Antabuse tablets contain disulfiram 200mg, a medication that is useful in assisting chronic alcoholics to maintain an abstinent state.
Disulfiram blocks acetaldehyde dehydrogenase, the enzyme responsible for metabolising alcohol into harmless acetic acid. By blocking the metabolism of alcohol, the person taking Antabuse tablets will have an extremely unpleasant set of symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, throbbing headache, breathing difficulty, flushing and heart palpitations. In other words, a severe hangover.
Such treatment acts as a strong deterrent to drinking. Treatment with Antabuse is usually accompanied by a support program with counselling.
Treatment with Antabuse should only be initiated after the patient has ceased drinking for at least 24 hours.