Calcium carbimide Alcohol

Calcium carbimide has effects and uses similar to those of disulfiram, and has been used in the treatment of chronic alcoholism (1). Its alternative name, cyanamide, has also been used to designate carbimide, which is used in veterinary medicine. 

Calcium carbimide has been linked to liver damage (3) (SED-12,1244), but caution is needed in attributing liver damage in alcoholic patients to drugs. 

Peachey JE. A review of the clinical use of disulfiram and calcium carbimide in alcoholism treatment. J Clin Psychopharmacol 1981 l(6) 368-75. 

Alcohol is also related to criminal activities. Chronic alcoholics have long been treated with alcohol-deterrent drugs such as disulfiram (Antabuse) and calcium carbimide (Temposil), which can produce abstinence rates of more than 50%. These drugs alter the way in which the body breaks down alcohol. A person taking antahuse who consumes alcohol will have a violent physical reaction to the alcohol - nausea, vomiting and rapid changes in blood pressure occur. 

Alcohol causes a disulilram-like reaction in patients taking calcium carbimide. Calcium carbimide has been used as an alcohol deterrent. 

Calcium carbimide interacts with alcohol in a similar way to disulfiram and by a similar mechanism (see Alcohol + Disulfiram , p.61). Both of these drugs bind to aldehyde dehydrogenase, but calcium carbimide is said to have fewer adverse effects because it does not bind to dopamine beta hydroxylase. However, marked cardiovascular effects and fatalities have occurred in those who drank alcohol while taking calcium carbimide. Like disulfiram it is used to deter alcoholics from continuing to drink. ... 

Kupari M, Hillbom M, Lindros K, Nieminen M. Possible cardiovascular hazards of the alcohol-calcium carbimide interaction. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol. (1982) 19, 79-86. 

Brown ZW, Amit Z, Smith B Sutherland EA, Selvaggi N. Alcohol-induced euphoria enhanced by disulfiram and calcium carbimide../4ZcofeoZCZm ji5pJ 5 (1983) 7,276-8. 

Citrated calcium carbimide (Abstem) is used as an allegedly less toxic substitute for disulfiram in the treatment of alcoholism. Peripheral neuropathy associated with its use has now been reported. 

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