ANTABUSE (DISULFIRAM)

Antabuse Description

Having the occasional glass of alcohol after work or during a day off is how many individuals like to unwind. However, if alcohol has become more of a need than the odd drink to kick back and enjoy, and you find you are missing school, work, or periods of time, you need to see your doctor. You may be advised to take Antabuse or generic Disulfiram in order to stop drinking alcohol and get your life back on track. The generic alternative is not manufactured by the company that makes the brand product.

How Antabuse Can Help with Your Alcohol Addiction

When you consume alcohol, it is broken down in your body into a compound called acetalhyde. This compound is then broken down further in your liver by an enzyme called aldehyde dehydrogenase. Taking Antabuse will stop the aldehyde dehydrogenase enzyme from doing its job so the alcohol you consume cannot be processed and acetalhyde will build up in your bloodstream.

As the level of acetalhyde rises, you will begin to flush, your heartbeat quickens, and you can become dizzy from a drop in blood pressure. You may begin to feel nauseous and vomit, be short of breath, and have a pounding headache. If experiencing these results of taking Antabuse are enough to help you stop drinking alcohol, your doctor can prescribe it and you can begin to regain your life.

Conditions Treated by Antabuse

Risk factors for becoming addicted to alcohol include: having anxiety disorders or mental health conditions, a stressful lifestyle, low self-esteem, and there’s increasing evidence that having an alcohol dependent sibling or parent can raise the risk of you following in their footsteps.

Alcohol reduces production of certain brain chemicals, including serotonin and dopamine that are necessary for controlling behavior and moods. In moderation, this can make it easier for some people to be more social and outgoing. But drinking liquor to the point of passing out is dangerous.

Before Antabuse is Prescribed

If you are pregnant, may become pregnant, or are breast feeding, ask your doctor about any risks to your unborn or nursing baby before taking Antabuse. To determine if Antabuse is safe for you to take, tell your doctor about other medical conditions or allergies you have and list any OTC and Rx drugs you take, including herbal remedies and dietary or vitamin supplements.

Antabuse Precautions and Proper Use

Never give Antabuse to someone who is unaware of what the drug is. Be mindful of the contents of your other meds, mouthwash, cough syrup, and how some of your meals are prepared as any amount of alcohol while taking Antabuse can cause a reaction in as little as ten minutes. Antabuse should be taken at least twelve hours after your last drink of alcohol. Until you know how your body will react to Antabuse, avoid operating a vehicle, machinery, or performing any task that requires you to be alert.

Possible Side Effects of Antabuse

• Headache
• Skin rash
• Impotence
• Drowsiness
• Metallic or garlic taste in your mouth