Disulfiram : Before Using

Disulfiram - Systemic

Brand Names

Antabuse Disulfiram *** Before Using *** How to Use *** Fore Safe Use *** Side Effects

Before Using

In deciding to using a medication, the chance of taking the drug must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you will make. For disulfiram, the following must be considered

Allergic reaction

Tell your family doctor if you have had any unusual or allergic reactions to disulfiram, rubber, pesticides, or fungicides.

Diet In addition to beverages, alcohol is found in many other products. Reading the list of ingredients on foods and other products before using them will help you to avoid alcohol. Do not use alcohol-containing foods such as sauces and vinegars.

Pregnancy care

Disulfiram has not been studied in pregnant women. However, there have been a few reports of birth defects in infants whose mothers took disulfiram during pregnancy. Before taking this drug, make sure your family doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.

Breast-feeding problem

Disulfiram has not been reported to cause problems in nursing babies.

Use for Children

Studies on this drug have been done only in adult diseaseds and there is no special info comparing use of disulfiram in child with use in other age groups.

Elderly care

Many medication have not been studied specifically in elderly people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in adults people or if they cause various side effects or problems in elderly people. There is no special info comparing use of disulfiram in the elderly with use in other age groups.

Drug interactions

Although certain medication must not be using together at all, in other cases 2 various medication may be using together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your family doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking disulfiram, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

Anticoagulants - blood thinners Taking disulfiram may increase the effects of anticoagulants, changing the amount you need to take

Ethotoin - Peganone
Mephenytoin - Mesantoin
Phenytoin - Dilantin Taking these medication with disulfiram may change the amount of anticonvulsant drug you need to take

Isoniazid - INH, Nydrazid Disulfiram may increase central nervous system - CNS effects, such as dizziness, clumsiness, irritability, or trouble in sleeping

Metronidazole - Flagyl
Paraldehyde - Paral These medication must not be taken with or within few days of disulfiram because serious side effects may occur

Ethylene dibromide or organic solvents - such as chemicals which may contain alcohol, acetaldehyde, paraldehyde, or other related chemicals using in factories and in hobbies " paint thinner " Make sure you tell your family doctor if you will come in contact with or breathe the fumes of ethylene dibromide or organic solvents while you are taking disulfiram.

Other Information for using

The presence of other medical problems may effect the use of disulfiram. Make sure you tell your family doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

Asthma or other lung disease, severe,
Diabetes mellitus - sugar diabetes
Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
Heart or blood vessel disease
Kidney disease
Liver disease or cirrhosis of the liver
Underactive thyroid A disulfiram-alcohol reaction may make the condition worse

Depression
Severe mental illness Disulfiram may make the condition worse

Skin allergy Disulfiram may cause an allergy