Week 6 - Stimulants and Disulfiram (Antabuse)
Stimulants:
Use: provide temporary improvements in physical and/or mental functioning, elevating mood
and increasing feelings or wellbeing, energy and alertness
Mechanism of Action: disrupts the brains dopamine release and utilization
3 generic/trade name medications for this category: Adderall /Dextroamphetamineamphetamine, Ritalin/Methylphenidate, Dexedrine/Dextroamphetamine
Side effects: enhanced awareness, wakefulness, endurance, weight loss, cravings, muscle spasms
Warnings: can lead to addiction so monitor dosage effectiveness frequently, can cause damage
to nervous system, monitor safety and fall risk
Client teachings: Avoid use of illegal stimulants and over use of OTC or prescription stimulants
as they can lead to dependency.
Disulfiram/Antabuse:
Use: Acts as a deterrent to alcohol ingestion by the unpleasant side effects that occur when
mixed with alcohol.
Mechanism of Action: inhibition of enzyme acetaldehyde dehydrogenase which is the
metabolized for alcohol in the body
Side effects: Pulsating headache, convulsions, tachycardia, violent vomiting, chest pain,
psychosis, disorientation
Warnings: Caution use in patients with severe myocardial disease, multiple drug dependence,
Diabetes mellitus, epilepsy, hypothyroidism, coronary artery disease, cerebral damage, chronic
and acute nephritis, abnormal EEG
Client teachings: Understand the dangers of ingesting alcohol while on this medication, chec all
labels on all products for any amounts of alcohol, follow up studies will need to be done
periodically (10-14 days for hepatic dysfunction and CBC every 6 months)
References
What are stimulants?: Caron. Caron Treatment Centers. (n.d.). Retrieved August 2, 2022, from
https://www.caron.org/addiction-101/drug-use/what-are-stimulants
Week 6 - Stimulants and Disulfiram (Antabuse)