Skip to main content

Zefazone and Alcohol/Food Interactions

There is 1 alcohol/food/lifestyle interaction with Zefazone (cefmetazole).

Moderate

Cefmetazole Alcohol (Ethanol)

Moderate Drug Interaction

GENERALLY AVOID: Some cephalosporins may occasionally induce a disulfiram-like reaction when coadministered with alcohol. The interaction has been reported for cefamandole, cefoperazone, cefotetan, and moxalactam. These agents contain an N-methylthiotetrazole (NMTT) side chain that may inhibit aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) similar to disulfiram. Following ingestion of alcohol, inhibition of ALDH results in increased concentration of acetaldehyde, the accumulation of which produces an unpleasant physiologic response referred to as the 'disulfiram reaction'. Symptoms include flushing, throbbing in head and neck, throbbing headache, respiratory difficulty, nausea, vomiting, sweating, thirst, chest pain, palpitation, dyspnea, hyperventilation, tachycardia, hypotension, syncope, weakness, vertigo, blurred vision, and confusion. Severe reactions may result in respiratory depression, cardiovascular collapse, arrhythmias, myocardial infarction, acute congestive heart failure, unconsciousness, convulsions, and death. Cefonicid contains a structurally similar side chain but did not produce elevations in blood acetaldehyde or a disulfiram reaction to ethanol in 15 healthy volunteers given single and multiple one gram doses of the drug.

MANAGEMENT: Patients receiving cephalosporins with the NMTT side chain should avoid the concomitant use of alcohol and alcohol-containing products.

References

  1. Kline SS, Mauro VF, Forney RB Jr, et al. (1987) "Cefotetan-induced disulfiram-type reactions and hypoprothrombinemia." Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 31, p. 1328-31
  2. Freundt KJ, Kitson TM (1986) "Inactivation of aldehyde dehydrogenase by a putative metabolite of cefamandole." Infection, 14, p. 44-7
  3. Freundt KJ, Schreiner E, Christmann-Kleiss U (1985) "Cefamandole: a competitive inhibitor of aldehyde dehydrogenase." Infection, 13, p. 91
  4. McMahon FG (1980) "Disulfiram-like reaction to a cephalosporin." JAMA, 243, p. 2397
  5. Reeves DS, Davies AJ (1980) "Antabuse effect with cephalosporins." Lancet, 2, p. 540
  6. Brown KR, Guglielmo BJ, Pons VG, Jacobs RA (1982) "Theophylline elixir, moxalactam, and a disulfiram reaction." Ann Intern Med, 97, p. 621-2
  7. Umeda S, Arai T (1985) "Disulfiram-like reaction to moxalactam after celiac plexus alcohol block." Anesth Analg, 64, p. 377
  8. Foster TS, Raehl CL, Wilson HD (1980) "Disulfiram-like reaction associated with a parenteral cephalosporin." Am J Hosp Pharm, 37, p. 858-9
  9. McMahon FG, Ryan JR, Jain AK, LaCorte W, Ginzler F (1987) "Absence of disulfiram-type reactions to single and multiple doses of cefonicid: a placebo-controlled study." J Antimicrob Chemother, 20, p. 913-8
View all 9 references

Switch to consumer interaction data

Zefazone drug interactions

There are 34 drug interactions with Zefazone (cefmetazole).

Zefazone disease interactions

There is 1 disease interaction with Zefazone (cefmetazole) which include:

Report options

Loading...
QR code containing a link to this page

Drug Interaction Classification

These classifications are only a guideline. The relevance of a particular drug interaction to a specific individual is difficult to determine. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting or stopping any medication.
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.
Unknown No interaction information available.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer