DISULFIRAM

(die sul FER am) Brand: Antabuse

What is the most significant information I must know about disulfiram?

• Do not drink alcohol while taking disulfiram. Flushing, quick 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 different weeks after you have stopped taking disulfiram.

• Be aware of the alcohol content of another general commodity such as cough and cool medicines, mouth washes, tonics, sauces, vinegars, and another food commodity. Alcohol in these commodity can also reason a reaction.

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 another than those listed in this medicine guide.

What must I discuss with my healthcare provider till taking disulfiram?

• Till taking this medicine, speak your doctor if you have

· liver disease,

· kidney disease;

· thyroid disease;

· diabetes;

· brain hurt or mental disorders;

· epilepsy or other seizure disorder.

• You may not be able to take disulfiram, or you may require a lower doze or particular 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.

• Disulfiram is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known whether disulfiram will be deleterious to an unborn child. Do not take this medicine without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment.

• Disulfiram passes into breast milk in little amounts and may affect a nursing child. Do not take disulfiram without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How must 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 every doze with a full glass (8 ounces) of water.

• Store disulfiram at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• Take the missed doze as soon as you remember. Take the rest of the day's doses at evenly spaced intervals unless otherwise directed by your doctor.

What happens if I overdose?

• Search abnormal medical attention.

• Symptoms of a disulfiram overdose include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, loss of coordination, numbness and tingling, and seizures.

What must I avoid while taking disulfiram?

• Do not drink alcohol while taking disulfiram. Flushing, quick 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 different weeks after you have stopped taking disulfiram.

• Be aware of the alcohol content of another general commodity such as cough and cool medicines and food commodity. Alcohol in these commodity can also reason a reaction.

• Speak your doctor (or dentist) that you are taking disulfiram till taking an antibiotic or till having surgery.

• Do not come in contact or breathe the fumes of commodity that may contain alcohol including dye thinners, solvents, stains, lacquers and others. Use caution when applying or using commodity that may contain alcohol including aftershaves, mouthwashes, colognes, perfumes, antiseptics and others. Conversation to your doctor or phaarmacist if you have questions regarding product alcohol content.

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 next serious side effects, stop taking disulfiram and search abnormal medical attention:

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

· seizures;

· extreme tiredness;

· dark urine;

· yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice);

· big appetite changes;

· weakness, dizziness or loss of coordination; or

· severe diarrhea or vomiting.

• Another, smaller serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take disulfiram and conversation 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 another than those listed here may also occur. Conversation to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome. You may message side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What another drugs will affect disulfiram?

• Till taking this medicine, speak your doctor if you are taking any of the next 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;

· warfarin (Coumadin);

· metronidazole (Flagyl);

· theophylline (Theo-Dur);

· phenytoin (Dilantin);

· lithium (Lithobid, Eskalith, others).

• Drugs another than those listed here may also interact with disulfiram. Conversation to your doctor and pharmacist till taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist has additional information about disulfiram written for health professionals that you may read.

Remember, hold this and all another medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medicine only for the indication prescribed.

Disclaim: Each effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses external of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way must be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safety, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the help of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.