Tag: Acetaldehyde syndrome

While severe disulfiram-alcohol reactions are rare today due to reduced dosing, they can still be life-threatening. Knowing **how to treat an Antabuse reaction?** is crucial, as the immediate response involves supportive care to manage the toxic effects of acetaldehyde accumulation.

First approved by the FDA in 1951, disulfiram (brand name Antabuse) is the primary medication known for causing an acute, unpleasant reaction when combined with alcohol. This article explains the science behind this effect and highlights other, less-known drugs that cause a similar adverse response, known as a disulfiram-like reaction.

A disulfiram-like reaction occurs when certain medications interact with alcohol, causing an accumulation of acetaldehyde, a toxic byproduct of alcohol metabolism [1.5.6]. This leads to a host of unpleasant and potentially dangerous symptoms, mimicking the effect of the drug Antabuse [1.2.1].