alcohol and disulfiram B.Pharmacy 4th Semester 2024 (2023-2024) Previous Year's Question Papers/Notes Download - HK Technical PGIMS

Alcohols and Disulfiram
Alcohol (Ethanol)
1. Pharmacology of ethanol:
CNS Ethanol suppresses CNS by activating GABAA receptor. Can cross
BBB. Euphoria, Excitation, Slurring of speech, impaired memory.
Alcohol is a 5HT3 agonist: Alcohol cause nausea and vomiting.
CVS Medium dose: Tachycardia, BP increase.
High dose: Vasodilatation occurs, Respiratory center depress,
Vasomotor center depress, and BP falls.
Kidney Diuresis occurs by inhibiting Anti-diuretic hormone (ADH).
Carbohydrate
metabolism
High dose of ethanol cause hypoglycemia.
Uterus Relax
Locomotor
activity
Ataxia (poor muscle coordination)
2. Mode of action
Alcohol suppresses CNS by activating GABAA receptor.
Ethanol binds on α subunit of GABAA receptor
Hyperpolarisation of neurolemma occurs by opening chloride ion channel.
Post synaptic inhibition occur3. Metabolism of Alcohol:
 Alcohol is metabolized by alcohol dehydrogenase enzyme in liver.
 Alcohol dehydrogenase metabolizes alcohol to acetaldehyde, a highly toxic
substance and known carcinogen.
 Acetaldehyde reaches blood circulation causing sickess, nausea, vomiting,
headache, and hangover.
 Acetaldehyde dehydrogenase breaks aldehyde to acetate and eliminates it
from the body.Disulfiram (Treatment of chronic alcohol dependence)
1. A disulfiram-like drug is a drug that inhibits aldehyde dehydrogenase and
cause adverse reaction to alcohol like nausea, vomiting, flushing, dizziness,
throbbing headache, chest and abdominal discomfort, and general hangover-
like symptoms which is enough for a person to leave drinking.
2. Disulfiram is a drug used to treat chronic alcohol dependance.
Metabolism of Ethanol
1. Alcohol dehydrogenase metabolise ethanol to aldehyde.
2. Acetaldehyde dehydrogenase breaks aldehyde to acetate and eliminates it from
the body.
Mode of Action of Disulfiram:
1. Disulfiram works by inhibiting the enzyme acetaldehyde dehydrogenase,
which convert acetaldehyde to acetate. Thus levels of aldehyde increases in
blood.
2. Acetaldehyde reaches blood circulation causing sickess, nausea, vomiting,
headache, and hangover, which is enough to leave drinking.