• Basic Info
• Top Questions
• Clinical Info
• Interactions

What is disulfiram?
Disulfiram interferes with the metabolism of alcohol resulting in unpleasant effects when alcohol is consumed. Disulfiram is used to treat chronic alcoholism. Disulfiram may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

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What is the price of this medication and similar alternatives?

This pricing information is subject to change at the sole discretion of DS Pharmacy. For the most current and up-to-date pricing information, please visit drugstore.com.

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What are the possible side effects of disulfiram?

Severe and sometimes fatal liver problems have occurred in patients taking disulfiram even without a prior history of liver problems.

If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking disulfiram and seek emergency medical attention:

• an allergic reaction (swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; shortness of breath; closing of your throat; or hives);

• seizures;

• extreme tiredness;

• dark urine;

• yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice);

• large appetite changes;

• weakness, dizziness or loss of coordination; or

• severe diarrhea or vomiting.

Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take disulfiram and talk to your doctor if you experience

• skin rash or acne;

• mild headaches;

• mild drowsiness or tiredness;

• impotence;

• metallic taste in the mouth; or

• swollen or sore tongue.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

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How should I take disulfiram?
Take disulfiram exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these instructions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you. Take each dose with a full glass (8 ounces) of water. Store disulfiram at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

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What is the most important information I should know about disulfiram?
Do not drink alcohol while taking disulfiram. Flushing, fast heartbeats, nausea, thirst, chest pain, vertigo, and low blood pressure may occur when alcohol is ingested during disulfiram therapy. Do not take disulfiram for at least 12 hours after drinking alcohol. Reactions may occur from drinking alcohol for several weeks after you have stopped taking disulfiram. Be aware of the alcohol content of other common products such as cough and cold medicines, mouth washes, tonics, sauces, vinegars, and other food products. Alcohol in these products can also cause a reaction.

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What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Take the rest of the day's doses at evenly spaced intervals unless otherwise directed by your doctor.

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What other drugs will affect disulfiram?
Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines: isoniazid (Nydrazid); a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), or tranylcypromine (Parnate); a benzodiazepine such as diazepam (Valium), alprazolam (Xanax), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), clorazepate (Tranxene), temazepam (Restoril), triazolam (Halcion), and others; a tricyclic antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil), imipramine (Tofranil), doxepin (Sinequan), nortriptyline (Pamelor), and others;

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Can I take this if I am pregnant or trying to get pregnant or if I am breastfeeding?

Disulfiram has not been formally assigned to a pregnancy category by the FDA. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy. Although severe malformations have been reported with first-trimester disulfiram exposure, no consistent pattern of malformations has been seen. Disulfiram is only recommended for use during pregnancy when benefit outweighs risk.

A child born to a woman who received disulfiram for approximately the first two months of pregnancy, suffered from severe mental retardation, growth deficiency, and facial characteristics similar to that of fetal alcohol syndrome. However the mother denied alcohol use during the pregnancy. Severe limb-reduction has been reported in two infants born to mothers who had been maintained on disulfiram during the first trimester. One infant also had radial aplasia, vertebral fusion, and tracheo-esophageal fistula. Two cases of clubfoot have also been reported. Normal outcomes have also been reported in pregnancies which involved early disulfiram use.

There are no data on the excretion of disulfiram into human milk.

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Who should NOT use this medication?

• Concurrent or recent use of metronidazole, paraldehyde (no longer commercially available in the US), alcohol, or alcohol-containing preparations (e.g., cough syrups, elixirs, tonics). (See Disulfiram-Alcohol Reaction under Cautions and also see Advice to Patients.)
• Alcohol intoxication.
• Severe myocardial disease, coronary occlusion, or psychoses.
• Hypersensitivity to disulfiram or to other thiuram derivatives used in pesticides and rubber vulcanization.

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What does my medication look like?
Disulfiram is available with a prescription under the brand name Antabuse. Other brand or generic formulations may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you.

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What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention. Symptoms of a disulfiram overdose include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, loss of coordination, numbness and tingling, and seizures.

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What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking disulfiram?
Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you have liver disease, kidney disease; thyroid disease; diabetes; brain damage or mental disorders; epilepsy or another seizure disorder. You may not be able to take disulfiram, or you may require a lower dose or special monitoring during your therapy if you have any of these conditions. Your doctor may want you to carry an identification card that states you are taking disulfiram. Ask your health care provider if you have any questions about this.

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Can I stop taking the medication if I feel better?
As a general rule, you should always take your medications exactly as prescribed and do not change the dosage or stop taking the medication without first discussing it with your healthcare provider.

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I am on so many medications; do I have to take them all?
This is called polypharmacy—many different medications being used at the same time by one person. Sometimes, being on multiple medications is acceptable and appropriate but at other times it may be problematic. If you are receiving your medications from multiple physicians you need to ensure that they all know what medications you are taking. The best way to do this is to make a list of all the medications you are currently using, including all nutritional supplements, homeopathic remedies, vitamins and over-the-counter drugs (if possible, also include all the diseases you have been diagnosed with). Give a copy to every doctor who takes care of you so they have it on file, this way they can avoid duplicating medications and perhaps even try to consolidate some. After every doctor's visit remember to update the list accordingly. Also, as much as you possibly can, try to use the same pharmacy to fill all your prescriptions, this way any potential drug interactions can be caught and averted.

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Where can I get more information?
More Information

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