Prescription medication · Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Inhibitor
disulfiram
Also sold as Antabuse. Disulfiram helps manage chronic alcohol problems.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 1,076
- FDA reportsRarely reported
- 8
- InteractionsFew interactions
- $1.55
- Generic price (NADAC)
What the data shows
disulfiram (Antabuse) is a prescription Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Inhibitor, among the least-reported drugs the FDA tracks (1,076 FDA reports), with 8 documented drug interactions.
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
disulfiram (Antabuse) is a prescription Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Inhibitor. Disulfiram helps manage chronic alcohol problems.
Disulfiram is a medicine that helps people with long-term alcohol problems stay sober. It is meant to be used with counseling and support.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$1.55/unit
Generic Available
Yes (3 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
NADAC price trail: DISULFIRAM 250 MG TABLET
Same CMS presentation as the headline generic unit price above (2 effective dates). Adjacent % compares consecutive NADAC releases for this description only, not a patient out-of-pocket quote. Latest step: -10.3% vs prior release.
| Effective | NADAC / unit | vs prior | NDCs |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 17, 2024 | $1.72/EA | - | 2 |
| December 18, 2024 | $1.55/EA | -10.3% | 4 |
What it does
Disulfiram helps manage chronic alcohol problems.
Common side effects
Mild drowsiness, Tiredness, Headache
Key warnings
If you take disulfiram and drink alcohol, you may have a very bad reaction.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from disulfiram's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
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.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 1,076 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for disulfiram, by number of reports
- Drug Interaction
Drug Interaction
120 reports
- Fatigue
Fatigue
82 reports
- Toxicity To Various Agents
Toxicity To Various Agents
63 reports
- Nausea
Nausea
48 reports
- Confusional State 47
Confusional State
47 reports
- Psychiatric Symptom 44
Psychiatric Symptom
44 reports
- Overdose 43
Overdose
43 reports
- Drug Abuse 41
Drug Abuse
41 reports
- Drug-Induced Liver Injury 40
Drug-Induced Liver Injury
40 reports
- Anxiety 37
Anxiety
37 reports
What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.
Reports over time
Adverse-event reports filed for disulfiram each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.
Where disulfiram sits
disulfiram has more FDA adverse-event reports than 7% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.
Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is disulfiram; the line is the median (50th percentile).
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 1,076 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2004–2025.
Total Reports
1,076
Reports Mentioning Death
111
10.3% of reports — not proof of cause
Hospitalization Reports
504
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | DRUG INTERACTION | 120 |
| 3 | FATIGUE | 82 |
| 4 | TOXICITY TO VARIOUS AGENTS | 63 |
| 6 | NAUSEA | 48 |
| 7 | CONFUSIONAL STATE | 47 |
| 8 | PSYCHIATRIC SYMPTOM | 44 |
| 9 | OVERDOSE | 43 |
| 10 | DRUG ABUSE | 41 |
| 11 | DRUG-INDUCED LIVER INJURY | 40 |
| 12 | ANXIETY | 37 |
| 13 | CONDITION AGGRAVATED | 36 |
| 14 | TOXIC ENCEPHALOPATHY | 36 |
| 15 | SOMNOLENCE | 35 |
| 16 | ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY | 33 |
| 17 | NEUROPATHY PERIPHERAL | 33 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
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.
Known Drug Interactions
DISULFIRAM SHOULD BE USED WITH CAUTION IN THOSE PATIENTS RECEIVING PHENYTOIN AND ITS CONGENERS, SINCE THE CONCOMITANT ADMINISTRATION OF THESE TWO DRUGS CAN LEAD TO PHENYTOIN INTOXICATION. PRIOR TO ADMINISTERING DISULFIRAM TO A PATIENT ON PHENYTOIN THERAPY, A BASELINE PHENYTOIN SERUM LEVEL SHOULD BE OBTAINED. SUBSEQUENT TO INITIATION OF DISULFIRAM THERAPY, SERUM LEVELS OF PHENYTOIN SHOULD BE DETERMINED ON DIFFERENT DAYS FOR EVIDENCE OF AN INCREASE OR FOR A CONTINUING RISE IN LEVELS.
Mechanism: Disulfiram interferes with how your body processes phenytoin, which can cause the phenytoin to build up to toxic levels.
The pharmacokinetics of acamprosate are not affected by alcohol, diazepam, or disulfiram, and clinically important interactions between naltrexone and acamprosate were not observed [ see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ].
Mechanism: Disulfiram does not change the way your body breaks down or uses acamprosate.
Guanethidine or similarly acting compounds; thyroid medication; alcohol, barbiturates and other CNS depressants; and disulfiram – see WARNINGS section.
Mechanism: Disulfiram can interfere with how your liver breaks down amitriptyline. This can lead to higher levels of the medication in your system.
Drug Interactions Disulfiram Psychotic reactions have been reported in alcoholic patients who are using metronidazole and disulfiram concurrently. Metronidazole should not be given to patients who have taken disulfiram within the last two weeks (see CONTRAINDICATIONS ).
Mechanism: Combining these two medicines can cause serious mental health problems, such as confusion or psychotic reactions.
CONCOMITANT DRUG CLINICAL EFFECT(S) Amphetamines, cocaine, other sympathomimetic agents Additive hypertension, tachycardia, possibly cardiotoxicity Atropine, scopolamine, antihistamines, other anticholinergic agents Additive or super-additive tachycardia, drowsiness Amitriptyline, amoxapine, desipramine, other tricyclic antidepressants Additive tachycardia, hypertension, drowsiness Barbiturates, benzodiazepines, ethanol, lithium, opioids, buspirone, antihistamines, muscle relaxants, other CNS depressants Additive drowsiness and CNS depression Disulfiram A reversible hypomanic reaction was...
Mechanism: Using these two drugs together can cause a mood reaction that makes you feel unusually excited, restless, or energetic.
This is a plain-language summary of FDA-label interaction records and does not provide individual medication-combination directions.
Common Questions
Can I drink alcohol while taking disulfiram?
How long do I need to take disulfiram?
What should I do if I have a reaction to alcohol while taking disulfiram?
Can disulfiram cure my alcoholism?
Are there any foods or drinks I should avoid while taking disulfiram?
Can I take other medicines with disulfiram?
What are the serious side effects of disulfiram?
Can I stop taking disulfiram on my own?
Does disulfiram have any effect on my driving?
How soon after taking disulfiram can I expect it to work?
What are the common side effects of disulfiram?
Does disulfiram interact with other medications?
What drug class is disulfiram?
What pregnancy or breastfeeding source fields are listed for disulfiram?
Related Medications in Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Inhibitor
Other drugs grouped near disulfiram - same-class peers and common alternatives.
acamprosate
Campral
Acamprosate is a medicine that can help you stay away from alcohol if you are alcohol-dependent and have already stopped drinking.
Compare with disulfiram →
alprazolam
Xanax
Alprazolam (Xanax) is a medication that can help you with anxiety and panic disorders.
Compare with disulfiram →
amitriptyline
Elavil
Amitriptyline is a medicine used to treat depression.
Compare with disulfiram →
amphetamine/dextroamphetamine
Adderall, Adderall XR
Adderall XR is a stimulant medicine.
Compare with disulfiram →
aripiprazole
Abilify
Aripiprazole (Abilify) is a medicine used to treat certain mental disorders and mood problems.
Compare with disulfiram →
Compare beyond drug class
Nationwide peers by FAERS volume & death-report share
Two PlainMeds-derived comparison paths for disulfiram: nearest FDA FAERS report volume and nearest death-report share among drugs with at least 1,000 logged reports, excluding same-class neighbors listed above. Counts reflect reporting volume, not proven individual harm.
Similar FAERS report volume
Nearest drugs by total FAERS reports. This record: 1,076.
Similar death-report share
Nearest drugs by FAERS death-report share. This record: 10.32%.
- duloxetine Δ 0.01 pts · 65,067 reports · Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor (SNRI) 10.31%death share
- labetalol Δ 0.01 pts · 12,726 reports · Alpha/Beta-Blocker 10.33%death share
- rifampin Δ 0.03 pts · 13,451 reports · Rifamycin Antibiotic 10.28%death share
- chlorzoxazone Δ 0.03 pts · 1,256 reports · Muscle Relaxant 10.35%death share
Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
FDA bioequivalence and label-record context for narrow therapeutic index medicines
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
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What the FDA Data Shows for disulfiram
The FDA label for disulfiram (sold under brand names such as Antabuse) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Inhibitor class. Disulfiram helps manage chronic alcohol problems. Official labeling lists 6 commonly reported side effects, including Mild drowsiness, Tiredness, Headache.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 1,076 voluntary reports. The database also lists 8 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated moderate severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $1.55.
Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information are separate source-record fields. This page is a public FDA/CMS registry and does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. This registry does not provide medication decisions.
Last updated: October 5, 2023
PlainMeds is rendered directly from FDA openFDA/FAERS extracts, DailyMed labels, and CMS drug-pricing files, no number is typed in by an editor. FAERS counts, recalls, shortages, and price figures on this page are queried live from those federal extracts. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-05-15. Primary sources: openFDA / FAERS, DailyMed and CMS Part B ASP.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled from the source snapshot dated . See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a data issue.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book - approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed - NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) - post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm - standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files - federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database - current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages