Antabuse

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Antabuse Disulfiram (Antabuse) Contracts in

Prescription Drug Information, Side Effects & Interactions for Antabuse

Uses
This medication is used to help treat alcoholism. This drug is not a cure for alcoholism and must be used in combination with supportive therapy and counseling. This medication must never be used without a person's knowledge.

Notes

Do not allow anyone else to take this medication.

Storage

Store at room temperature between 59 and 86 degrees F (between 15 and 30 degrees C) away from moisture and sunlight.
Do not store in the bathroom.

Antabuse

How To Use

Take this medication by mouth, usually one or two tablets daily as directed by your doctor.
Tablets can be crushed or mixed with liquid if swallowing is a problem.
Do not take this medication for at least 12 hours after drinking alcohol.
While taking this medication, it is extremely important you avoid alcohol in all forms including beer, wine, aftershave lotions, mouthwash, colognes, liquid medications.
Read labels carefully, including those of nonprescription products, and ask your pharmacist about the alcohol content if you are uncertain.

Side Effects

This medication may cause headache, drowsiness, restlessness, skin rash, acne, garlic-like aftertaste, changes in vision.
Inform your doctor if any of these effects persist or worsen.
Unlikely to occur but report tingling of hands or feet or jaundice symptoms (e.g., strong stomach pains or nausea, dark urine, yellowing of eyes or skin).
If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

Precautions

Tell your doctor your medical history, especially of heart, liver or kidney problems; diabetes, psychiatric problems and of any allergies you may have, especially to rubber or pesticides.
This medication causes an intolerance to alcohol.
Drinking alcohol while on this medication can cause serious effects that can last from 30 minutes to several hours.
It produces an unpleasant reaction of flushing, headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, sweating, pounding heart (palpitations), blurred vision or weakness when even small amounts of alcohol are ingested.
These disulfiram-alcohol reactions can occur up to two weeks after the medication has been stopped.
Because disulfiram can cause drowsiness, use caution when driving or engaging in activities requiring alertness.
Disulfiram should be used only when clearly needed during pregnancy.
Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.
It is not known if disulfiram is excreted into breast milk.
Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose, take as soon as remembered if it is within 12 hours of the missed dose.
If it is past 12 hours when you remember, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule.
Do not double the dose to catch up.

Drug Interactions

Disulfiram can affect the way your body reacts to other drugs.
Tell your doctor about all the medications you may use (both prescription and nonprescription), especially of amitriptyline, isoniazid, metronidazole, theophylline, phenytoin and warfarin.
Do not start or stop any medicine without doctor or pharmacist approval.