Antabuse

Chemical name - Bis (Diethylthiocarbamoyl Disulfide )

Antabuse is an older medication that is worth considering in some patients to help them remain in recovery.

Antabuse produces a sensitivity to alcohol which results in a highly unpleasant reaction when the individual under treatment ingests alcohol.

Antabuse blocks the oxidation of alcohol. A product of this oxidation is acetaldehyde. If antabuse is taken, the metabolism stops at the point of acetaldehyde production and there will be an increase in the concentration of acetaldehyde 5 - 10 times higher than in normal alcohol metabolism.

The accumulation of acetaldehyde produces the " ANTABUSE - ALCOHOL REACTION". This reaction can range from a flush and throbbing in the head and neck to nausea, vomiting, breathing difficulty, chest pain, heart failure and possible death.

This medication must be prescribed by a physician and cannot be given to anyone with a history of severe heart disease, psychosis, allergy to antabuse, pregnancy, paraldehyde use, or metronidazole use. It must be used with caution in the patient with a history of diabetes, seizures, and liver disease.

Antabuse can be of benefit when used in conjunction with a comprehensive treatment program for alcohol dependence.

ANTABUSE DOES NOT TAKE THE PLACE OF TREATMENT