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What is Disulfiram?

Esperal (Disulfiram) is a drug used to treat chronic or deep rooted alcoholism. It is marketed and sold under various trade names in the world, some of which are Antabuse and Dizone. Esperal Disulfiram works by interfering with alcohol metabolism in the body which leads to undesirable and unpleasant effects when alcohol is consumed.
Disulfiram may also be given for treatments other than those listed above.

Uses

Disulfiram is used to discourage drinking in patients with chronic alcoholism. Esperal medicine can help in staying away from drinking by causing unpleasant side effects, if alcohol is consumed while taking disulfiram. These effects include flushing of the face, headache, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, weakness, blurred vision, mental confusion, sweating, choking, breathing difficulty, and anxiety. These effects begin about 10 minutes after alcohol enters the body and last for 1 hour or more. Disulfiram is not a cure for alcoholism, but discourages drinking.

How it works

Esperal belongs to a family of medicines called aldehyde dehydrogenase inhibitors. When alcohol is consumed, it is converted into a chemical called aldehyde by natural breakdown process, this chemical is further broken down by the chemical (enzyme) aldehyde dehydrogenase thereby allowing alcohol to be excreted. Disulfiram stops this enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase causing an increase in the blood levels of aldehydes. As a result, the person on alcohol gets very unpleasant reactions (also known as aldehyde syndrome) such as flushing, burning sensation, throbbing headache, perspiration, uneasiness, tightness in chest, dizziness, vomiting, visual disturbances, mental confusion, postural fainting and circulatory collapse which last for nearly 1-4 hours (depending upon the quantity of alcohol intake). Sensitivity to alcohol is developed which lasts for a long period of time, as a result the person experiences unpleasant reactions upon consuming alcohol even days after stopping disulfiram.

Important Information about Disulfiram

Drinking alcohol while on a Disulfiram (Antabuse, Dizone) treatment may result in nausea, fast heartbeats, flushing, thirst, chest pain, vertigo, or low blood pressure.
Avoid taking Disulfiram for at least 12 hours after consuming alcohol. Even after you have stopped taking Disulfiram for several weeks, you may still see its effects if you drink alcohol.
While taking Disulfiram, you should be careful and aware of some common medications and products which contain alcohol in small proportions like cough syrups, mouth wash, tonics, sauces, vinegars, and several other food products. Make sure to read the product labels carefully for the ingredients as alcohol content in these products may also cause reactions with Disulfiram.

Before taking Disulfiram

Before taking Disulfiram (Antabuse, Dizone), you must strictly consult a doctor and discuss the benefits and side effects of it. Let your doctor know if you have any of these conditions: liver or kidney disease, thyroid problems, diabetes, brain or mental disorders, epilepsy or other seizure problems. You may not be able to take Disulfiram altogether or you may need dose adjustments and close monitoring in case you have any of those conditions.
Disulfiram belongs to FDA pregnancy category C which means it may be harmful to your unborn baby if you take it while you are pregnant. Let your doctor know about your pregnancy or any plan to become pregnant. Disulfiram can pass into breast milk and affect a nursing baby. Consult your doctor and ask if it is safe to take this medication while you are breast feeding.

How should I take Disulfiram?

You must take Disulfiram medication (Antabuse, Dizone) strictly as prescribed by your doctor and no change in the dosage must be made whatsoever without your doctor’s advice. Take it with a glass of water.
Always store Disulfiram medication in a cool and dry place, away from any kind of heat and moisture. Ensure that children or pets don’t have access to this medication.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose of Disulfiram, take it as soon as you remember. Don’t take the missed dose if the time to take the next dose is almost up. Taking multiple doses near to each other can lead to excess medication in your body which can be dangerous.

What if I overdose?

Overdosing on Disulfiram medication can lead to nausea, vomiting, dizziness, loss of co-ordination, numbness, tingling, or seizures.

What should I avoid while taking Disulfiram?

Drinking alcohol while on a Disulfiram (Antabuse, Dizone) treatment may result in nausea, fast heartbeats, flushing, thirst, chest pain, vertigo, or low blood pressure.
Avoid taking Disulfiram for at least 12 hours after consuming alcohol. Even after you have stopped taking Disulfiram for several weeks, you may still see its effects if you drink alcohol.
While taking Disulfiram, you should be careful and aware of some common medications and products which contain alcohol in small proportions like cough syrups, mouth wash, tonics, sauces, vinegars, and several other food products. Make sure to read the product labels carefully for the ingredients as alcohol content in these products may also cause reactions with Disulfiram. Even alcoholic fumes from products like paints, thinners, solvents can lead to reactions, so be careful.

Side effects of Disulfiram

Severe liver problems sometimes leading to death have been observed in people taking Disulfiram even without a prior history of liver disease.
Get emergency medical attention if you witness some allergic reactions to Disulfiram (Antabuse, Dizone) like skin hives, breathing difficulty, swelling in face, lips, tongue, or throat. Some serious side effects of Disulfiram are severe lethargy, dark urine, seizures, yellowing of the skin or eyes, drastic changes in appetite, severe diarrhea or vomiting.
Some common and less severe side effects are skin rash, acne, mild headache, mild drowsiness or tiredness, impotence, unpleasant metallic taste, swollen or sore tongue.
The side effects mentioned above are not all the side effects reported or experienced due to Disulfiram. You may notice other side effects as well.

Disulfiram Dosing Information

Disulfiram dosage will be fixed by your doctor after examining you properly. Dosage may depend on a range of factors like age, sex, drug allergies, or seriousness of the condition among several other factors. Stick to your doctor’s prescription strictly.

