Misc Flushing more often because of antabuse?

[milfhunter]

I know it makes you flush when you've consumed alcohol, but does it also make you flush even when you haven't?

 

[tricomb]

I haven't heard of that happening without exposure to alcohol within 12-18 hours, but one interesting thing about disulfiram is that the longer people take it, the stronger it gets, reverse tolerance just like nitrous IIRC.

 

[Soulspark]

Usually not. If you're getting flushing it might be that you're being exposed to alcohols (anything with an -OH group, not just ethanol -- the kind we drink) and aren't aware of it. So this could be through certain soaps/shampoos, or perfume/cologne. I was on antabuse for a while, and many professionals told me its use is pretty outdated. I tend to agree, but if it works for you, then keep taking it I guess and just take less. That should cut down on excessive flushing.

 

[milfhunter]

@ Tricomb: Could it be because of the extremely long halflife (+100 hours), which makes you build up a lot of it in your system because you take it daily?

 

[Sepher]

^Yeah, exactly that. You're adding to the level in your system faster than you're eliminating previous doses. Ordinarily with a lot of drugs you'd expect the amount in your system to level off at some point but I'm not sure that happens with Disulfiram. It seems to keep on getting stronger.

As for flushing I'm on antabuse and notice no effects whatsoever in the absence of alcohol. If you're getting flushing I'd hazard a guess it's either exposure to alcohol in other products like Soulspark says, or perhaps a mild allergic reaction to it maybe? It would probably be worth mentioning to your doc as something out of the ordinary.