Antabuse

Antabuse (disulfiram) is a special medicine that discourages drinking in people addicted to alcohol and unable to quit without special help. Its effects are based on causing unpleasant symptoms when alcohol is consumed. This drug must never be given to someone already intoxicated, as dangerous symptoms can occur. The person taking Antabuse must be aware of the effects this medicine may cause. The following symptoms are experienced when you take Antabuse and there is any amount of alcohol in your blood: vomiting, chest pain, mental confusion, weakness, nausea, flushing of the face, choking, anxiety, headache, blurred vision, breathing difficulty, and sweating. To make sure you will not get any of the side effects mentioned you will need to take Antabuse at least 12 hours after the last drink and avoid drinking during 2 weeks after stopping the treatment. Otherwise you can suffer the symptoms mentioned above. If you get skin rash or acne, impotence, tiredness, mild headaches, sore tongue, mild drowsiness, or metallic taste in the mouth, you can carry on with your treatment. These are mild side effects sometimes reported by people taking Antabuse but not expected to affect your treatment in any way. More serious side effects can, however, affect the success of your treatment and will need to be reported to your health care provider as soon as you notice them. These can include lack of energy, vomiting, excessive tiredness, loss of appetite, dark urine, yellowness of the skin or eyes, weakness, and upset stomach. Seek emergency medical attention if you think you may have taken too much of Antabuse. The following symptoms may indicate an overdose: numbness, loss of coordination, nausea, tingling, seizures, vomiting, and dizziness. Your dose may need to be adjusted in some cases – for example, if you have or used to have such medical issues as seizure disorder, thyroid disease, kidney disease, brain damage, mental disorders, diabetes, or liver disease. A lower dose of Antabuse may be safer for you while still as efficient, or your health care provider will want to monitor you for any side effects possible at the beginning of the treatment. Drug interactions are possible, which is why any medications you intend to use are supposed to be reported to your health care provider in advance. Such medicines as anticoagulants, metronidazole, any nonprescription drugs that might contain alcohol, isoniazid, phenytoin, amitriptyline, or any vitamins are especially important to mention.