Question

A practitioner prescribes disulfiram (Antabuse) for a client who abuses alcohol. The nurse remembers that disulfiram will:

1 Affect short-term memory
2 Permit a healthier lifestyle
3 Allow him to tolerate small amounts of alcohol
4 Cause a severe adverse reaction if alcohol is consumed

Answer 1

Disulfiram (Antabuse) prevents acetaldehyde breakdown, leading to severe adverse reactions if alcohol is consumed. It is used to deter alcohol consumption, not to permit tolerance to alcohol or impact short-term memory directly.

Step-by-step explanation:

Disulfiram (Antabuse) is a medication prescribed for individuals who abuse alcohol. Its mechanism of action involves the inhibition of the enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase, which prevents the conversion of acetaldehyde to acetic acid. As a result, when a person on disulfiram consumes alcohol, they experience a buildup of acetaldehyde leading to unpleasant effects such as flushing, nausea, dizziness, sweating, headaches, and low blood pressure. Therefore, disulfiram causes a severe adverse reaction if alcohol is consumed, which can serve as a deterrent to drinking. Contrary to enabling the tolerance of small amounts of alcohol, it sensitizes the individual to the effects of alcohol, resulting in a potentiation of its adverse effects. This reaction is intentional, to encourage abstinence from alcohol, potentially leading to a healthier lifestyle if the individual abstains from alcohol consumption.