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. 2011 Jan;53(1):25-9.
doi: 10.4103/0019-5545.75557.

Status of disulfiram in present day alcoholic deaddiction therapy

Princy Louis Palatty  1 , Elroy Saldanha
Affiliations

Status of disulfiram in present day alcoholic deaddiction therapy

Princy Louis Palatty et al. Indian J Psychiatry. 2011 Jan.

Abstract

Aim: Assessment of safety and efficacy profile of disulfiram (DSM) in the alcoholic de-addiction regimen.

Objectives: a. Assessment of Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) profile; b. Evaluation of effectiveness of various deaddiction regimen; c. Defaulters and dropouts

Patients and methods: Fifty-one patients in a de-addiction center were investigated on 0(th) , 30(th) and 60(th) day along with psychiatric evaluation, ADR surveillance was made. Statistical analysis was done thereafter.

Results: 125 mg DSM given OD for 2 months. 76.5% patients had taken full course of treatment, 45% didn't complain of any ADR. Of ADR reported 27.4% had drowsiness, 21.4% tiredness, 7.8% skin manifestation.

Conclusion: DSM is the main drug among naltrexone, acamprosate, nalmefene and other drugs used in alcoholic de-addiction. Relative and effectiveness is lost by the degree of dropouts and hence relapses. Low-dose DSM had decreased adverse effects with 76.5% patients taking the full course of treatment. DSM alters liver functions as there were significant changes in the lab parameters of SGPT(P=0.007), SGOT(P=0.001), GGT(P=<0.001) between first and third samples. Occurrence of ADR is not the cause of default; patients find it confusing to differentiate between the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal and those due to ADR of DSM.

Keywords: Adverse drug reaction; alcohol de-addiction; de-addiction regimen; disulfiram; drug default.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Histogram of Adverse Drug Reaction
Figure 2
Figure 2
DSM Default Rate
Figure 3
Figure 3
Prevalence of ADR
Figure 4
Figure 4
Group-comparison values of individual lab parameters
Figure 5
Figure 5
Comparison between SGOT samples taken on 0, 30th, and 60th day
Figure 6
Figure 6
Comparison between GGT samples taken on 0, 30th, and 60th day
Figure 7
Figure 7
Comparison between MCV samples taken on 0, 30th and 60th day
Figure 8
Figure 8
Patient having a pustule in the anterior abdomen wall along left mid-clavicular line
Figure 9
Figure 9
Pustular lesion from a close view
Figure 10
Figure 10
Patient with DSM induced aggravated skin reaction
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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