What are disulfiramoid reactions? What are they dangerous?

Under normal conditions, when ingested, alcohol quickly decomposes into metabolites (non-toxic exchange products). However, on the basis of taking a number of drugs, there are irregularities in the decay process. At the same time, the speed is chemical. Reaction will depend on the dosage of the drug and the amount of alcohol. To medicines provoking disturbances, it is necessary to attribute antibiotics first of all. When drinking alcohol on the basis of therapy, there are quite serious consequences. They include disulfiram-like reactions. With the development of these effects, patients appear, along with other symptoms, aversion to alcohol-containing products.

Drugs provoking disulfiramoid-like reactions

The drug "Trichopol" has antibacterial and antiprotozoal activity. When combined with alcohol, the drug causes severe conditions of the patient, in which disulfiram-like reactions appear. These properties allow the use of a medicament for the treatment of chronic alcoholics. It is often prescribed such a drug as "Amoxicillin." This medicine can provoke difficulty breathing, and alcohol can inhibit the activity of the respiratory center of the brain. In this regard, when the combination of "Amoxicillin" and alcohol increases the likelihood of death in persons who are intoxicated. There are medications that are prescribed specifically to cause disulfiram-like reactions. These are such medicines as "Esperal", "Antabus" and others. When they are taken, a special enzyme is destroyed. The name of the reaction was from the drug "Disulfiram." This medicine, along with other similar drugs, is used to treat alcoholism in chronic form. The condition that develops when it is taken is called disulfiram-alcohol, if the side effect is caused by another drug, disulfiram-like.

Causes of side effect

The development of the condition is due to the accumulation in the body of the product of the decomposition of ethanol - acetaldehyde. This compound has a high toxicity. Under normal conditions, the substance is neutralized by a number of enzymes (aldehyde dehydrogenase and others). Some drugs can inhibit the activity of these elements. As a result, there is an accumulation of acetaldehyde in the body, which is accompanied by a number of characteristic symptoms. Along with this, drugs block the action of a number of other enzymes. This, in turn, provokes a decrease in the level of norepinephrine in the nervous system and a violation of its relationship with dopamine. As a result, disulfiram-like reactions are further amplified. Specialists note that this condition has a fairly long character. In this regard, doctors do not recommend drinking alcohol after the completion of therapy for a certain period of time. It should be said that the side effects with alcohol during the treatment period are quite intense, developing a strong aversion to alcohol.

Symptoms of disulfiramoid reactions

With the development of a side effect, the patient develops a feeling of heat and redness in the upper body and in the face area. In addition, the pressure decreases, breathing becomes more difficult, the heart rate increases. Patients experience a feeling of tightness in the chest, fear. The condition is accompanied by thoughts about the impending death, nausea, vomiting. Increased risk of violations of the nervous system. With an increase in the amount of alcohol, the intensity and severity of the course of disulfiram-like reactions increases. In some cases, collapse can occur - a sharp decrease in pressure with loss of consciousness.

Therapy of patients with chronic alcoholism

The history of using the drug "Disulfiram" to eliminate dependence on alcohol began with one interesting observation. At one of the factories for the production of rubber markedly decreased the use of alcohol by workers. During the study it was found that the cause is a substance disulfiram, which was used in the process of manufacturing rubber products. This discovery led to the fact that the compound was used for therapeutic purposes. A little later, experts noted that disulfiram-like reactions provoke a number of medications. Some medicines have been specially prescribed for chronic alcoholics. For example, doctors often prescribe to them the remedy "Trichopol". This drug in the complex treatment of some doctors is appointed and now. He is recommended to drink in courses of 250 mg 2 r. / Day. Therapy is carried out twice a year. In some cases, the medication is prescribed and for a longer period - up to several months.

Special instructions when taking certain medicines

People who do not suffer from alcohol dependence, doctors are extremely not recommended to combine the intake of any medicines with alcoholic beverages. It is especially important to observe caution when receiving antibiotic therapy. It should be remembered that with the combined use of drugs and ethanol, in addition to the development of disulfiram-like reactions, the risk of alcoholic liver damage increases, and the complex of its most important functions (filtration and detoxification) is disrupted. In addition, the intensity of side effects, which provoke antibiotics, drugs that affect the nervous system and other drugs, is increasing. Toxic metabolites, which are formed by the combination of medicines and alcohol, are able to change the effect of the funds taken. This, in turn, leads to very serious consequences, in some cases leading to a lethal outcome.

Warnings in the treatment of addiction to alcohol

For people who depend on alcohol, various drugs have been developed to help get rid of this addiction.

Experts recall that the intake of any medication must be agreed with the doctor. Not all alcoholics voluntarily agree to treatment. Such patients should be given first psychological help. A person suffering from alcoholism should be informed of the treatment. In no case should not be given without his knowledge to give any drugs that cause aversion to alcohol! Such "treatment" can not only become inefficient, but also provoke serious, dangerous in some cases, consequences.