Side Effects of Antabuse

Can Antabuse Cause Side Effects?

Even if a person doesn’t drink or consume alcohol, Antabuse can still cause some side effects. Some common side effects include acne, drowsiness, fatigue, impotence, a strange taste of metal or garlic in the mouth, skin rash, and mild headache.[1] While these side effects usually aren’t serious, talk to a doctor if they seem severe or last a while.

Potential signs that Antabuse is having a more serious effect on a person include severe tiredness, weakness, lack of energy, vomiting, severe nausea, appetite loss, yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundicing), and dark urine. If you experience any of these symptoms, contact your doctor immediately or call 911, as they may signal life-threatening issues.

Breaking Down the Side Effects of Antabuse

Antabuse can cause physical, psychological, behavioral, and sexual side effects. We note some of these in the chart below and then discuss each type of side effect in more detail below:[2,3]

Physical Side Effects

The disulfiram in Antabuse has been linked to a number of different side effects. The medication can cause skin problems, like itchiness, rashes, and acne, but these complications are reportedly relatively rare. 

More concerning are reports of the medication causing serious problems with the liver and heart.[4] People who have health conditions affecting these areas are usually not prescribed this medication as a safety measure, even if it otherwise would be a good fit. 

Antabuse can also cause seizures and inflammation of the eye, two symptoms which should also be treated as serious and reported to a doctor immediately if experienced.[5]

Psychological Side Effects

Psychiatric adverse effects are rare when a person uses Antabuse, but they can be serious if they do occur. A person may suffer a break from reality, acting illogically and believing, hearing, and seeing things that aren’t real. Some people enter confusion states when on the medication, temporarily losing their understanding of the world around them and what they’re doing.[2] 

Some people go mute, not speaking, and some even enter a stupor, becoming completely unresponsive. Memory impairment and headbanging, where a person repeatedly bangs their head for no logical reason, have also been reported.[2,6]

Behavioral Side Effects

Beyond where they overlap with certain psychiatric side effects listed above, Antabuse isn’t typically associated with many behavioral side effects. The primary purpose of the medication, helping a person avoid alcohol, will typically be an effect of the drug, but this is less a direct effect of the medication and more because a user knows alcohol will cause them to feel unwell if used. 

If a person experiences sexual side effects, they may engage in less sexual behavior, either because they feel incapable or embarrassed.[3] If this occurs, talk to your doctor if these effects are significantly impacting your quality of life.

Sexual Side Effects

Antabuse can affect men and women differently when it comes to sexual side effects.

Males

Several sources have linked disulfiram use to sexual dysfunction in alcohol-dependent men who use the drug. Common complaints include impotence, reduced sexual performance, and difficulty achieving orgasm.[3]

Females

Research seems to indicate that disulfiram usually only causes sexual dysfunction in males. 

What Are the Short-Term vs. Long-Term Side Effects of Taking Antabuse?

The following table breaks down both short-term and long-term side effects of Antabuse:[1,2]

In the short term, using Antabuse can be challenging for some people. Without other types of treatment (like behavioral therapy), you may not notice much change in your cravings for alcohol. Instead, the medication just deters you from drinking, as it makes alcohol unpleasant to consume. 

You will also experience some other side effects that can be unpleasant. Many users feel like they have less energy, and some men report a decrease in sexual function.

In the long term, the medication should get easier to handle. When combined with continued addiction therapy, it can be a useful tool for some people to avoid drinking. 

Work with your doctor and monitor how you feel and behave. Immediately report any side effects to your doctor. While there are a variety of serious side effects associated with disulfiram, issues related to the heart and liver are most concerning, so report these promptly.[7] 

Not the Only Choice

Antabuse is not as commonly used as it once was due to the potential for more severe reactions and side effects.[8] Talk to your treatment team about whether Antabuse or another form of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is the right form of alcohol addiction treatment for you.