Final answer:
Antabuse is a medication that causes unpleasant effects when combined with alcohol, deterring patients from consuming alcohol. It works by inhibiting the enzyme that metabolizes ethanol, leading to the accumulation of acetaldehyde. Alcohol must be avoided during treatment, and discontinuation should only be done under medical supervision.
Step-by-step explanation:
Important Information About Antabuse
Antabuse is a medication used as part of treatment for alcohol dependence. Its chemical action involves inhibiting the enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase, which plays a role in metabolizing ethanol. When someone taking Antabuse consumes alcohol, they experience unpleasant effects such as flushing, nausea, dizziness, sweating, headache, and low blood pressure due to the accumulation of acetaldehyde, a toxic intermediate metabolite of alcohol metabolism. Because of these effects, it is crucial to avoid alcohol while taking Antabuse.
It is also important to note that Antabuse should not be discontinued abruptly without medical supervision. In cases of methanol poisoning, ethanol, a type of alcohol that competes with methanol for the same metabolizing enzyme, is used as an antidote to prevent the formation of the toxic metabolite methanal, which can cause tissue damage and blindness.