Home › Drugs by Condition › A › Alcohol Dependence › Antabuse › Alcohol & Food Interactions
Print Save or Share

Antabuse (disulfiram) and Alcohol / Food Interactions

Drug Interactions (205) Alcohol/Food Interactions (2)

There are 2 alcohol/food/lifestyle interactions with Antabuse (disulfiram) which include:

Antabuse and Caffeine

Minor Drug Interaction

Disulfiram may increase the cardiovascular and CNS-stimulant effects of caffeine. The mechanism may be related to inhibition of caffeine metabolism in liver microsomes. Patients should be advised to limit their caffeine intake while they are taking disulfiram, particularly if they are experiencing excessive irritability, nervousness or insomnia.

Antabuse and Alcohol (Ethanol)

Major Drug Interaction

CONTRAINDICATED: Consumption of ethanol during treatment with disulfiram may cause flushing, nausea, blurred vision, dyspnea, tachypnea, tachycardia, and hypotension. Death has been reported. The mechanism is probably related to inhibition of aldehyde dehydrogenase, the enzyme responsible for the oxidation of acetaldehyde to acetyl CoA. Accumulation of acetaldehyde probably results.

MANAGEMENT: Ethanol should be avoided in patients receiving disulfiram.

You should also know about...

Antabuse (disulfiram) drug Interactions

There are 205 drug interactions with Antabuse (disulfiram)

See also...

Drug Interaction Classification

The classifications below are a general guideline only. It is difficult to determine the relevance of a particular drug interaction to any individual given the large number of variables.

Major Highly clinically significant. Avoid combinations; the risk of the interaction outweighs the benefit.
Moderate Moderately clinically significant. Usually avoid combinations; use it only under special circumstances.
Minor Minimally clinically significant. Minimize risk; assess risk and consider an alternative drug, take steps to circumvent the interaction risk and/or institute a monitoring plan.

Do not stop taking any medications without consulting your healthcare provider.


Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Multum is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. In addition, the drug information contained herein may be time sensitive and should not be utilized as a reference resource beyond the date hereof. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients, or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is a reference resource designed as supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill , knowledge, and judgement of healthcare practitioners in patient care. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug of drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Multum Information Services, Inc. does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. Copyright 2000-2012 Multum Information Services, Inc. The information in 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.

(web3)