What information concerning disulfiram should you communicate to the patient

flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling);

sweating, increased thirst, swelling, rapid weight gain;

nausea, severe vomiting;

neck pain, throbbing headache, blurred vision;

chest pain, shortness of breath (even with mild exertion);

fast or pounding heartbeats or fluttering in your chest;

confusion, weakness, spinning sensation, feeling unsteady; or

a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out.

More severe symptoms may occur when disulfiram and large amounts of alcohol are used together, such as severe chest pain spreading to your jaw or shoulder, slow heart rate, weak pulse, seizure, fainting, weak or shallow breathing, or slow breathing (breathing may stop). A disulfiram-alcohol reaction can be fatal.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

eye pain or sudden vision loss;

confusion, unusual thoughts or behavior; or

liver problems--nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, tired feeling, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Common side effects may include:

skin rash, acne;

mild headache, tired feeling;

impotence, loss of interest in sex; or

metallic or garlic-like taste in the mouth.

You should not use disulfiram if you have recently taken metronidazole or paraldehyde, or if you have consumed any foods or products that contain alcohol (mouthwash, cough medicine, cooking wine or vinegar, certain desserts, and others).

Do not take disulfiram if you have consumed alcohol within the past 12 hours. Do not drink alcohol while taking disulfiram, and for up to 14 days after you stop taking this medicine.

Explanation: