Presentation by Kacee Doan
Introduction:
Disulfiram, also referred to as tetraethylthiuram disulfide, is a drug that works to prevent alcohol consumption. It was first recognized as a potential preventative medicine by E.E. Williams, a physician, in 1937 (Skinner, 2014). This was due to rubber factory workers becoming ill after being exposed to disulfiram, which was used as an antioxidant there. When those exposed to disulfiram had alcohol in their bodies, they experienced unpleasant symptoms (Gaval-Cruz, 2009). Research was later done by Jens Hald, Erik Jacobsen, and Oluf Martensen-Larsen, to further learn about how disulfiram can work to treat alcoholism (Skinner, 2014). Around the 1950s was when disulfiram became more popular in its clinical use (Pattanayak, 2015). Disulfiram was the first medication approved by the FDA in 1951 to treat alcohol dependence (“Center for”, 2009). It is now one of the most commonly used drugs as a deterrent in treating alcoholism (Pattanayak, 2015).
Future Research
1. Perform further clinical trials on the effect of disulfiram towards cocaine abuse disorder to establish a more clear understanding of its effects.
2. Figure out a way to eliminate any of the minor side effects taken with disulfiram to ensure better conditions for patients prescribed to it.
3. Create a pregnancy safe version of disulfiram for mothers who are struggling with alcoholism while pregnant.
References
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Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. Incorporating Alcohol Pharmacotherapies Into Medical Practice. Rockville (MD): Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US); 2009. (Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series, No. 49.) Chapter 3—Disulfiram. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK64036/
Gaval-Cruz, M., & Weinshenker, D. (2009). Mechanisms of disulfiram-induced cocaine abstinence: Antabuse and cocaine relapse. Molecular Interventions, 9(4), 175–187. https://doi.org/10.1124/mi.9.4.6
Haile, C. N., de la Garza, R., Mahoney, J. J., Nielsen, D. A., Kosten, T. R., & Newton, T. F. (2012). The Impact of Disulfiram Treatment on the Reinforcing Effects of Cocaine: A Randomized Clinical Trial. PLoS ONE, 7(11), 7–14. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0047702
Juergens, J. (2020, June 18). Disulfiram: Alcoholism Treatment Medication. Addiction Center. https://www.addictioncenter.com/alcohol/disulfiram/
Johnson White, L. (1989). Disulfiram treatment of alcoholism. Annals of Internal Medicine, 111(11), 943–945. https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-111-11-943
Kerfoot, K. E., & Petrakis, I. L. (2013). Disulfiram for Alcohol and Other Drug Use. Interventions For Addiction, 367–374. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-398338-1.00038-5
Pattanayak, R., Sagar, R., & Pal, A. (2015). Tracing the journey of disulfiram: From an unintended discovery to a treatment option for alcoholism. Journal of Mental Health and Human Behaviour, 20(1), 41. https://doi.org/10.4103/0971-8990.164826
Skinner, M. D., Lahmek, P., Pham, H., & Aubin, H. J. (2014). Disulfiram efficacy in the treatment of alcohol dependence: A meta-analysis. PLoS ONE, 9(2). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0087366