Interaction with other drugs

Let your doctor know if you take any kind of medications (prescription, OTC, herbal) before he or she prescribes you Disulfiram (Antabuse, Dizone). These medications can interact with Disulfiram:
Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines: a monoamine oxidase inhibitor like isocarboxazid, phenelzine, or others; isoniazid; a clorazepate, or others; a tricyclic antidepressant such as amitriptyline, imipramine, doxepin, or others; warfarin; metronidazole; lithium; phenytoin; or theophylline.
The drug mentioned thus are not all the possible drugs which can interact with Disulfiram. There may be others as well. Share the list of all types of medications and related products which you are using with your doctor and never start a new medication without his or her advice.

Expert advice

  • Do not consume alcohol during the treatment and for up to 14 days after discontinuation.
  • Disulfiram may cause drowsiness or tiredness. Do not drive or operate machinery if you are affected.
  • Avoid taking disulfiram if you are pregnant, planning a pregnancy, or you are breast feeding.
  • Before you take disulfiram inform your doctor about all the prescription, non-prescription, and herbal medicines you are or were taking.
  • Patients who are receiving or have recently received, alcohol, or alcohol-containing preparations, such as cough syrups, tonics and the like, should not take disulfiram, If you drink alcohol during or within 2 weeks of stopping disulfiram a serious and potentially life threatening reaction may occur along with severe symptoms such as flushing of the face and neck, increased body temperature, sweating, urge to vomit (nausea) vomiting, itchy skin or rash caused by an allergic reaction (pruritus, urticaria) anxiety, dizziness, headache, blurred vision, difficulty breathing, palpitations, rapid breathing, rapid heartbeat, low blood pressure, abnormally slow breathing, chest pain, abnormal heart rhythm, coma or fits may occur.
  • Consult your doctor immediately if you suddenly experience any of these symptoms after stopping the treatment with disulfiram.

Frequently asked questions

Disulfiram

Q. Is disulfiram safe/dangerous?
Yes, disulfiram is safe if used at prescribed doses for the prescribed duration in a hospital or specialized clinic as advised by your special doctor.
Q. Is disulfiram available in Canada and USA?
Yes, disulfiram is available in Canada and USA.
Q. Is disulfiram over-the-counter medicine?
No, disulfiram is not an over-the-counter medicine. Disulfiram treatment for alcohol withdrawal should be initiated only in a hospital or specialized clinic and by experienced doctors only. Patients should follow advice of the doctor regarding its use.
Q. Is disulfiram a sulfa drug?
No, disulfiram is not a sulfa drug.
Q. Is disulfiram a competitive inhibitor?
Disulfiram is an aldehyde dehydrogenase inhibitor. It works by blocking the processing of alcohol in the body causing unpleasant feeling leading to alcohol withdrawal.
Q. Is disulfiram a controlled drug?
No, disulfiram is not a controlled drug.
Q. Is disulfiram addictive?
No, disulfiram is not addictive. It is used to treat alcohol addiction and chronic alcoholism.
Q. Is disulfiram expensive?
Disulfiram prices may vary depending on the brand. Refer to the packaging for the price.
Q. Does Esperal work?
Yes, Esperal works. Disulfiram is an aldehyde dehydrogenase inhibitor. It works by blocking the processing of alcohol in the body causing unpleasant feeling leading to alcohol withdrawal.
Q. Does Esperal work for everyone?
Esperal works for chronic alcoholics who are cooperative and willing to give up alcoholism. Patients should follow advice of the doctor regarding its use.
Q. Does disulfiram stops cravings?
Disulfiram blocks the processing of alcohol in the body causing unpleasant feeling due to these unpleasant episodes, alcoholics abstain from alcohol Therefore, patients may avoid consuming alcohol to avoid unpleasant reactions upon consuming alcohol even days after stopping disulfiram. It may not have any direct effects on cravings.
Q. Does disulfiram work immediately?
Yes, disulfiram works on alcohol withdrawal as soon as you start the treatment.
Q. What does disulfiram like reaction mean?
Esperal-alcohol reaction characterized by flushing, increased body temperature, sweating, urge to vomit (nausea), vomiting, itching of skin (pruritus), pale red, raised, itchy skin rash (urticaria), anxiety, dizziness, headache, blurred vision, breathlessness (dyspnea), rapid heartbeat (palpitations) and hyperventilation.
Q. How disulfiram treats alcoholism?
Esperal belongs to a family of medicines called aldehyde dehydrogenase inhibitors. When alcohol is consumed in the body, by natural breakdown process it is converted to a chemical called aldehyde, this chemical is further broken down by the chemical (enzyme) aldehyde dehydrogenase thereby allowing alcohol to be excreted. Disulfiram stops this enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase causing an increase in the blood levels of aldehydes. As a result, the person on alcohol gets very unpleasant reactions such as flushing, burning sensation, throbbing headache, perspiration, uneasiness, tightness in chest, dizziness, vomiting, visual disturbances, mental confusion, postural fainting and circulatory collapse which last for nearly 1-4 hours after alcohol ingestion. Sensitivity to alcohol is developed which lasts for a long period of time, as a result the person experiences unpleasant reactions upon consuming alcohol even days after stopping disulfiram.

 

Manufacturer Reliable Chemist
Equivalent Brands Antabuse
Composition Disulfiram
Discontinue Url No
Pack

30, 60, 90

2 reviews for Esperal (Disulfiram)

  1. Natalie

    Fast easy process, thank you for the great product

  2. Aisha

    Thank you so much! Will order again!

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