Disulfiram Caffeine

Drugs that may interact with disulfiram include alcohol, benzodiazepines, caffeine, chlorzoxazone, cocaine, hydantoins, isoniazid, metronidazole, theophylline, tricyclic antidepressants, and warfarin. 

Caffeine cannot sober a drunk or save someone who is lethargic or unconscious from an overdose of a sedating drug. However, because caffeine lowers stomach pH, it can affect the absorption of other substances. Other drugs such as oral contraceptives, cimetidine, disulfiram, and alcohol can delay the body s ability to rid itself of caffeine. 

Beach CA, Mays DC, GuUer RC, Jacober CH, Gerber N. Inhibition of ehmination of caffeine by disulfiram in normal subjects and recovering alcoholics. Clin Pharmacol Ther 1986 39(3) 265-70. 

A study in healthy subjects and recovering alcoholics found that disulfiram 250 or 500 mg daily reduced the clearance of caffeine by about 30%, but a few of the alcoholics had a more than 50% reduction. As a result the levels of caffeine in the body increased. Raised levels of caffeine can cause irritability, insomnia and anxiety, similar to the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. As coffee consumption is often particularly high among recovering aleoholics, there is the risk that they may turn to alcohol to calm themselves down. To avoid this possible complication it might be wise for recovering alcoholics not to drink too much tea or coffee. Decaffeinated coffee and tea are widely available. 

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