Difiram 500mg Tablet is a medicine used in the treatment of alcohol addiction. It works by producing interaction with alcohol and thereby causing unpleasant effects like nausea, flushing of the face, headaches. Thus, it discourages the patient from taking alcohol while on this medication.

Difiram 500mg Tablet may be taken with or without food. Take this medicine as advised by your doctor and if you have missed a dose, take it as soon as you remember. Do not skip any doses and finish the full course of treatment. This medication mustn't be stopped suddenly without talking to your doctor. Remember while taking this medication, avoid alcohol in all forms including beer, wine, aftershave lotions, mouthwash, vinegar, and liquid medications.

Some common side effects of using this medication are headache, fatigue, drowsiness, decreased libido, and metallic taste. Initially, it may also cause dizziness and sleepiness, so do not drive or do anything that requires mental focus until you know how this medicine affects you. It is important to know that you should take this medicine in combination with a counseling program as it will provide extra help to maintain abstinence from alcohol. Remember it will take time, support, willpower, and determination to readjust the habit of not drinking.

Uses of Difiram Tablet

Treatment of Alcohol addiction

Benefits of Difiram Tablet

In Treatment of Alcohol addiction

Difiram 500mg Tablet is a medicine used, along with social support and counseling, to help people recover from alcohol addiction and to avoid having the urge to drink alcohol again. It causes sudden, undesirable effects when mixed with alcohol to help you refrain from alcohol, even if you are dependent on alcohol. It causes effects such as flushing of the face, headache, nausea, blurred vision, mental confusion etc., when even small amounts of alcohol are consumed.

Difiram 500mg Tablet starts working from the very first dose and is a very safe and effective way of treating alcohol addiction. Avoid taking foods containing alcohol like mouthwash, cough medicines, perfumes or deodorants, and even hair dyes as even small amounts of alcohol can trigger these unpleasant effects.

Side effects of Difiram Tablet

Most side effects do not require any medical attention and disappear as your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if they persist or if you’re worried about them

Common side effects of Difiram

Headache
Fatigue
Drowsiness
Metallic taste
Decreased libido

How to use Difiram Tablet

Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Swallow it as a whole. Do not chew, crush or break it. Difiram 500mg Tablet may be taken with or without food, but it is better to take it at a fixed time.

How Difiram Tablet works

Difiram 500mg Tablet blocks the chemical which breaks the converted form of alcohol in the body. This leads to an increased level of converted form of alcohol in the body causing bad physical features while drinking alcohol.

Safety advice

Alcohol

UNSAFE

It is unsafe to consume alcohol with Difiram 500mg Tablet.

Pregnancy

CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR

Difiram 500mg Tablet may be unsafe to use during pregnancy. Although there are limited studies in humans, animal studies have shown harmful effects on the developing baby. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and any potential risks before prescribing it to you. Please consult your doctor.

Breast feeding

CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR

Difiram 500mg Tablet is probably unsafe to use during breastfeeding. Limited human data suggests that the drug may pass into the breastmilk and harm the baby.

Driving

UNSAFE

Difiram 500mg Tablet may decrease alertness, affect your vision or make you feel sleepy and dizzy. Do not drive if these symptoms occur.

Kidney

CAUTION

Difiram 500mg Tablet should be used with caution in patients with kidney disease. Dose adjustment of Difiram 500mg Tablet may be needed. Please consult your doctor.

Liver

CAUTION

Difiram 500mg Tablet should be used with caution in patients with liver disease. Dose adjustment of Difiram 500mg Tablet may be needed. Please consult your doctor.

What if you forget to take Difiram Tablet?

If you miss a dose of Difiram 500mg Tablet, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular schedule. Do not double the dose.

All substitutes

For informational purposes only. Consult a doctor before taking any medicines.

Difiram 500mg Tablet

₹6.4/Tablet

Recopress 500mg Tablet

Leeford Healthcare Ltd

₹8.5/tablet

33% costlier

Alconol 500mg Tablet

Ind Swift Laboratories Ltd

₹15.93/tablet

149% costlier

Deaddict 500mg Tablet

Psychotropics India Ltd

₹16.5/tablet

158% costlier

Alcoquit 500mg Tablet

Cipla Ltd

₹7.2/tablet

12% costlier

Cronodol 500mg Tablet

Syncom Formulations India Limited

₹3.05/tablet

52% cheaper

View all substitutes

Quick tips

Difiram 500mg Tablet is used together with behavior modification, psychotherapy, and counseling support to help you stop drinking.
It works best for patients who can achieve initial abstinence of at least 12 hours, are committed to maintaining abstinence, and agree to take the medication.
While taking this medication, avoid alcohol in all forms including beer, wine, aftershave lotions, mouthwash, vinegar, certain desserts, colognes, and liquid medications.
When you first start taking it, you may feel dizzy, confused, tired, and weak. Don't drive or do anything that requires mental focus until you know how it affects you.
You may notice an aftertaste of either garlic or metal when you start taking Difiram 500mg Tablet. Inform your doctor if this does not go away.
Inform your doctor if you have a history of heart disease, liver or kidney disease, psychiatric problems, diabetes, or if you're allergic to latex rubber or pesticides.
Do not take it if you are pregnant, planning a pregnancy, or breastfeeding.

