Disulfiram

Disulfiram, also known as Antabuse, is used to treat chronic alcoholism by producing an acute sensitivity to alcohol.

Under normal metabolism of alcohol ethanol is broken-down in the liver by the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase to the harmless acetic acid. Disulfiram blocks this reaction at the intermediate stage where it is converted to acetaldehyde. After alcohol intake under the influence of disulfiram the concentration of acetaldehyde in the blood may be 5 to 10 times higher than that found during metabolism of the same amount of alcohol alone. As it is acetaldehyde that causes 'hangover' symptoms this produces immediate and severe negative reaction to alcohol intake.

As disulfiram is absorbed slowly through the digestive tract and eliminated slowly by the body the effects may last for up to 2 weeks after the initial intake.

One weakness with Disulfiran and similar treatments, is that if not taken under supervision, an alcoholic will not stick to the treatment, since it is easier to give up the drug than alcohol.