Publisher: SOFARIMEX INDUSTRIA QUIMICA E FARMACEUTICA Lda, 2735 CACEM, Portugal
Disulfiram is an inhibitor of numerous enzymes.
Inhibition of acetaldehyde dehydrogenase causes a rise in the concentration of acetaldehyde, a metabolite of ethyl alcohol which has a number of unpleasant manifestations: congestive flushing of the face, nausea and vomiting, feeling of malaise, tachycardia, hypotension. These effects render any consumption of alcohol subsequent to intake of the medication extremely disagreeable.
After oral intake, absorption of disulfiram is rapid but incomplete at 70 to 90%. It is rapidly metabolized, being reduced to diethyl dithiocarbamate which is itself eliminated as its glucuronoconjugate or converted to diethylamine and carbon sulphide some of which (between 4 and 53%) is eliminated by the lungs. The peak therapeutic effect occurs 12 hours after the time of oral administration and may persist for 10 to 14 days after stopping treatment.
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