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What does it do?

Disulfiram is used to help you stop drinking alcohol. Drinking alcohol while taking disulfiram causes a very unpleasant and dangerous reaction. The reaction starts within about 10 minutes of drinking alcohol and may last several hours.

Before you start

  • Tell your doctor if you have heart, liver or kidney problems, a mental health problem, or if you have ever had a seizure or a stroke.
  • Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
  • You must not drink any alcohol for at least 24 hours before starting, while taking, and for three weeks after stopping disulfiram.

How should you take it?

Take disulfiram regularly as directed with a glass of water. You can also dissolve the tablets in water or juice.

What if you forget a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as possible. If it is close to the time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and carry on as normal. Do not take two doses at the same time.

Can you take other medicines?

Some medicines available without a prescription may react with disulfiram including:

  • liquid medicines containing alcohol such as cough syrups

Tell your pharmacist or doctor about all medicines or treatments that you may be taking including vitamins, herbal products (some may contain alcohol) or recreational drugs (e.g. cocaine).

What side effects might you notice?

Side EffectsRecommended action

Alcohol/disulfiram reaction – flushing, trouble breathing, fast heartbeat, headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting

Symptoms of liver problems including: yellow skin or eyes, itching, dark urine, pale bowel motions, abdominal pain

Unusual behaviour or thinking, mood changes

Tell your doctor immediately

Changes in vision

Numbness or tingling of the fingers or toes

Tell your doctor

Drowsiness, tiredness or weakness

Bad breath, changes in taste, stomach upset

Impotence, less interest in sex

Tell your doctor if troublesome

If you notice any other effects, discuss them with your doctor or pharmacist.

Other information:

  • Some sauces, vinegars, perfumes, aftershaves, hand gels, sprays and even “non-alcoholic” drinks may contain enough alcohol to cause a reaction with disulfiram.

This leaflet contains important, but not all, information about this medicine.

Prepared by the MyMedicines Committee at Christchurch Hospital, Te Whatu Ora - Waitaha, New Zealand. March 2023

For more general information about this sheet and its contents, see: What does a My Medicines sheet cover?

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About My Medicines

My Medicines Patient Information Leaflets (PILs) contain important, but not all, information about the medicines they describe.

For more information about the sheets, see: What does a My Medicines sheet cover?

My Medicines is developed by a team at Te Whatu Ora – Waitaha. Our team is made up of doctors, pharmacists, and a non-medical person to help us keep to plain language. We also discuss our information with specialist health professionals or groups when needed