Health & Fitness

How Effective is Antabuse Disulfiram in the Treatment of Alcoholism?

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What Is Antabuse Disulfiram?
Antabuse is a prescription drug for people who are addicted to alcohol to help them reduce their cravings for it. The drug stops the enzyme that assists in breaking down, and granting the urge for alcohol intake. Alcohol treatment centers like alcohol rehab Orlando FL may use it.

This medicine is administered to some patients suffering from obsessive alcoholism, as a result of the undesirable effects that it has when you taking the pill and drinking alcohol.

Antabuse is used alongside with other measures, such as behavior adaptation, psychological therapy, and guidance to assist the patient in leaving the habit. It should be noted that Disulfiram is not a cure for alcoholism.

You can learn more about Antabuse here: 

How Does Antabuse Help Stop Alcoholism Addiction?

When we take alcoholic drinks, the body breaks it down into a chemical compound called acetaldehyde, and it is the accumulation of this substance in the body that acts like a poison.  Nonetheless, certain digestive chemicals in the liver will ordinarily metabolize most if it to a less toxic substance called acetaldehyde.

Disulfiram stops this conversion by reducing the production of  dehydrogenises in the blood whenever alcohol is taken, and this upsurges the level of acetaldehyde in the blood when you drink alcohol.

Antabuse Disulfiram prevents the liver digestive chemicals from metabolizing acetaldehyde, and this leads to its accumulation in the bloodstream. The implication of this is a very undesirable physical effect. An individual who takes alcohol while using Antabuse suffers increased heartbeat and hypotension, and this stirs dizziness. Since a very high concentration of acetaldehyde affects the heart and arteries and veins, these negative impacts extend to dyspnea and heart palpitations.

How Effective is Antabuse Disulfiram in the Treatment of AlcoholismNot only is it a product that greatly affects the reduction of dependence on alcoholism, it also removes the symptoms of alcohol. It is noteworthy to state that Disulfiram also reduces substance abuse, because most of the times, alcohol leads to drug abuse.

Some Possible Side Effects of Antabuse Disulfiram

Most times, it is the relapse of Antabuse that causes severe side effects than the drug itself. Within the first seven to fourteen days of using this medicine, you might likely feel some fatigue. This fatigue usually subsists for a few days, and then fades away.

When you take Antabuse, it is necessary to stay away from any source of alcohol, which includes some foods that have alcohol or drugs compounded using alcohol as an ingredient. Some doctors will suggest that mouth rinses with alcohol should be avoided to prevent a reaction to the medication. Taking alcohol while on Antabuse will lead to nausea and purging. Although, these effects are necessary as they compel the addict to refrain from drinking alcohol. The symptoms are not so pleasant, and can last a while. It does not take heavy drinking to feel the effect of Antabuse in the body; just a little shot can cause unpleasant reactions. Furthermore, this medicament stays in the body for a long while which could be up to 14 days..

The severe impacts of Antabuse are not so common. The most serious adverse effect of this medicine is liver damage, and it isn’t just limited to Disulfiram alone. Any drug used for a protracted duration can harm the liver. Using Antabuse for an extended period can lead to liver disorders, and that explains why your doctor might call for periodic liver function test whenever you are on this drug. The physician can conduct a blood test to ascertain the state of the liver before placing on Antabuse Disulfiram. After one month of repeated use, the liver test should be done again. The doctor ought to, from time to time, evaluate the liver enzymes while patients are on Antabuse.

Also, it is advisable always to keep a list of drugs and substances that can cause an adverse reaction with Antabuse. The use of the drug to correct alcoholism has its possible adverse effects. Some addicts claimed to have experienced lethargy and increased fatigue when they started with this medicine.

Some other users claimed to have a metallic-feel in their mouth that lasts for some weeks or even months. Some do not experience that taste, and it fades away after some time. This is just the secondary effect of Antabuse.

Antabuse as Part of Broad Treatment Plan

While Antabuse itself might not cure alcoholism, it is very potent as a tool for the extra encouragement to opt for sobriety. It is a veritable approach for alcohol addicts who meet themselves in tempting conditions.

The solution to protracted sobriety is to evolve an approach that refines your thoughts and actions. Supports and guidance from addiction counselors can assist you to spot the factors that spur you into drinking. Immediately you have identified those factors that trigger the craving for alcohol; you can find out healthy ways of living with it.

Attitudinal responses are also good ways of keeping soberness for long. This might mean that you select your friends carefully to filter out drunkards, stay out of temptations, like remaining at home at Friday happy hour, and finding out stress coping techniques, such as retrospection or meditation. These are approaches you can combine with the use of Antabuse to treat alcohol addiction efficiently.

How Effective is Antabuse Disulfiram in the Treatment of AlcoholismAsides therapy and counseling, the treatment of alcoholism becomes more effective when combined with other treatment options, such as attitudinal changes, seeking support from counselors, and joining peers and groups who are also keen on dropping the habit.

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