disulfiram (cont.)

What is disulfiram (Antabuse)?
What are the possible side effects of disulfiram (Antabuse)?
What is the most important information I should know about disulfiram (Antabuse)?
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking disulfiram (Antabuse)?
How should I take disulfiram (Antabuse)?
What happens if I miss a dose (Antabuse)?
What happens if I overdose (Antabuse)?
What should I avoid while taking disulfiram (Antabuse)?
What other drugs will affect disulfiram (Antabuse)?
Where can I get more information?

What happens if I miss a dose (Antabuse)?

Take the missed dose 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 (Antabuse)?

Seek emergency medical attention.

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

What should I avoid while taking disulfiram (Antabuse)?

Do not drink alcohol while taking disulfiram. Flushing, fast 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 several weeks after you have stopped taking disulfiram.

Be aware of the alcohol content of other common products such as cough and cold medicines and food products. Alcohol in these products can also cause a reaction.

Tell your doctor (or dentist) that you are taking disulfiram before taking an antibiotic or before having surgery.

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

What other drugs will affect disulfiram (Antabuse)?

Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following 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 other than those listed here may also interact with disulfiram. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before 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, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
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