What drug class is disulfiram in?
Disulfiram is classified as an alcohol-deterrent medication (an aversive therapy). It is used to help treat alcohol use disorder by causing unpleasant effects when a person drinks alcohol.[1]
How does disulfiram work (what class effect causes the reaction)?
Disulfiram interferes with alcohol metabolism. When alcohol is consumed while taking disulfiram, the body accumulates acetaldehyde, which produces the characteristic aversive reaction (such as flushing, nausea, vomiting, and headache). This builds an aversion to drinking.[1]
What other drugs are in the same “alcohol-deterrent/aversive” class?
Disulfiram is the main medication in the alcohol-deterrent (aversive) approach. Other alcohol-use disorder treatments exist (for example, opioid antagonists and agents that affect cravings or relapse risk), but they are not in the same disulfiram “alcohol-deterrent” drug class.[1]
Where is disulfiram used clinically?
Disulfiram is used as part of treatment for alcohol dependence, typically in people who are motivated to avoid alcohol and can follow dosing instructions consistently.[1]
What should patients watch for with disulfiram?
The key safety issue is that alcohol (including some products containing alcohol) can trigger a reaction while on disulfiram. Patients are also generally advised to avoid or tightly manage alcohol exposure during therapy.[1]
Sources
[1] https://www.drugs.com/disulfiram.html