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DISULFIRAM

About

DISULFIRAM belongs to the class of medications called 'Antabuse' used to treat alcohol dependence or chronic alcoholism. Heavy long-term use of alcohol can cause addiction in an individual, thereby making changes in your brain. Long-term alcohol intake can severely damage your liver and cause liver cirrhosis or fatty liver syndrome.

DISULFIRAM contains 'Disulfiram', which works by blocking an enzyme that breakdown alcohol in our body. When a patient drinks alcohol, it is changed into acetaldehyde, DISULFIRAM blocks the enzyme that breaks down acetaldehyde. This results in a higher level of acetaldehyde in the blood, causing discomfort and physical reactions. DISULFIRAM can help alcohol-addicted people who have decided to quit alcohol drinking by deterring them from drinking again. So, it acts as a supportive agent in the treatment of alcoholism. 

DISULFIRAM should be taken as prescribed by your doctor, with or without a meal, to avoid stomach upset and at fixed daily intervals for best results. The common side effects of DISULFIRAM include drowsiness, tiredness, headache, acne, flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling), sweating, increased thirst, swelling, rapid weight gain, nausea, severe vomiting, neck pain, throbbing headache, blurred vision, fast or pounding heartbeats or fluttering in your chest, confusion, weakness, spinning sensation, feeling unsteady, or and metallic/garlic-like taste in the mouth may occur as your body gets used to the medication. Everyone need not experience the above side effects. If the DISULFIRAM causes any serious case of discomfort, speak with a doctor.

Before starting DISULFIRAM, do not take DISULFIRAM if you have consumed alcohol within the past 12 hours. Do not consume alcohol while taking DISULFIRAM and at least up to 14 days after you stop taking DISULFIRAM. If your doctor prescribes, DISULFIRAM is safe to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Unpleasant effects may occur after taking minimal amounts of alcohol used in cooking or even if rubbed into the skin. Avoid alcohol-containing aftershave, perfumes/colognes, body lotions, vinegar and alcohol-containing mouthwash and hand sanitiser. Even exposure to alcohol-based hand sanitisers in some people can trigger a serious side effect response. Hence hand-washing with water and soap is recommended instead.

Uses of DISULFIRAM

Alcohol addiction

Medicinal Benefits

DISULFIRAM contains 'Disulfiram', which belongs to 'Antabuse' used to treat alcohol dependence. It works by blocking an enzyme (acetaldehyde) that helps break alcohol in the body. DISULFIRAM helps alcohol-dependent people who have decided to quit alcohol drinking by deterring them from drinking again.

Directions for Use

Swallow it as a whole with water; do not crush, break or chew it.

Storage

Store in a cool and dry place away from sunlight

Side Effects of DISULFIRAM

  • Drowsiness
  • Tiredness
  • Headache
  • Acne
  • Metallic/garlic-like taste in the mouth

In-Depth Precautions and Warning

Drug Warnings

Before taking the DISULFIRAM, let your doctor know about all your medical conditions, sensitivities, and all medications you are using. Signs of an overdose of DISULFIRAM include feeling or being sick, stomach pain, diarrhoea, drowsiness, mental disorders, tiredness, rapid heartbeat, rapid breathing, high body temperature, low blood pressure, loss of muscle control, high blood sugar, changes in the blood (as seen in blood tests). Certain foods, liquid medicines, remedies, tonics, toiletries, perfumes, and sprays may contain enough alcohol to cause a disulfiram tablet-alcohol reaction. So avoid using any alcohol-containing drugs, hand wash, mouth wash or alcoholic beverages as it may lead to an 'aldehyde reaction'.

Drug Interactions

Drug-Drug interactions: DISULFIRAM interacts with anti-seizure drugs (phenytoin), anti-asthma drugs (theophylline), blood thinners (warfarin, dicumarol), anti-tuberculosis drugs (rifampicin, isoniazid), sedatives (chlordiazepoxide, diazepam), antipsychotics (pimozide), anti-depressants (amitriptyline), mental health drugs (chlorpromazine), and antimicrobial drugs (metronidazole).

Drug-Food interactions: Avoid taking DISULFIRAM with caffeinated products like chocolate, coffee, energy drinks & tea. The patient is advised to avoid alcoholic beverages or alcohol-containing products/foods (e.g., cough and cold syrups, mouthwash, aftershave, sauces, and vinegar) while taking this medication and for two weeks after stopping the medication.

Drug-Disease interactions: DISULFIRAM is to be avoided in a patient with coronary artery disease, mental disorder, diabetes, underactive thyroid gland, brain seizures, brain damage, kidney disease & liver disease.

Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:

  • THEOPHYLLINE
  • PHENYTOIN
  • WARFARIN
  • DICUMAROL
  • RIFAMPICIN
  • ISONIAZID
  • PIMOZIDE
  • AMITRIPTYLINE
  • CHLORPROMAZINE
  • METRONIDAZOLE+CHLORHEXIDINE
  • Safety Advice

    • Safety Warning

      Alcohol

      unsafe

      Not recommended for alcoholism as DISULFIRAM and alcohol causes severe 'aldehyde reaction' causing life-threatening conditions.

    • Safety Warning

      Pregnancy

      caution

      Not enough data available but DISULFIRAM is not given in pregnant females unless recommended in a doctor.

    • Safety Warning

      Breast Feeding

      unsafe

      Not recommended as such, as not enough data is available. Breastfeeding mothers should consult a doctor before taking the DISULFIRAM.

    • Safety Warning

      Driving

      caution

      Not recommended before driving. DISULFIRAM has been found to cause drowsiness in the patient. Hence, taking DISULFIRAM before driving or performing hazardous tasks is not recommended.

    • Safety Warning

      Liver

      caution

      Not recommended in liver patients. DISULFIRAM has been found to cause liver damage in patients & hence not recommended to be taken without doctors consultation.

    • Safety Warning

      Kidney

      caution

      Not recommended in kidney patients. DISULFIRAM should be taken by kidney patients only on doctors consultation.

    • Safety Warning

      Children

      unsafe

      Strictly not recommended in children. it may result in neurological interactions resulting in harmful symptoms.

    Habit Forming

    No

    Diet & Lifestyle Advise

    • A patient is advised to have a diet that increases serotonin levels which makes a person feel good & involves eating foods high in carbohydrates, especially the complex carbohydrates present in starchy food items like legumes (e.g., beans, lentils and peas), root vegetables (e.g., potatoes and carrots), pasta and bread. Eating such foods in combination with protein in meals will benefit.
    • Deficiencies in B-complex vitamins such as thiamine, folate or folic acid, and B12 are common with alcoholism, and inadequate stores of other B vitamins and vitamin C frequently occur. A patient should take supplements and vitamins on consulting a doctor.
    • Malnutrition is common during alcohol consumption and is revealed slowly and gradually. The patient becomes tired and develops a weaker immune system—which means they are more susceptible to infections. These problems need to be identified and treated during the recovery process—ideally by a team of healthcare professionals.
    • The patient should change his drinking priorities and prefer drinks like apple cider, vanilla shake, mixing juice or lemonade with sparkling water etc.

    Special Advise

    • DISULFIRAM may interfere with certain laboratory tests (including urine VMA/HVA tests), possibly causing false test results. It is a paramount priority for a patient to enlighten the laboratory personnel and all their doctors to know they use this drug.
    • DISULFIRAM should never be given to a patient when they are in a state of alcohol intoxication or without his full knowledge.
    • After you stop taking DISULFIRAM, do not drink alcohol for at least seven days as your body needs to start making the enzyme 'acetaldehyde' again. In case, drinking alcohol earlier than this may trigger an 'aldehyde reaction'.

    Patients Concern

    Disease/Condition Glossary

    Chronic alcoholism: Alcoholism is the addictive drinking of alcohol that results in physical & mental problems. A person can become an alcoholic out of stress, depression or just after developing a chronic habit. Excessive alcohol use can damage various organs like the brain, heart, kidneys and most importantly, the liver, which leads to liver cirrhosis (liver dysfunction). In most severe cases, there is an immediate need for liver transplantation. During pregnancy, drinking alcohol in large amounts affects the unborn baby and may lead to various birth complications.

    FAQs

    DISULFIRAM contains 'Disulfiram', which belongs to 'Antabuse' used to treat alcohol dependence. It works by blocking an enzyme (acetaldehyde) that helps break alcohol in the body. DISULFIRAM helps alcohol-dependent people who have decided to quit alcohol drinking by deterring them from drinking again.

    An asthmatic patient, if already on cough-suppressing medications like diphenhydramine, is not recommended to take DISULFIRAM. DISULFIRAM and diphenhydramine are contraindicated and may result in harmful implications.

    Not recommended in patients taking blood thinners like warfarin to prevent blood clot formation inside heart/brain vessels. Warfarin (blood thinner) and DISULFIRAM are contraindicated and should not be taken together.

    Yes, DISULFIRAM has been implicated in altering the results of tests done for adrenal tumours & hence not recommended to be taken before any diagnostic test is done.

    The common side effects of DISULFIRAM are usually temporary, including headaches, nausea, a metallic taste in the mouth and feeling tired.

    Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Take the rest of the day's doses at evenly spaced intervals unless otherwise directed by your doctor.

    Available Medicines for

    DISULFIRAM

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