In a multi-center trial of disulfiram (N=605 male veterans), the only adverse event that was significantly more frequent in the group that received 250 mg/day of disulfiram, other than those related to the disulfiram-ethanol interaction, was drowsiness, which was moderate or severe in 8% of patients treated with that dosage.23 More severe adverse events associated with disulfiram include hepatitis, neuropathy, optic neuritis, psychosis, and confusional states, which are rare, though their frequency is not documented in the literature.48 Because the disulfiram-ethanol interaction can present as an emergency, use of disulfiram to reduce drinking, rather than sustain abstinence, is not advised.
