Side effects after disulfiram. Comparison of disulfiram and placebo in a double-blind multicentre study

Abstract

A double-blind, randomized study was carried out on the side effects of disulfiram in 241 men and women with alcohol abuse. Of the 158 patients completing the study, 83 received disulfiram and 75 placebo. Each patient was questioned on side effects after a 2-week wash-out period and thereafter once a week during the 6-week treatment period.. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups, apart from over-representation of complaints of sexual problems in the placebo group. The patients who dropped out of the study were equally distributed between the two groups with regard to the number, diagnosis, and reasons for dropping out.