Adverse effects of disulfiram and patient compliance

Use of Disulfiram under supervision in well-motivated alcoholics is effective in reducing relapse rates. Several adverse effects, some of them life-threatening, have been reported due to the drug. An awareness of the adverse effects is useful to keep a follow up and sustain patient compliance with the drug. This study of 158 out patients on daily oral disulfiram revealed that though many patients report unpleasant effects most of them could not be distinguished from symptoms of alcoholism present before taking disulfiram and hence cannot be considered as adverse effects of the drug. The actual adverse symptoms were also mild and could be easily managed and were infrequent and not the common cause for poor patient compliance. The study suggests that Disulfiram with its low toxicity can be offered to patients without too much reservation.