Drug action
Antabuse affects alcohol consumption changing metabolism. Ethyl spirit is transformed into aldehyde by dehydrogenase enzyme in the liver, and then, into acetate by oxidoreductase enzyme.
When Antabuse is taken, alcohol is turned into aldehyde that cannot be turned into acetate. Aldehyde is accumulated, causing toxic effects, as hyperemia of face, tachycardia, nausea and vomiting, headache, short breath. These unpleasant reactions are supposed to help the patient to abstain from alcohol.
It leads to conditioned-reflex disgust at alcohol taste and smell. After the treatment with Antabuse, alcohol consumption causes acute vascular reaction. Gradually, reaction is disappeared and, in 1-2 hours, the patient falls asleep.
After high doses of alcohol consumption, adverse reaction, such as pallor of integuments, cyanosis, vomiting, high palpitation, drop in arterial pressure, myocardial ischemia may be experienced.
Evidently, Antabuse is a drastic medication powerfully solving alcohol problem.
