Antabuse

Antabuse (disulfiram) is a potent medicine specially designed for anyone trying to quit drinking. This drug helps the person fight the urge to drink as it can cause serious side effects if any amount of alcohol is consumed. Antabuse has been specially designed to make the person addicted to alcohol avoid drinking because of the possibility of experiencing highly unpleasant effects, such as fast heartbeats, chest pain, flushing, thirst, low blood pressure, dizziness, and nausea. These effects may occur if you take Antabuse and drink alcohol – and the amount of alcohol you drink does not matter that much. Since the effects experienced as a result of taking Antabuse and ingesting alcohol are pretty serious and unpleasant, every person taking this medicine is supposed to be notified of the possible consequences. Antabuse must never be given to someone who is already intoxicated, and at least 12 hours are supposed to pass before this person will be able to take Antabuse. Make sure you do not combine any of the following medicines with Antabuse, as interactions have been reported: theophylline, tricyclic antidepressants, benzodiazepines, isoniazid, lithium, phenytoin, warfarin, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, metronidazole, or any other ones. In fact, even herbal supplements and vitamins are supposed to be reported – all that to make sure your treatment will be both safe and efficient and you will benefit from it as much as possible. Your doctor will also need to know if you have ever been diagnosed with any mental disorders, brain damage, thyroid disease, liver disease, diabetes, seizure disorder, or kidney disease, as these conditions can affect the dose you are prescribed or make Antabuse treatment impossible in your case. The following mild side effects can occur in patients who start using Antabuse – even if they are taking this drug exactly as recommended: mild drowsiness, tiredness, sore tongue, skin rash, headache, acne, and impotence. Pregnant or breastfeeding women are not supposed to start taking Antabuse, as this medicine has been reported to cause a number of health problems in unborn and nursing babies. If you think you may have become pregnant – call your doctor and ask about the options you have, as you may need to stop taking Antabuse for your baby to be safe. It’s recommended to use a reliable contraception method when taking Antabuse to avoid pregnancy.