Lack of toxicity from concomitant directly observed disulfiram and isoniazid-containing therapy for active tuberculosis

Authors: Burman W. J.¹; Terra M.¹; Breese P.²; Cohn D.¹; Reves R.¹

Source: The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Volume 6, Number 9, September 2002 , pp. 839-842(4)

Publisher: International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease

Abstract:

We retrospectively evaluated the use of disulfiram among alcoholic patients being treated for active tuberculosis. There were 13 alcoholics treated with disulfiram, 105 alcoholics not on disulfiram, and 249 non-alcoholics. Rates of toxicity were higher among alcoholics than among non-alcoholics (58% vs. 32%), but there was no difference between alcoholics taking and those not taking disulfiram (61% vs. 57%). There were no neurological side effects in the disulfiram group. Disulfiram appeared to be safe when added to intermittent, directly observed isoniazid-containing tuberculosis treatment, and was useful in managing complications of alcohol abuse. However, the small number of patients on disulfiram limits the strength of this negative finding.

Keywords: disulfiram; isoniazid; drug-drug interaction; alcohol abuse; neurotoxicity; hepatotoxicity

Language: English

Document Type: Short communication

Affiliations: 1: Denver Public Health Department, and Department of Medicine (Division of Infectious Diseases), University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, Colorado, USA 2: Denver Public Health Department, Denver, Colorado, USA

Publication date: 2002-09-01

• The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease publishes articles on all aspects of lung health, including public health-related issues such as training programmes, cost-benefit analysis, legislation, epidemiology, intervention studies and health systems research. The IJTLD is dedicated to the continuing education of physicians and health personnel and the dissemination of information on tuberculosis and lung health world-wide.

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