|
| Pronunciation |
|
 (dye
SUL fi
ram) |
|
|
| Brand Names |
|
| Antabuse® |
|
|
| Therapeutic
Categories |
|
|
Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Inhibitor |
|
|
| Reasons not to take this
medicine |
|
|
- If you have an allergy to disulfiram or any other part of the
medicine.
- If you have severe coronary artery disease or thinking disturbances
such as schizophrenia.
- If you drink alcohol, take any alcohol-containing medicines, or take
metronidazole.
|
|
|
| What is this medicine used
for? |
|
|
- This medicine is used to help stop you from
drinking.
|
|
|
| How does it work? |
|
|
- Disulfiram changes the way the body handles alcohol. If you drink
alcohol, this medicine will cause side effects such as, flushing, headaches,
nausea, vomiting, chest pain and belly
pain.
|
|
|
| How is it best taken? |
|
|
- Tablet may be crushed and mixed with nonalcoholic
beverages.
|
|
|
| What do I do if I miss a
dose? |
|
|
- Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
- If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Return to
your regular schedule.
- Do not take a double dose or extra
doses.
|
|
|
| What are the precautions when
taking this
medicine? |
|
|
- Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix
well with other medicines.
- You may not be alert. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities
until you see how this medicine affects you.
- Avoid all alcohol intake (includes wine, beer, liquor, liquid
medications, vinegar, and food with alcohol in it). Can cause a reaction that
includes rapid heartbeats, sweating, chest pain, flushing, headache, nausea,
shortness of breath, and low blood pressure.
- Limit caffeine (for example, tea, coffee, cola) and chocolate intake.
Use with this medicine may cause nervousness, shakiness, rapid heartbeats, and
anxiety.
- Do not take for at least 12 hours after drinking alcohol. Side effects
from drinking alcohol may occur for 2 weeks after disulfiram is stopped.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make
sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling
about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of
face, lips, tongue, throat; or any other symptoms involved.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting
pregnant.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are
breast-feeding.
|
|
|
| What are the common side effects
of this
medicine? |
|
|
- Drowsiness. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities that
require you to be alert until you see how this medicine affects you.
- Headache. Mild pain medicine may help.
- Garlic or metallic taste.
- Rarely,serious liver problems. Some patients have needed liver
transplants. Some have died.
|
|
|
| What should I monitor? |
|
|
- Make sure food and medicines do not have alcohol contained in them.
- Check liver function tests before starting medicine and about 2 weeks
after taking.
- Follow up with healthcare
provider.
|
|
|
| Reasons to call healthcare
provider
immediately |
|
|
- Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing;
tightness in the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits;
swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- If alcohol is taken.
- Nausea, vomiting, belly pain, feeling tired, dark urine, yellow eyes
or skin, not hungry.
- Any rash.
|
|
|
| How should I store this
medicine? |
|
|
- Store in a tight, light-resistant container at room
temperature.
|
|
|
| General statements |
|
|
- Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's
medicine.
- Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
- Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, herbal/supplements,
vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider
(doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant).
- Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine,
including over-the-counter or natural products (herbs,
vitamins).
|
|
|
Copyright © 1978-2001 Lexi-Comp Inc. All Rights Reserved
|
|
|
|
The publisher does not accept any responsibility for the accuracy of the information or the consequences arising from the application, use, or misuse of any of the information contained herein, including any injury and/or damage to any person or property as a matter of product liability, negligence, or otherwise. No warranty, expressed or implied, is made in regard to the contents of this material. No claims or endorsements are made for any drugs or compounds currently marketed or in investigative use. This material is not intended as a guide to self-medication. The reader is advised to discuss the information provided here with a doctor, pharmacist, nurse, or other authorized healthcare practitioner and to check product information (including package inserts) regarding dosage, precautions, warnings, interactions, and contraindications before administering any drug, herb, or supplement discussed herein.
|
![[Subscribe to Newsletter]](http://www.healthandage.org/images/tonews.gif){kind=small}
Alternative Medicine