Fact Box

Chemical Class

Carbamate Derivative

Habit Forming

Therapeutic Class

NEURO CNS

Action Class

Alcohol deaddiction

Patient concerns

I have a problem with alcohol addiction

Dr. Aanchal Maheshwari

Ayurveda

Take gaharwar deaddiction capsule 1 capsule dailyDo ,yoga and meditation

Is kripa rehabilitation center Bangalore good for de-addiction of alcohol?

Dr. Jyoti Kapoor Madan

Psychiatry

I am not sure!

FAQs

Q. Is Difiram 500mg Tablet safe/dangerous?

Yes, Difiram 500mg Tablet is safe if used at prescribed doses for the prescribed duration in a hospital or specialized clinic as advised by your special doctor

Q. Is Difiram 500mg Tablet over-the-counter medicine?

No, Difiram 500mg Tablet is not an over-the-counter medicine. Difiram 500mg Tablet treatment for alcohol withdrawal should be initiated only in a hospital or specialized clinic and by experienced doctors only. Patients should follow advice of the doctor regarding its use

Q. Is Difiram 500mg Tablet addictive?

No, Difiram 500mg Tablet is not addictive. It is used to treat alcohol addiction and chronic alcoholism

Q. Does Difiram 500mg Tablet work?

Yes, Difiram 500mg Tablet works. Difiram 500mg Tablet is an aldehyde dehydrogenase inhibitor. It works by blocking the processing of alcohol in the body causing unpleasant feeling leading to alcohol withdrawal

Q. Does Difiram 500mg Tablet work for everyone?

Difiram 500mg Tablet works for chronic alcoholics who are cooperative and willing to give up alcoholism. Patients should follow advice of the doctor regarding its use

Q. Does Difiram 500mg Tablet stops cravings?

Difiram 500mg Tablet blocks the processing of alcohol in the body causing unpleasant feeling due to these unpleasant episodes, alcoholics abstain from alcohol Therefore, patients may avoid consuming alcohol to avoid unpleasant reactions upon consuming alcohol even days after stopping Difiram 500mg Tablet. It may not have any direct effects on cravings

Q. Does Difiram 500mg Tablet work immediately?

Yes, Difiram 500mg Tablet works on alcohol withdrawal as soon as you start the treatment

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Tata 1mg's sole intention is to ensure that its consumers get information that is expert-reviewed, accurate and trustworthy. However, the information contained herein should NOT be used as a substitute for the advice of a qualified physician. The information provided here is for informational purposes only. This may not cover everything about particular health conditions, lab tests, medicines, all possible side effects, drug interactions, warnings, alerts, etc. Please consult your doctor and discuss all your queries related to any disease or medicine. We intend to support, not replace, the doctor-patient relationship.

References

Stahl SM, editor. Disulfiram. In: Stahl's Essential Pschopharmacology: Prescriber's Guide. 5th ed. New York, New York: Cambridge University Press; 2014. pp. 195-97.
Schuckit MA. Ethanol and Methanol. In: Brunton LL, Chabner BA, Knollmann BC, editors. Goodman & Gilman’s: The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics. 12th ed. New York, New York: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2011. pp. 643-44.
Masters SB. The Alcohols. In: Katzung BG, Masters SB, Trevor AJ, editors. Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. 11th ed. New Delhi, India: Tata McGraw Hill Education Private Limited; 2009. p. 395.
Briggs GG, Freeman RK, editors. A Reference Guide to Fetal and Neonatal Risk: Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health; 2015. pp. 420-21.
Schuckit MA. Ethanol and Methanol. In: Brunton LL, Chabner BA, Knollmann BC, editors. Goodman & Gilman's: The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics. 12th ed. New York, New York: The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.; 2011. [Accessed 29 Jan. 2019] (online) Available from:
Disulfiram [Patient Information Leaflet]. Ahmedabad; Gujarat: Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd. [Accessed 25 Jul. 2024] (online) Available from:

Marketer details

Name: Shatayushi Healthcare Pvt Ltd

Address: arvinda ghosh marg, ramdaspeth, akola, maharashtra 444001

Country of origin: India

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