Which medication is used for alcohol aversion therapy and is known by brand Antabuse?

Which medication is used for alcohol aversion therapy and is known by brand Antabuse?

• A. Disulfiram
• B. Naltrexone
• C. Acamprosate
• D. Methadone

Answer: (A)

Alcohol aversion therapy relies on creating a strong negative reaction to drinking. The medication used for this purpose is disulfiram, sold under the brand name Antabuse. It blocks the enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase, so when alcohol is consumed, acetaldehyde accumulates. That buildup triggers a cluster of unpleasant symptoms—flushing, rapid heart rate, sweating, nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, and sometimes low blood pressure—which most people find intolerable and thus avoid drinking. For this approach to work, the patient must adhere closely and avoid any sources of alcohol, including certain mouthwashes, cough syrups, and foods or products containing alcohol, because even small amounts can provoke a reaction if disulfiram is active. Other medications for alcohol use disorder work differently (for example, naltrexone reduces alcohol’s rewarding effects, acamprosate supports abstinence, and methadone is used for opioid dependence), but disulfiram is specifically the agent associated with the Antabuse brand and aversion therapy.

Alcohol aversion therapy relies on creating a strong negative reaction to drinking. The medication used for this purpose is disulfiram, sold under the brand name Antabuse. It blocks the enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase, so when alcohol is consumed, acetaldehyde accumulates. That buildup triggers a cluster of unpleasant symptoms—flushing, rapid heart rate, sweating, nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, and sometimes low blood pressure—which most people find intolerable and thus avoid drinking.

For this approach to work, the patient must adhere closely and avoid any sources of alcohol, including certain mouthwashes, cough syrups, and foods or products containing alcohol, because even small amounts can provoke a reaction if disulfiram is active. Other medications for alcohol use disorder work differently (for example, naltrexone reduces alcohol’s rewarding effects, acamprosate supports abstinence, and methadone is used for opioid dependence), but disulfiram is specifically the agent associated with the Antabuse brand and aversion therapy.