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Drug Interactions between Antabuse and caffeine

This report displays the potential drug interactions for the following 2 drugs:

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Interactions between your drugs

Minor

caffeine disulfiram

Applies to: caffeine and Antabuse (disulfiram)

Disulfiram may increase the cardiovascular and CNS-stimulant effects of caffeine. The mechanism may be related to inhibition of caffeine metabolism in liver microsomes. Patients should be advised to limit their caffeine intake while they are taking disulfiram, particularly if they are experiencing excessive irritability, nervousness or insomnia.

References (1)
  1. Beach CA, Mays DC, Guiler RC, et al. (1986) "Inhibition of elimination of caffeine by disulfiram in normal subjects and recovering alcoholics." Clin Pharmacol Ther, 39, p. 265-70

Drug and food interactions

Major

disulfiram food

Applies to: Antabuse (disulfiram)

CONTRAINDICATED: Consumption of ethanol during treatment with disulfiram may cause flushing, nausea, blurred vision, dyspnea, tachypnea, tachycardia, and hypotension. Death has been reported. The mechanism is probably related to inhibition of aldehyde dehydrogenase, the enzyme responsible for the oxidation of acetaldehyde to acetyl CoA. Accumulation of acetaldehyde probably results.

MANAGEMENT: Ethanol should be avoided in patients receiving disulfiram.

References (3)
  1. Jones RO (1949) "Death following the ingestion of alcohol in an antabuse treated patient." Can Med Assoc J, 60, p. 609-12
  2. Stoll D, King LE (1980) "Disulfiram-alcohol skin reaction to beer-containing shampoo." JAMA, 244, p. 2045
  3. van Ieperen L (1984) "Sudden death during disulfiram-ethanol reaction." S Afr Med J, 66, p. 165
Minor

caffeine food

Applies to: caffeine

The effect of grapefruit juice on the pharmacologic activity of caffeine is controversial. One report suggests that grapefruit juice increases the effect of caffeine. The proposed mechanism is inhibition of cytochrome P-450 metabolism of caffeine. However, a well-conducted pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic study did not demonstrate this effect. The clinical significance of this potential interaction is unknown.

References (2)
  1. (1995) "Grapefruit juice interactions with drugs." Med Lett Drugs Ther, 37, p. 73-4
  2. Maish WA, Hampton EM, Whitsett TL, Shepard JD, Lovallo WR (1996) "Influence of grapefruit juice on caffeine pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics." Pharmacotherapy, 16, p. 1046-52

Therapeutic duplication warnings

No warnings were found for your selected drugs.

Therapeutic duplication warnings are only returned when drugs within the same group exceed the recommended therapeutic duplication maximum.

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Drug Interaction Classification

These classifications are only a guideline. The relevance of a particular drug interaction to a specific individual is difficult to determine. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting or stopping any medication.
Major Highly clinically significant. Avoid combinations; the risk of the interaction outweighs the benefit.
Moderate Moderately clinically significant. Usually avoid combinations; use it only under special circumstances.
Minor Minimally clinically significant. Minimize risk; assess risk and consider an alternative drug, take steps to circumvent the interaction risk and/or institute a monitoring plan.
Unknown No interaction information available.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

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