Antabuse help for alcoholism

Antibuse is considered a drug of last resort by many, if not most clinicians who work with substance abusers and alcoholics. It is not an easy choice to put a patient on antibuse because of the terrible agony suffered by one who drinks while on antibuse.

A clinician must weigh the damage caused by the alcoholic to family, community, and self, before prescribing antibuse. Antibuse is a very dangerous drug. If drinking, the effects are major skin flushing, respiratory distress or difficulty breathing and swallowing. Convulsions are possible and the individual on the drug may go into cardiac failure.

The best way to deal with the antibuse patient who drinks is to get them to a hospital immediately. It is possible that without medical intervention, the patient will die.

The person who is unfamiliar with alcoholism may consider the risks of antibuse extreme or draconian, hardly worth the risk involved. Consider that the individual has a need to drink that is so compelling the risk of death is ignored in order to drink. Would a normal person take that risk? Of course not. No person in their right mind would. But the alcoholic has lost much of the reasoning ability to make right choices. Those who risk the danger of antibuse and drink anyway are on the very edge between life and death and aren't sure which they want to pursue.

Alcoholics Anonymous may help the most resistant of alcoholics who may return to sanity by going to meetings. It does work for 8 of 10 who have lost control, however, it may take several "slips" before the reality of AA is held on to.

These motivated individuals may be likely candidates for antibuse. It is well to be prepared in the event the alcoholic does drink. The drug has proven to be a lifesaver for some. The majority, however, are likely to do well in alcoholic treatment that emphasizes AA's twelve steps, a realistic outlook on life, love, and work.

It is well for the family and loved ones to get into alanon which teaches about the ways to cope and develop strategies for the future. The emphasis is taken from the alcoholic and put onto the family. the family is taught to get on with life, whether the alcoholic continues to drink or not.