Brand: Antabuse
Generic: Disulfiram
Antabuse is a drug which is used in treating long-term alcoholic patients. This drug contains disulfiram and is used as an adjunct to supportive and psychotherapeutic treatment.
Antabuse is not a cure for alcoholism; rather, it will reduce frequency of drinking episodes in the alcoholic.
Antabuse is available as a tablet containing either 250 mg or 500 mg of disulfiram.
Instructions
Before taking this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have the following:
- Allergy to disulfiram or to thiuram or thiuram-related chemicals (found in pesticides and rubber)
- Severe heart/blood vessel disease (e.g., coronary artery disease)
- Certain mental/mood condition (psychosis)
- Diabetes
- Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)
- Brain disorders (e.g., seizures, brain damage)
- Kidney disease
- Liver disease
- Personal or family history of regular use/abuse of drugs
- Pregnancy or lactation
- If you miss a dose, use it as soon as you remember. Continue to use it as prescribed by your doctor or as stated on the package label.
Interactions
Antabuse may interact with medications such as:
- Alcohol-containing products (e.g., cough and cold syrups, aftershave)
- Amprenavir oral solution
- Metronidazole
- Amitriptyline
- Blood thinners (e.g., warfarin)
- Certain medications for seizures (e.g., hydantoins such as phenytoin/fosphenytoin)
- Isoniazid
- Theophylline
- Caffeine
Side Effects
There are no side effects known aside from a possible allergic reaction in people who have previous or unknown hypersensitivity to the drug.
Watch out for signs of allergic reactions such as:
- Rash
- Itching
- Swelling
Warnings
Before taking this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have the following:
- Allergy to disulfiram or to thiuram or thiuram-related chemicals (found in pesticides and rubber)
- Severe heart/blood vessel disease (e.g., coronary artery disease)
- Certain mental/mood condition (psychosis)
- Diabetes
- Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)
- Brain disorders (e.g., seizures, brain damage)
- Kidney disease
- Liver disease
- Personal or family history of regular use/abuse of drugs
- Pregnancy or lactation
