and then just none. I am being 100% honest."

• Ken...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 16, 2021

For Alcohol Use Disorder "There are times in my past I couldn't step out of the house without picking up a drink. You can get a quarter of vodka for less than two dollars here, and I'd chug down up to two of those with water whenever I'd see a liquor store. Alcohol has cost me relationships, jobs, my sanity, and my reputation. I am five days clean with the help of Antabuse, and two years ago, it got me to six months. There is hope for me despite all the trauma and shame that has come from drinking. I can decide to stay sober, even when I'm stressed or tempted. I can pursue my dreams. The trick is, I can't stop taking it. For now, I'm prepared to take it for the rest of my life. I bought myself a red bracelet in hope that I never forget that I'm taking it. I'm going to tag a note to my identity card just in case."

• joe...
• November 27, 2020

For Alcohol Use Disorder "I have been drinking heavily for the past 10 years. Almost a bottle of rum every day, starting from the time I get up till I sleep. I also woke up in the middle of the night and drank again. This completely ruined my personal and professional life. I've been through detox and rehab thrice already. The first time I took Antabuse and drank on it, I threw up like crazy. Then slowly, I started faking taking it and went back to drinking. This time, I started Antabuse and also naltrexone. This is my second day of being sober. I did drink on Antabuse this time, and except for a very weird feeling in my stomach, it did not do anything. Maybe my liver is beyond a point of responding to the drug. Long story short, the combination of naltrexone and Antabuse seems to be working for me so far. I have a full bottle of Bacardi rum, but I don't want to (rather, I don't have a big urge to drink). If you are really motivated, talk to your doctor about being on both these drugs."

• hon...
• September 3, 2010

"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."

• Sad...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 19, 2019

For Alcohol Use Disorder "My husband started off taking 250 mg of Antabuse. He found he could still drink one or two beers. His doctor just raised his dose to 500 mg, and he had at least one beer today. I am giving him the pills and checking to make sure he has swallowed it. I was really hoping this would help, but I believe it has little to no effect on him. Will start researching Naltrexone and acamprosate for alcohol dependence."

• Dud...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 22, 2023

For Alcohol Use Disorder "I was able to drink on it with minimal side effects. I stopped taking it. Went to AA 12.5 years ago and have been going since, albeit less frequently. I haven’t had a single drink since. I swear by the AA concept of group recovery."

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 3, 2025

For Alcohol Use Disorder "I am on day 3 without alcohol and took 100 mg of Antabuse today at 2 PM, which is half of the 200 mg tablet I have been prescribed by my doctor. Checked with the doctor to see if I can take half of the 200 mg tablet just to start with and then go on to the 200 mg tablet. I felt very lightheaded when I first took it and realized that I had had some balsamic vinegar with my lunch. I know it will work for me as nothing else has. Will religiously check ingredients on any food products from now on!"

• NEA...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 16, 2024

For Alcohol Use Disorder "Antabuse is good, but it has its limitations. The first two weeks I started taking it, I did not drink at all and felt great. This is not the first time I try this medication. I am now drinking again while taking Antabuse, but not to the same extent as before (all-day drinking). Of course, a couple of drinks at lunch and 3 or 4 drinks at dinner. For me, it works in two ways: I get a really bad skin rash when I drink (which is visible not only to me but also to everyone around me) and get extremely tired while drinking. I hide when drinking as my friends know I am trying to quit; it is clearly a deterrent but not the perfect solution. If you feel like drinking and are taking Antabuse, you can, but will suffer 'minor' discomfort. I am going to continue taking it but also buying books about alcoholism that I hope will give me even more willpower to cut down on alcohol. My main goal is not to give up completely but to become a social drinker and stop being an alcoholic."

• bee...
• July 3, 2015

For Alcohol Use Disorder "Had a drink while on Antabuse. Felt nauseous, heartbeats increased, bloodshot eyes, headache. Never drank when taking again."

• Spu...
• December 28, 2019

For Alcohol Use Disorder "I have been on Antabuse for 12 years, it sure works. I will not be without it."

• the...
• May 3, 2008

For Alcohol Use Disorder "After 6 months of counseling, this was offered to me. I have never wanted to stop drinking, just stop the binges. This drug has worked brilliantly."