Dizone Tablet

Dizone Tablet – Disulfiram 250 mg by Ozone Pharmaceuticals

Dizone from Ozone Pharmaceuticals is Disulfiram Tablets IP 250 mg, used as a deterrent in the treatment of alcohol dependence. Its mechanism is unusually direct. The body normally breaks alcohol down in two steps: alcohol to acetaldehyde, then acetaldehyde to harmless acetate. Acetaldehyde is the toxic middle step and the substance behind most of a hangover. Disulfiram blocks the second enzyme, aldehyde dehydrogenase, so acetaldehyde piles up. Anyone who drinks while taking it experiences flushing, throbbing headache, nausea, vomiting, sweating, chest tightness and a racing heart within minutes – the disulfiram-alcohol reaction. Nothing about that is pleasant, and that is the entire point: it converts a decision made in the evening into one already made that morning, when the tablet was taken. It is prescribed only to people who understand the reaction and have agreed to it. Strip of 10 tablets.

Key Features

• Disulfiram Tablets IP 250 mg
• An alcohol deterrent – produces a strong, immediate reaction if alcohol is taken
• Blocks aldehyde dehydrogenase so toxic acetaldehyde accumulates
• A single daily tablet that removes the evening decision
• Strip of 10 tablets from Ozone Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

Composition

• Disulfiram IP – 250 mg
• Excipients q.s. As printed on the pack

Uses & Benefits

• Supports abstinence in people who have decided to stop drinking
• Removes the moment-to-moment decision by making drinking physically intolerable
• A single tablet a day – simple to supervise, which is why family-supervised dosing works well
• Most useful for people who are motivated but relapse impulsively
• Used as part of a treatment plan that includes counselling and follow-up

Directions for Use

• Take one tablet a day with water, or as your doctor directs, usually in the morning
• Never start it until you have been completely free of alcohol for at least 12 to 24 hours
• Many people take it under the supervision of a family member, which makes it far more effective
• The effect persists for up to two weeks after the last tablet – alcohol must be avoided throughout that period
• Do not increase the dose on your own. The reaction is dose-related and can be severe

Precautions

• Drinking alcohol on this medicine causes a violent reaction that can be dangerous, and has been fatal in rare cases. It is prescribed only to people who have understood and accepted this
• Hidden alcohol counts – cough syrups, tonics, mouthwash, aftershave, sauces, vinegars and some injections. Read every label
• Not for people with heart disease, severe liver disease, psychosis or a previous disulfiram reaction, and not in pregnancy
• Tell your doctor about diabetes, epilepsy, kidney or thyroid disease, and about every other medicine – metronidazole, warfarin, phenytoin and isoniazid all interact
• Report yellowing of the eyes or skin, dark urine, severe tiredness, numbness or tingling in the hands or feet, or any confusion at once. Liver function is monitored during treatment
• A metallic or garlic-like aftertaste and mild drowsiness in the first two weeks are common

Storage

• Store below 30°C in a dry place, protected from light
• Keep the tablets in the blister until use
• Keep well out of reach of children – this is not a medicine anyone should take by accident

Disclaimer

Schedule H prescription drug – to be sold by retail on the prescription of a Registered Medical Practitioner only. This information is for general awareness and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medicines for alcohol or nicotine dependence work as part of a treatment plan that includes counselling and support, and must be started and supervised by a doctor.