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Disulfiram-like reaction with ornidazole: A case report of a rare interaction

Ertug Orhan1, Busra Orhan2, Cagrihan Ceylan1

  • 1Department of Emergency Medicine, Kocaeli State Hospital, Kocaeli, Türkiye.

Turkish Journal of Emergency Medicine
|May 15, 2026
PubMed

A disulfiram-like reaction (DLR) associated with ornidazole is a rare but important adverse drug-alcohol interaction. We report a 44-year-old female with no known comorbidities or drug allergies who presented to the emergency department with palpitations, nausea, vomiting, facial flushing, and acral hyperemia. Her symptoms began approximately 30 min after consuming two glasses of raki while receiving ornidazole for a pilonidal cyst. On examination, she was found to be hypotensive and tachycardic. Laboratory results were within normal limits. Her symptoms improved significantly with supportive care over 16 h. A Naranjo Adverse Drug Reaction Probability Scale score of 7 indicated a probable relationship with ornidazole. This case represents a rare instance of a DLR due to ornidazole monotherapy in a patient without chronic alcohol use. Clinicians should be aware of this potential interaction and advise patients to avoid alcohol consumption during ornidazole therapy to prevent DLRs.

Keywords:
Adverse reactionsdisulfiramdrug-related side effectornidazole

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