How Antabuse Works to Treat Alcohol Use Disorder

How Antabuse Works to Treat Alcohol Use Disorder Addiction Alcohol Use Print Antabuse (Disulfiram) Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder By Buddy T facebook twitter Buddy T is an anonymous writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Learn about our editorial policy Buddy T Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on August 11, 2019 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on September 19, 2019 Photodisc / Getty Images More in Addiction Alcohol Use Binge Drinking Withdrawal and Relapse Children of Alcoholics Drunk Driving Addictive Behaviors Drug Use Nicotine Use Coping and Recovery In This Article Table of Contents Expand How It Works Side Effects Who Should Use Antabuse? What to Know Before Taking It What It Doesn't Do Efficacy View All Back To Top Antabuse (disulfiram) was the first medicine approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence. Its an effective deterrent because it causes an extremely unpleasant reaction if a person drinks alcohol while taking Antabuse. How It Works When you drink alcohol, your body metabolizes it into acetaldehyde, a very toxic substance that causes many of the hangover symptoms that occur after heavy drinking. Under normal circumstances, your body continues to oxidize acetaldehyde into acetic acid, which is harmless. How Alcoholic Metabolism Works Antabuse interferes with this metabolic process, preventing the oxidation of acetaldehyde into acetic acid and causing a build-up of acetaldehyde that is five to 10 times greater than what would normally be present after drinking alcohol. How Antabuse Can Affect You The high concentration of acetaldehyde that occurs when someone drinks while taking Antabuse triggers a very unpleasant reaction. The severity of the symptoms, which can range from mild to severe, depends on how much Antabuse and how much alcohol youve consumed. The symptoms last as long as alcohol is in your system. The effects from Antabuse begin about 10 minutes after alcohol enters your body and can last for an hour or more. If you drink alcohol while taking Antabuse, you can experience these symptoms: FlushingNauseaCopious vomitingSweatingThirstThrobbing in the head and neckHeadacheRespiratory difficultyChest PainPalpitationsDyspneaHyperventilationTachycardia (rapid heartbeat)Hypotension (low blood pressure)Syncope (loss of consciousness)Marked uneasinessWeaknessVertigoBlurred visionConfusion Severe reactions can include respiratory depression, cardiovascular collapse, myocardial infarction (heart attack), acute congestive heart failure, unconsciousness, arrhythmias, convulsions, and even death. Who Should Use Antabuse? Only someone who wants to try to quit drinking and who is fully aware of the consequences of drinking while on Antabuse should take it. Antabuse should never be given to someone without their knowledge and informed consent, nor should it be given to anyone who is intoxicated. Due to possible severe reactions, Antabuse should not be given to anyone with severe heart disease, psychosis, or an allergy to Antabuse. Women who are pregnant should not take Antabuse and as there are several interactions with other medications, someone taking antabuse should consult with their doctor before taking other prescription or over the counter medications. What You Should Know Before Taking Antabuse If you are taking Antabuse, its important that you avoid sauces, vinegars, and all foods and beverages containing alcohol. Do not drink any alcoholic beverages (including wine, beer, and medications that contain alcohol such as cough syrup) while taking Antabuse, during the 12-hour period before you take your first dose, and for several weeks after stopping the drug. What Antabuse Doesnt Do Antabuse serves merely as a physical and psychological deterrent for someone trying to stop drinking. It does not reduce the persons craving for alcohol nor does it treat any alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Antabuse is not a cure for alcoholism; it only discourages drinking. How Effective Is Antabuse? The effectiveness of Antabuse in helping someone quit drinking depends on the persons continued use of medication. Because Antabuse is administered in a daily pill, people can simply stop taking the drug and begin drinking a few days later. However, in Europe, where Antabuse is much more widely used than in the United States, research has shown that long-term use of Antabuse is very effective in helping people stop drinking, producing abstinence rates of 50%. The research revealed that the longer a person takes Antabuse, the more effective it is because they develop a habit of not drinking. What is the Most Effective Treatment for Alcoholism?