page_title: Disulfiram
section_title: Cravings
hierarchical_section_title: Disulfiram / Problems / Cravings
caption_attribution_description: English: This 2006 image depicted an adolescent female in the process of receiving an intramuscular immunization in her left shoulder muscle, from a qualified nurse. The girl was assisting in the procedure by holding up her sleeve, while watching as the injection was administered. The nurse was using her free hand to stabilize the injection site. http://phil.cdc.gov/phil/details.asp ID 9400
context_page_description: Disulfiram is a medication used to treat chronic alcoholism. It is sold under the brand names Antabuse and Antabus.
  Disulfiram works by making people feel very sick if they drink alcohol. It is not a cure for alcoholism. Usually, alcoholics who take disulfiram also need to get counseling and support.
context_section_description: One of the symptoms of alcoholism is wanting alcohol very, very badly.  This is called craving.  An alcoholic feels like they need alcohol to live.
  One problem with disulfiram is that it does not stop alcohol cravings.  If an alcoholic takes disulfiram, they will keep craving alcohol, but will get very sick if they do drink.  Many alcoholics solve this problem by just not taking disulfiram.  One year-long study done in 1986 found that disulfiram did not seem to work.  However, the researchers found that only 20% of the alcoholics actually took their disulfiram.  The other 80% stopped taking disulfiram so they could drink alcohol without getting sick. 
  However, later studies found that when disulfiram is supervised - when someone watches an alcoholic take their disulfiram - the medication works.  Alcoholics getting supervised disulfiram drink less, go longer periods of time without drinking, and participate more in other treatments than alcoholics getting un-supervised disulfiram.  Family members, friends, clinics, or courts can make sure that alcoholics take their disulfiram.
  Disulfiram tablets can also be placed under the skin by a surgeon.  These tablets release disulfiram continuously for up to 12 weeks.  This makes it impossible for an alcoholic to decide not to take their disulfiram so they can drink.
  Also, a doctor can prescribe a newer drug, like naltrexone, along with disulfiram.  Naltrexone does block alcohol cravings.  The two drugs can work together to make it easier for the alcoholic not to drink.
caption: If disulfiram is injected, its effects last up to 12 weeks
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