The British Journal of Psychiatry 161: 84-89 (1992)
© 1992 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
Disulfiram treatment of alcoholism
J Chick, K Gough, W Falkowski, P Kershaw, B Hore, B Mehta, B Ritson, R Ropner and D Torley
Department of Psychiatry, Edinburgh University, Royal Edinburgh Hospital.
To assess the efficacy of supervised disulfiram as an adjunct to out- patient treatment of alcoholics, a randomised, partially blind, six- month follow-up study was conducted in which 126 patients received 200 mg disulfiram or 100 mg vitamin C under the supervision of a nominated informant. In the opinion of the (blinded) independent assessor, patients on disulfiram increased average total abstinent days by 100 and patients on vitamin C by 69, thus enhancing by one-third this measure of treatment outcome. Mean weekly alcohol consumption was reduced by 162 units with disulfiram, compared with 105 units with vitamin C, and the disulfiram patients reduced their total six-month alcohol consumption by 2572 units compared with an average reduction of 1448 units in the vitamin C group. Serum gamma-GT showed a mean fall of 21 IU/I in patients on disulfiram but rose by a mean of 13 IU/I with vitamin C. Unwanted effects in the disulfiram group led to a dose reduction in seven patients and to treatment withdrawal in four (and in one vitamin C patient). Two-thirds of the disulfiram group asked to continue the treatment at the end of the study. There were no medically serious adverse reactions.
This article has been cited by other articles:
 |
|
 |
|
  M. Gaval-Cruz and D. Weinshenker Mechanisms of Disulfiram-induced Cocaine Abstinence: Antabuse and Cocaine Relapse Mol. Interv., August 1, 2009; 9(4): 175 - 187. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 D. Neto, R. Lambaz, P. Aguiar, and J. Chick Effectiveness of Sequential Combined Treatment in Comparison with Treatment as Usual in Preventing Relapse in Alcohol Dependence Alcohol Alcohol., November 1, 2008; 43(6): 661 - 668. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 Treating depression in alcohol misuse DTB, February 1, 2008; 46(2): 11 - 14. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. Laaksonen, A. Koski-Jannes, M. Salaspuro, H. Ahtinen, and H. Alho A randomized, multicentre, open-label, comparative trial of disulfiram, naltrexone and acamprosate in the treatment of alcohol dependence Alcohol Alcohol., January 1, 2008; 43(1): 53 - 61. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
D. Neto, R. Lambaz, and J. E. Tavares Compliance with aftercare treatment, including disulfiram, and effect on outcome in alcohol-dependent patients Alcohol Alcohol., November 1, 2007; 42(6): 604 - 609. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. Luty What works in alcohol use disorders? Adv. Psychiatr. Treat., January 1, 2006; 12(1): 13 - 22. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M Meier, A Woywodt, M M Hoeper, A Schneider, M P Manns, and C P Strassburg Acute liver failure: a message found under the skin Postgrad. Med. J., April 1, 2005; 81(954): 269 - 270. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 R. Saitz Unhealthy Alcohol Use N. Engl. J. Med., February 10, 2005; 352(6): 596 - 607. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A. R. Lingford-Hughes, S. Welch, and D. J. Nutt Evidence-Based Guidelines for the Pharmacological Management of Substance Misuse, Addiction and Comorbidity: Recommendations from the British Association for Psychopharmacology J Psychopharmacol, September 1, 2004; 18(3): 293 - 335. [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 E. Garver, G.-c. Tu, Q.-N. Cao, M. Aini, F. Zhou, and Y. Israel Eliciting the Low-Activity Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Asian Phenotype by an Antisense Mechanism Results in an Aversion to Ethanol J. Exp. Med., September 3, 2001; 194(5): 571 - 580. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
T. U. R. T. United Kingdom Alcohol Treatment Trial (UKATT): hypotheses, design and methods Alcohol Alcohol., January 1, 2001; 36(1): 11 - 21. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 D. A. Fiellin, M. C. Reid, and P. G. O'Connor Outpatient Management of Patients with Alcohol Problems Ann Intern Med, November 21, 2000; 133(10): 815 - 827. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
H. R. Kranzler PHARMACOTHERAPY OF ALCOHOLISM: GAPS IN KNOWLEDGE AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESEARCH Alcohol Alcohol., November 1, 2000; 35(6): 537 - 547. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. Chick, R. Anton, K. Checinski, R. Croop, D. C. Drummond, R. Farmer, D. Labriola, J. Marshall, J. Moncrieff, M. Y. Morgan, et al. A MULTICENTRE, RANDOMIZED, DOUBLE-BLIND, PLACEBO-CONTROLLED TRIAL OF NALTREXONE IN THE TREATMENT OF ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE OR ABUSE Alcohol Alcohol., November 1, 2000; 35(6): 587 - 593. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. M. Swift Drug Therapy for Alcohol Dependence N. Engl. J. Med., May 13, 1999; 340(19): 1482 - 1490. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. C. Garbutt, S. L. West, T. S. Carey, K. N. Lohr, and F. T. Crews Pharmacological Treatment of Alcohol Dependence: A Review of the Evidence JAMA, April 14, 1999; 281(14): 1318 - 1325. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
P. G. O'Connor and R. S. Schottenfeld Patients with Alcohol Problems N. Engl. J. Med., February 26, 1998; 338(9): 592 - 602. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|