Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 8, 2026
05:12
Chronic Intermittent Ethanol Vapor Exposure Paired with Two-Bottle Choice to Model Alcohol Use Disorder
Published on: June 23, 2023
1.7K
Disulfiram Induced Psychosis
Satyakam Mohapatra1, Nihar Ranjan Rath1
1Mental Health Institute, S.C.B. Medical College, Cuttack, India.
Summary
Disulfiram, used for alcohol dependence, can cause psychosis by inhibiting dopamine-betahydroxylase. Lower doses (250 mg) and caution in patients with psychosis history are recommended.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Disulfiram is a primary medication for alcohol dependence.
- Its metabolite, diethyldithiocarbamate, impacts neurotransmitter synthesis.
- Dopamine-betahydroxylase inhibition is a key mechanism.
Observation:
- Disulfiram's metabolite inhibits dopamine-betahydroxylase.
- This enzyme converts dopamine to norepinephrine.
- Inhibition can lead to psychosis.
Findings:
- Disulfiram treatment is associated with psychosis.
- The risk is linked to dopamine-betahydroxylase inhibition.
- Lower effective doses may mitigate risks.
Implications:
- Prescribing disulfiram requires careful patient selection.
- Consider patient history for personal and familial psychosis.
- Lowest effective dosage, e.g., 250 mg daily, is advised.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:27CNS Depressants: Alcohol and Nicotine
1.5K
Ethanol, a clear colorless alcohol, has been consumed by humans for millennia, but its effects on the body are far from benign. At lower doses, it induces decreased inhibitions and loquaciousness, leading to its social appeal. However, it can cause severe consequences at higher doses, such as coma and respiratory depression, due to its zero-order elimination kinetics. Chronic ethanol abuse wreaks havoc on multiple organ systems, particularly the CNS and the liver. Abrupt cessation of ethanol...
1.5K
01:26Psychosis: Goals of Pharmacotherapy
646
Antipsychotic drugs are a crucial treatment method for acute and chronic psychoses, bipolar illness, and behavioral disorders. The selection of these drugs depends on several factors, including the state of the disease, clinical judgment, possible drug interactions, and the patient's sensitivity to adverse effects. In immediate scenarios, such as delirium and dementia, short-term treatment with low doses of high-potency typical or atypical agents can effectively manage symptom exacerbation.
646
01:16Drug toxicity: Idiosyncratic Reactions
84
Idiosyncratic drug reactions represent abnormal chemical responses that vary significantly among individuals, ranging from extreme sensitivity to low doses to insensitivity to high doses. These reactions often occur due to the drug's covalent binding with serum proteins, forming a foreign hapten that triggers an immunotoxicological response. The variability in drug reactions has a strong pharmacogenetic foundation, with genetic differences crucial in how individuals metabolize drugs. For...
84
01:23Nonlinear Pharmacokinetics: Dependence of Elimination Half-Life and Dose Clearance
806
The elimination half-life and drug clearance of drugs following nonlinear kinetics can vary with dosage. The Michaelis-Menten parameters and drug concentration influence these factors. As the dose increases, the elimination half-life tends to lengthen, resulting in a reduction in clearance and a disproportionately larger area under the curve. The total clearance can be derived from the Michaelis-Menten equation for drugs following a one-compartment model.
A study on guinea pigs examined the...
A study on guinea pigs examined the...
806
01:12Acid Halides to Esters: Alcoholysis
4.2K
Alcoholysis is a nucleophilic acyl substitution reaction in which an alcohol functions as a nucleophile. Acid halides react with alcohol to produce esters. The mechanism proceeds in three steps:
4.2K
01:19Phase II Reactions: Sulfation and Conjugation with α-Amino Acids
1.1K
Sulfation and α-amino acid conjugation are two critical biotransformation reactions in drug metabolism. Sulfation, a phase II biotransformation reaction, involves adding a polar sulfate group to a drug, enhancing its water solubility and promoting excretion. This process can either co-occur with or occur independently of glucuronidation. Nonmicrosomal sulfotransferase enzymes catalyze the process. The reaction involves 3'-phosphoadenosine-5'-phosphosulfate or PAPS coenzyme...
1.1K