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Dr. Andrew Rynne
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Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Have Headaches, Discomfort. Alcoholic. On Antabuse. Why?

my neighbor is drinking while taking antabuse. his wife has upped his dose, and it has helped, however he is still drinking. he is flush in the face, says he has a headache, is always laying down. he is on 500 mgs a day. twice daily. is there a stronger pill that might deter him more? or should his dose be upped more. he was getting extremely sauced everyday on 250mg. he is just feeling "uncomfortable" now.
Thu, 25 Apr 2013
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Psychiatrist,  's  Response
Hello
Welcome to Health Care Magic

Antabuse is disulfiram. It inhibits one step in metabolism of alcohol, due to which acetaldehyde accumulates in body. Acetaldehyde cause toxic symptoms also called as disulfiram like reaction. So if individual continue to take alcohol along with disulfiram then risk of severe reaction is there. It may manifest as severe hypotension, restlessness, autonomic dysfunction, headache, flushing of face etc. It may prove fatal also. I would advise him to stop taking alcohol along with antabuse as it may prove fatal. For proper detoxification visit a Psychiatrist.

Thanks
Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi, MD
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Have Headaches, Discomfort. Alcoholic. On Antabuse. Why?

Hello Welcome to Health Care Magic Antabuse is disulfiram. It inhibits one step in metabolism of alcohol, due to which acetaldehyde accumulates in body. Acetaldehyde cause toxic symptoms also called as disulfiram like reaction. So if individual continue to take alcohol along with disulfiram then risk of severe reaction is there. It may manifest as severe hypotension, restlessness, autonomic dysfunction, headache, flushing of face etc. It may prove fatal also. I would advise him to stop taking alcohol along with antabuse as it may prove fatal. For proper detoxification visit a Psychiatrist. Thanks Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi, MD