Disulfiram

Disulfiram

Disulfiram Recall

Get an alert when a recall is issued.

Questions & Answers

Side Effects & Adverse Reactions

WARNING:

Disulfiram should never be administered to a patient when he is in a state of alcohol intoxication, or without his full knowledge.

The physician should instruct relatives accordingly.

The patient must be fully informed of the disulfiram-alcohol reaction. He must be strongly cautioned against surreptitious drinking while taking the drug, and he must be fully aware of the possible consequences. He should be warned to avoid alcohol in disguised forms, i.e., in sauces, vinegars, cough mixtures, and even in aftershave lotions and back rubs. He should also be warned that reactions may occur with alcohol up to 14 days after ingesting disulfiram.

The Disulfiram-Alcohol Reaction

Disulfiram plus alcohol, even small amounts, produce flushing, throbbing in head and neck, throbbing headache, respiratory difficulty, nausea, copious vomiting, sweating, thirst, chest pain, palpitation, dyspnea, hyperventilation, tachycardia, hypotension, syncope, marked uneasiness, weakness, vertigo, blurred vision, and confusion. In severe reactions there may be respiratory depression, cardiovascular collapse, arrhythmias, myocardial infarction, acute congestive heart failure, unconsciousness, convulsions, and death.

The intensity of the reaction varies with each individual, but is generally proportional to the amounts of disulfiram and alcohol ingested. Mild reactions may occur in the sensitive individual when the blood alcohol concentration is increased to as little as 5 to 10 mg per 100 mL. Symptoms are fully developed at 50 mg per 100 mL, and unconsciousness usually results when the blood alcohol level reaches 125 to 150 mg.

The duration of the reaction varies from 30 to 60 minutes, to several hours in the more severe cases, or as long as there is alcohol in the blood.

Concomitant Conditions

Because of the possibility of an accidental disulfiram-alcohol reaction, disulfiram should be used with extreme caution in patients with any of the following conditions: diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, epilepsy, cerebral damage, chronic and acute nephritis, hepatic cirrhosis or insufficiency.

Legal Issues

There is currently no legal information available for this drug.

FDA Safety Alerts

There are currently no FDA safety alerts available for this drug.

Manufacturer Warnings

There is currently no manufacturer warning information available for this drug.

FDA Labeling Changes

There are currently no FDA labeling changes available for this drug.

Uses

Disulfiram is an aid in the management of selected chronic alcohol patients who want to remain in a state of enforced sobriety so that supportive and psychotherapeutic treatment may be applied to best advantage.

Disulfiram is not a cure for alcoholism. When used alone, without proper motivation and supportive therapy, it is unlikely that it will have any substantive effect on the drinking pattern of the chronic alcoholic.

History

There is currently no drug history available for this drug.

Other Information

Disulfiram is an alcohol antagonist drug.

Disulfiram Manufacturers


  • Roxane Laboratories, Inc
    Disulfiram Tablet [Roxane Laboratories, Inc]
  • Qualitest Pharmaceuticals
    Disulfiram Tablet [Qualitest Pharmaceuticals]
  • Golden State Medical Supply, Inc.
    Disulfiram Tablet [Golden State Medical Supply, Inc.]
  • Teva Pharmaceuticals Usa Inc
    Disulfiram Tablet [Teva Pharmaceuticals Usa Inc]
  • Rising Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Disulfiram Tablet [Rising Pharmaceuticals, Inc.]
  • Alvogen Inc.
    Disulfiram Tablet [Alvogen Inc.]
  • Carilion Materials Management
    Disulfiram Tablet [Carilion Materials Management]

Login To Your Free Account