Disulfiram (generic Antabuse) prescription available online

Some possible   side effects that may occur when taking disulfiram, even when not drinking alcohol, include acne, rashes, decreased libido, a change in taste buds, drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, or a metal or garlic taste in your mouth.^{2, 5, 6} If you are bothered by any of these side effects on a continuous basis, contact your doctor to discuss your symptoms and an appropriate treatment plan.

Disulfiram can also cause serious side effects that require immediate medical attention. If you experience any numbness, signs of an allergic reaction (hives, swelling, etc.), yellow eyes or skin, dark-colored urine, or intense stomach pain or nausea, you should get in touch with your doctor as soon as possible. In case of emergency, dial 911.

Disulfiram (Antabuse) stays in the body for up to two weeks.² The gastrointestinal tract absorbs approximately 80% to 90% of the medication after administration and thus takes time to filter out.²

If you are taking disulfiram and accidentally consume even trace amounts of alcohol, you will experience several unpleasant reactions, including nausea, vomiting, and headaches, which will last up to several hours.¹ If large amounts of alcohol are consumed, you are at risk of heart attack, seizure, unconsciousness, or death.⁴ If you are experiencing serious reactions, you should call your doctor immediately or dial 911.

Disulfiram (Antabuse) is suitable for both short- and long-term treatment in managing alcohol use disorder.² It is also possible to stop taking disulfiram and restart as part of relapse prevention programs.¹

In addition to not having any alcohol in the form of wine, beer, spirits, or other drinks, you should also avoid household or beauty products that may contain alcohol.² Some prescription medications, mouthwashes, antiperspirants, hand sanitizers, colognes or perfumes, cleaning products, aftershaves, vinegars, and cough medicines may contain alcohol and trigger disulfiram’s reaction.^{2, 3, 4} You should also avoid using cocaine when taking disulfiram.²

Disulfiram (Antabuse) can interact with medications that contain even trace amounts of alcohol, including over-the-counter cough syrups.² Disulfiram is also contraindicated for people who take blood clot medications, sertraline, clonazepam, naltrexone, omeprazole, and more.^{2, 7} For a full list of interactions, see here.⁷

Disulfiram is proven to be effective in treating alcohol use disorder when it is used as a part of a holistic addiction treatment plan, including therapy.^{1, 8} It has performed well in comparison to both controls and other abstinence medications.⁸

You should not take disulfiram if you have any history of liver disease, as it increases your risk of hepatotoxicity (liver damage).²

If you forget to take a dose of disulfiram, you should take it as soon as you remember—with an important exception being if you are close to your next dose.² In this case, simply skip the missed dose and take the next one (in other words, do not take two doses at once).²

Most of the side  effects from taking disulfiram, such as tiredness and some sexual dysfunction, will likely decrease over time.⁹ However, your medical team will monitor your health, including via blood tests, while on disulfiram (Antabuse) to check for long-term signs of liver damage and hepatitis.²

Your doctor will likely order blood tests before putting you on disulfiram (Antabuse) and within a month of starting it in order to monitor liver health.² They may order routine tests at regular intervals thereafter to check on your blood count.²