disulfiram vs naltrexone
Side-by-side comparison of disulfiram and naltrexone. 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
The safety and efficacy of concomitant use of naltrexone hydrochloride and disulfiram is unknown, and the concomitant use of two potentially hepatotoxic medications is not ordinarily recommended unless the probable benefits outweigh the known risks.
Recommendation: This combination is usually avoided unless your doctor decides the benefits are worth the risk. Your doctor should check your liver function regularly.
Antabuse
Vivitrol, ReVia
Disulfiram is a medicine that helps people with long-term alcohol problems stay sober. It is meant to be used with counseling and support.
Naltrexone is a medicine that can help treat alcohol and opioid dependence. It works by blocking the effects of opioids in your body.
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.
Naltrexone is used to treat alcohol dependence and to block the effects of opioid drugs. It is important to use naltrexone as part of a complete treatment plan. This plan should include counseling and support to help you stay sober or opioid-free.
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.
Naltrexone blocks the effects of opioids by attaching to opioid receptors in the brain. This prevents opioids from having their usual effects, like pain relief or feelings of euphoria. By blocking these effects, naltrexone can help reduce cravings for alcohol or opioids.
- • Mild drowsiness
- • Tiredness
- • Headache
- • Acne
- • Skin rash
- • Nausea
- • Headache
- • Fatigue
- • Insomnia
- • Anxiety
- Medicine interacting with another medicine 120
- Tiredness 82
- Poisoning from different things 63
- Feeling sick to your stomach 48
- Feeling confused 47
- Reaction at the injection site 4,407
- Pain at the injection site 3,111
- Feeling sick to your stomach 2,094
- Alcohol addiction 1,942
- Lump at the injection site 1,895
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.
Naltrexone can cause serious withdrawal symptoms if you are still using opioids. Make sure you are opioid-free for at least 7 to 10 days before starting naltrexone. If you experience severe withdrawal symptoms, seek medical help right away.
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.
It is not known if naltrexone is safe to use during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is also not known if naltrexone passes into breast milk, so talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
How to Read This disulfiram vs naltrexone Comparison
disulfiram is classified in the Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Inhibitor drug class, while naltrexone sits within the Opioid Antagonist 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, disulfiram has 360 submissions while naltrexone has 13,449. 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 both of these medications can be hard on the liver. using them at the same time may increase your risk of developing liver problems.. 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 disulfiram and naltrexone - 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.