Anabuse is a
common misspelling of the well-knowm Antabuse
medication which is widely used for the treatment of alcohol abuse
and alcohol dependence all over the world.
How does it work?
When being taken, Antabuse (Anabuse) causes negative physical
reactions in the person who consumes alcohol. They may stop the
person from drinking more alcohol and help him or her quit
drinking completely.
What is the mechanics?
In the system, alcohol is metabolized in two steps. First, it is
changed into a very toxic substance called acetaldehyde. Then,
acetaldehyde is oxidized further into a harmless acetic acid.
Hangover symptoms are experienced on the first stage, when the
body is stuffed with acetaldehyde. Antabuse (Anabuse) stops
oxidizing acetaldehyde into acetic acid. That is why when the
person ingests alcohol during Antabuse (Anabuse) treatment, the
body accumulates 5 to 10 times more acetaldehyde as compared to
the amount of it formed in the system when the same dose of
alcohol is taken alone. As a result, the person feels very uneasy.
What sort of uneasiness
does one experience?
Unpleasant reactions include: nausea and vomiting, sweating,
extreme thirst, flushing, bad headache, heartbeat, chest pain,
hypotension, weakness, trembling, dizziness, blurred vision,
confusion and inhibition of thinking. In more severe cases,
one may suffer from respiratory depression, cardiovascular
collapse, myocardial infarction, acute congestive heart
failure, unconsciousness, arrhythmias and convulsions. In
very bad cases, combining Antabuse with alcohol may cause death.
But it is a real poison!
Why should I use it?
You should only use it if you are fully aware of the consequences
of combining alcohol and Antabuse (Anabuse), and you are definite
about your decision to quit drinking. If you are going to use the
medication in someone else, that person must know the details
about Antabuse (Anabuse) treatment, too.
When should Antabuse
(Anabuse) be avoided?
1) Antabuse (Anabuse) should by no means be used in anyone with a
story of serios cardiovascular problems, or psychosis. 2) Antabuse
(Anabuse) should not be given to anyone with an allergy to
Disulfiram. 3) Antabuse (Anabuse) should not be taken during the
periods of alcohol intoxication. 4) Antabuse (Anabuse) should not
be taken by pregnant women. 5) Antabuse (Anabuse) should never be
combined with metronidazole. 6) Antabuse (Anabuse) should be used
with caution in patients taking phenytoin and paraldehyde,
amphetamines, warfarin, diazepam, amitriptyline, pethidine,
morphine and antipyrine.
Does Antabuse (Anabuse)
make drinking impossible?
Antabuse (Anabuse) just makes drinking unpleasant. Unfortunately,
it does not reduce the person's craving for alcohol. It all depends
on the person's determination to stay sober. Antabuse (Anabuse) is
only effective if taken every day. If someone stops taking Antabuse
(Anabuse), alcohol can be consumed without any risk of excessive
hangover symptoms in just a few days when the medication is
completely removed from the system. However, patients on Antabuse
(Anabuse) do not develop tolerance to the medication, and the longer
the period Antabuse (Anabuse) is taken, the more sensitive the
patient becomes to alcohol.
ANABUSE DOES NOT TREAT ALCOHOL WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS!
How is Antabuse
(Anabuse) taken?
Antabuse (Anabuse) can only be taken 24 hours or more after the last
dose of alcohol.
When using 200 Mg tablets, Antabuse (Anabuse) is initially taken 4
tablets (800 Mg) on the 1st day, 3 tablets (600 Mg) on the 2nd day,
2 tablets (400 Mg) on the 3rd day, and 1 tablet on the 4th day.
Then half to one tablet (100-200 Mg) each day during the period
determined by the physician.
When using 250 Mg tablets, Antabuse (Anabuse) is initially taken 3
tablets (750 Mg) on the 1st day, 2 tablets (500 Mg) on the 2nd and
3rd day, and 1 tablet on the 4th day. Then half to one tablet
(125-250 Mg) each day during the period determined by the physician.
There exists a different schedule which demands using a maximum of
500 Mg of Antabuse (Anabuse) daily, which is given in a single dose
for 1 to 2 weeks in the 1st phase of treatment. In the 2nd phase of
treatment, the maintenance dose is 125 Mg to 250 Mg daily.
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