Alcoholism is the persistent intake of alcohol in spite of it leading to health problems. As per WHO, more than 280 million people live with alcohol-use related problems. As alcohol is addictive, continued use can lead to adverse effects like cirrhosis, hepatitis, etc. Heavy drinking may decrease life expectancy by more than 10 years’ time. Meds like disulfiram are used for the management of alcoholism. But, do you know how long does disulfiram stay in your system? It is helpful to have more details.
In most cases, intake of alcohol to reduce anxieties soon turns into being addicted to it. This remains one of the key causes for alcoholism. Those who stop taking alcohol abruptly may witness symptoms of withdrawal. These symptoms show up as sleeping difficulties, being irritated, drop in appetite level, etc. Alcoholism is treated as a medical condition.
Approaches to treat alcoholism can take many forms. Suddenly stopping the intake of alcohol can cause severe side effects. So, alcohol cessation plans are administered with added care. Commonly prescribed meds include disulfiram, acamprosate, etc. In most instances, mental problems may also accompany alcoholism.
So, what is disulfiram?
This med is widely used to help overcome alcohol addiction or dependency. This drug does not offer a complete remedy for alcoholism; instead, it can discourage drinkers from taking alcoholic beverages. This is not an OTC med; it needs to be taken strictly as per the instructions of your treating doctor. In most cases, this drug is administered with counsel-related support.
Essential ingredients of this med inhibit your system from processing the substances present in alcohol. As a result, you tend to have an unpleasant reaction each time you use alcohol. Typical dosage plan is once per day, preferably in the morning. You may take it either before or after breakfast.
Disulfiram
How long does disulfiram stay in your system?
The period for which this med remains in your body varies from one person to another. In general, disulfiram may stay back for about 2 weeks from the time the last dosage. Your dosage level depends on many factors such as severity of your dependency on alcohol, history of prior spells of relapse, side effects disulfiram causes in your system, etc.
In this light, you need to know that it is unsafe to use alcohol during this period. Intake of alcohol during this period can lead to severe reactions.
Precautions needed while using disulfiram
This drug must be offered to patients after taking needful consent from them. It is unsafe to take it if you have recently had an alcoholic drink, especially over the last 14 – 15 hours. You need to know that your caregiver has administered this drug as its benefits clearly outweigh the risks of side effects.
Those who have prior allergies or hypersensitivity to disulfiram must notify their doctor about such conditions before commencing their medication plan. It is equally important to share details about medical conditions (both earlier spells as well as current disorders, if any) such as hypothyroidism or the suboptimal functioning of your thyroid gland, renal dysfunction, history of substance abuse, etc.
Disulfiram may cause a few adverse side effects like blurring of vision, migraine, being tired, dizziness, etc. Most of these side effects may stop once you are used to the doses. But, if side effects persist, talk to your caregiver. In some cases, severe side effects may show up; these are mood shifts, drop in libido, numbing of limbs, etc. Upon sensing these discomforts, call 911 if you are in the US. You can reach out to Health Canada if you live in Canada.
Lastly, talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you want to know on how long does disulfiram stay in your system. It is essential to have added clarity on this before you start taking this drug to treat alcoholism.
Disclaimer
Information provided here are only of supplementary nature. Information shared here does not substitute a qualified doctor’s advice. This website is not suggesting intake of this drug as safe or appropriate. Hence it is advised to talk to your doctor before consuming this med or any other drug.
Education: Master’s in Nursing (MSN) from Johns Hopkins University. Experience: 7 years writing for online health portals and nursing journals, specializing in patient education and chronic illness management.
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