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Antabuse Treatment & Support Program for Alcohol Addiction

Most people who are dependent on opioids need the help of a comprehensive treatment program that starts with supervised medical detox (also known as withdrawal stabilization) to safely remove the substance(s) from the body before beginning treatment.

Both during and after the medical detox process, patients may be prescribed anti-addiction medications such as Antabuse to reduce the severity of withdrawal symptoms, reduce cravings, and decrease the likelihood of relapse.

Please note that medical detox alone is not considered treatment.

Once the detox process is complete, patients can then start fully participating in a treatment plan of ongoing pharmacological support, psychological treatment, and behavioral therapy to address the physical, mental, emotional, and even spiritual aspects of addiction.

Research shows that this combination of therapies and treatments is the most effective way to restore a degree of normal function to the brain and provide a more positive, lifelong outcome.

A treatment plan at Enterhealth may include:

  • Individual counseling
  • Group therapy
  • Family therapy sessions
  • Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP)
  • Supportive Outpatient Programs (SOP)
  • Maintenance Outpatient Programs (MOP)
  • Holistic treatment services
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A range of treatment options based on you

Each person’s path to addiction is unique with different neurological, emotional, social and environmental contributing factors. That’s why the Enterhealth journey to recovery is personalized to meet individuals and families where they are. Whether you need immersive inpatient care or outpatient treatment, we offer a range of evidence-based treatment options and innovative therapies. Enterhealth is the only facility with highly trained on-site addiction specialists, including PhDs, MDs and Master’s Level Therapists, who coordinate care at every stage. Because we understand the science behind addiction, we are best equipped to assess and treat individuals and families. Contact us to see why we’re the only facility with an 84% success rate.

Our Addiction Treatment Programs

A full continuum of care: Real treatment. Real recovery.

Residential Treatment

Enterhealth Ranch offers inpatient care that’s on your side, not on the clock. It’s a nurturing environment where treatment is highly personalized and intensified. Every patient has a private room and 24/7 access to addiction trained specialists who use evidence-based treatments and comprehensive care, including medical detox, in-depth medical and psychological assessments, individual and group therapies, life skills and more.

Outpatient Treatment

Enterhealth’s Outpatient Center of Excellence, conveniently located in the Park Cities, is expertly staffed with board-certified addiction specialists. Our comprehensive program is designed for continued recovery care and provides individuals and families the support they need to reconnect with each other and thrive in recovery.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Antabuse Treatment

What is Antabuse?

Antabuse (disulfiram) is an anti-addiction medication that can be used to treat certain people suffering from chronic alcoholism. It is usually reserved for those who have tried other treatments, such as Vivitrol (naltrexone) or Campral (acamprosate), but could not maintain their abstinence from alcohol and/or compliance with a treatment program.

That’s because unlike Vivitrol or Campral, Antabuse acts only as a deterrent and does not heal any of the damage caused by the alcoholism or reduce cravings for alcohol.

However, due to the intense unpleasant side effects that occur when a patient consumes alcohol while it is in their system, this anti-addiction drug can be a very effective part of a comprehensive treatment plan that also includes things like therapy, counseling, and support.

How does Antabuse treatment work?

Antabuse works by blocking an enzyme in the body that’s involved in processing alcohol, or more specifically, an alcohol metabolite. When we drink alcohol, our bodies normally metabolize it first into acetaldehyde, then oxidize the acetaldehyde into acetate, a harmless chemical that can be broken down and eliminated as carbon dioxide and water.

Disulfiram interferes with this metabolic process, preventing the body from turning the acetaldehyde, a highly toxic substance that’s responsible for many of the symptoms associated with a hangover, into acetate.

As a result, disulfiram causes a buildup of acetaldehyde that leads to highly unpleasant physical symptoms.

What happens if you drink on Antabuse?

The severity of the symptoms brought on by consuming alcohol while on Antabuse depends on the amount of alcohol consumed and ranges from mild to severe.

Drinking alcohol while taking Antabuse can produce the following symptoms:

  • Flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling)
  • Nausea
  • Copious vomiting
  • Sweating
  • Thirst
  • Headache
  • Weakness
  • Shortness of breath
  • Hyperventilation
  • Chest pain
  • Heart palpitations
  • Rapid heartbeat (tachycardia)
  • Low blood pressure
  • Dizziness
  • Blurred vision
  • Confusion

These symptoms begin about 10 minutes after alcohol is consumed, and they will persist until it is eliminated from the body – up to an hour or more.

It’s important to be aware that many products people use every day contain small amounts of alcohol that are enough to cause a disulfiram reaction. This includes things like hand sanitizer, cologne, perfume, antiperspirant, mouthwash and others.

Those on Antabuse also need to avoid coming into contact with or breathing the fumes from things such as paint thinners, solvents, stains and lacquers, as well as certain pesticides or other chemicals used in some industries.

Severe disulfiram reactions can lead to difficulty breathing, heart attack, congestive heart failure, unconsciousness, irregular heartbeat, convulsions, and even death. Patients should seek immediate medical attention if they experience these symptoms.

How long does Antabuse stay in your system?

Antabuse is absorbed by the body slowly, and it is also eliminated at a very slow rate.

Disulfiram begins to alter the body’s metabolism of alcohol within just a few hours after administration. Following a single dose of the medication, the body may react to even minute amounts of alcohol for as long as two weeks.

How to take Antabuse?

It’s imperative that patients take Antabuse exactly as directed by their doctor and follow all directions on the prescription label. Disulfiram should only be administered once a person has been abstinent from alcohol for at least 12 hours to avoid a negative reaction.

Doctors may alter dosing for certain patients to make sure they get the best results. Otherwise, Antabuse should not be taken in higher or lower amounts or continued for longer than prescribed. Patients will need frequent blood tests to check liver function.

When disulfiram is used as part of a treatment program for alcohol addiction, doctors may recommend that administration is overseen by a family member or other caregiver who will inspect their mouth after swallowing each tablet to ensure compliance. When used in this way, it can be a very effective component of a comprehensive addiction treatment program.

For best results, many people continue to use this medicine for several months or even years.

What are Antabuse side effects?

The side effects associated with disulfiram are usually minor, and they will most likely disappear as the body becomes accustomed to the medication.

Common side effects include:

  • drowsiness/fatigue
  • headaches
  • skin problems (rash, acne)
  • metallic or garlicy taste in the mouth

Other, less common disulfiram side effects include:

  • vision changes
  • numbness or tingling in the arms/legs
  • confusion
  • signs of liver problems, such as nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, tired feeling, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the signs of an allergic reaction to disulfiram, including:

  • skin rash or hives
  • difficulty breathing
  • swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat

What other drugs will react with Antabuse?

Certain other medications may also produce a disulfiram reaction that could be life-threatening.

Patients need to make sure their doctor is aware of all medications they are taking or if they plan to stop using any medications, especially:

  • anti-seizure medications such as phenytoin (Dilantin)
  • blood-thinning medications (including warfarin, Coumadin, Jantoven)
  • isoniazid, an antibiotic used to treat tuberculosis
*State standard is 1:10 clinical staff to patient ratio