Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience  2017;15(1):68-69

doi:10.9758/cpn.2017.15.1.68

Disulfiram Induced Psychosis.

Satyakam MOHAPATRA 1 ; Nihar Ranjan RATH

Affiliations

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Keywords

Disulfiram; Psychosis; Side effect

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

English

Abstract

Disulfiram is the commonly prescribed drug for the treatment of alcohol dependence. It's major metabolite (diethyldithiocarbamate) is an inhibitor of dopamine-betahydroxylase, an enzyme that catalyzes the metabolism of dopamine to norepinephrine resulting in psychosis. We recommend that disulfiram should be used at the lowest effective dose, possibly 250 mg daily and caution should be taken while prescribing disulfiram for patients with personal and familial antecedents of psychosis.