When alcohol is consumed it is metabolized by the body into acetaldehyde, a very toxic substance that causes many hangover symptoms heavy drinkers experience. Usually, the body continues to oxidize acetaldehyde into acetic acid, which is harmless. Antabuse interferes with this metabolic process, stops the process with the production of acetaldehyde and prevents the oxidation of acetaldehyde into acetic acid. Because of this, antabuse will cause a build up of acetaldehyde five or 10 times greater than normally occurs when someone drinks alcohol.
What Are the Effects? - top of page
The high concentration of acetaldehyde that occurs when someone drinks while taking antabuse can cause reactions that range widely from mild to severe, depending on how much antabuse and how much alcohol is consumed, none of which are pleasant.
If you drink while taking antabuse, you can experience these symptoms:
- Flushing
- Nausea
- Copious Vomiting
- Sweating
- Thirst
- Throbbing in the Head and Neck
- Throbbing Headache
- Respiratory Difficulty
- Chest Pain
- Palpitations
- Dyspnea
- Hyperventilation
- Tachycardia
- Hypotension
- Syncope
- Marked Uneasiness
- Weakness
- Vertigo
- Blurred Vision
- Confusion