amitriptyline vs disulfiram
Side-by-side comparison of amitriptyline and disulfiram. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
minor Known Drug Interaction
Guanethidine or similarly acting compounds; thyroid medication; alcohol, barbiturates and other CNS depressants; and disulfiram – see WARNINGS section.
Recommendation: Use this combination with caution and follow your doctor's instructions for monitoring your symptoms.
Elavil
Antabuse
Amitriptyline is a medicine used to treat depression. It may take up to 30 days to feel the full effect.
Disulfiram is a medicine that helps people with long-term alcohol problems stay sober. It is meant to be used with counseling and support.
Amitriptyline is used to relieve the symptoms of depression. It works best for a type of depression called endogenous depression. This is depression that comes from within, rather than being caused by outside events.
Disulfiram helps manage chronic alcohol problems. It is for people who want to stop drinking. This medicine works best when combined with counseling and support to help you stay sober. It is not a cure for alcoholism.
Amitriptyline belongs to a class of drugs called tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs). It works by increasing the levels of certain chemicals in your brain. These chemicals help improve your mood.
Disulfiram blocks the body from breaking down alcohol. If you drink alcohol while taking this medicine, you will feel sick. This helps you avoid drinking alcohol.
- • Drowsiness
- • Dizziness
- • Weakness
- • Fatigue
- • Headache
- • Mild drowsiness
- • Tiredness
- • Headache
- • Acne
- • Skin rash
- Pain 1,564
- Feeling sick to your stomach 1,434
- Head pain 1,380
- Tiredness 1,369
- Shortness of breath 1,340
- Medicine interacting with another medicine 120
- Tiredness 82
- Poisoning from different things 63
- Feeling sick to your stomach 48
- Feeling confused 47
Antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or actions in children, teens, and young adults. Your doctor should closely monitor you for worsening depression or unusual changes in behavior. Amitriptyline is not approved for use in children.
If you take disulfiram and drink alcohol, you may have a very bad reaction. This can cause flushing, headache, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, weakness, blurred vision, confusion, and breathing problems. In severe cases, it can cause seizures, heart problems, and even death.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. It is not known if amitriptyline will harm your unborn baby. Amitriptyline can pass into breast milk.
It is not known if disulfiram is safe to use during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Do not take disulfiram if you are breastfeeding.
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How to Read This amitriptyline vs disulfiram Comparison
amitriptyline is classified in the Tricyclic Antidepressant (TCA) drug class, while disulfiram sits within the Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Inhibitor class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, amitriptyline has 7,087 submissions while disulfiram has 360. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to disulfiram can interfere with how your liver breaks down amitriptyline. this can lead to higher levels of the medication in your system.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between amitriptyline and disulfiram - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.