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Drugs to Decrease Alcohol Consumption in Humans: Aversive Agents

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The Pharmacology of Alcohol Abuse

Part of the book series: Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology ((HEP,volume 114))

Abstract

Tetraethylthiuram (disulfiram) is used for the treatment of alcoholism. Its use is intended to prevent relapse from abstinence by deterring impulsive drinking. This rationale is based on the fact that an intense adverse reaction, the disulfiram-ethanol reaction (DER), occurs when alcohol is ingested subsequent to the administration of disulfiram. Within 5–10min after ingesting an alcoholic beverage, peripheral cutaneous vasodilation manifested by flushing and tachycardia occurs, and an intense throbbing is often felt in the head and neck. Vertigo, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, and hypotension may also occur. Fatal DERs have been reported. Most of these occurred with the higher dosages that were used when disulfiram was initially introduced into clinical practice. Because of its action, disulfiram belongs to a category of drugs referred to as alcohol-deterrent, alcohol-sensitizing, or antialcohol drugs.

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Authors
  1. R. K. Fuller
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  2. R. Z. Litten
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Addictive Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, MC2103, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Avenue, 06030, Farmington, CT, USA

    Henry R. Kranzler M.D. (Associate Professor and Director) (Associate Professor and Director)

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© 1995 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Fuller, R.K., Litten, R.Z. (1995). Drugs to Decrease Alcohol Consumption in Humans: Aversive Agents. In: Kranzler, H.R. (eds) The Pharmacology of Alcohol Abuse. Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology, vol 114. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-78435-4_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-78435-4_14

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-78437-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-78435-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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