Journal of the American Medical Association · 1951 · 21 citations · 4 references
MedicineCardiologyPharmacologyAlcohol ToxicologyCardiovascular PharmacotherapySubstance Use DisordersCardiovascular DiseaseCoronary Artery DiseaseHeart FailureBlood PressureCardiac OutputCardiovascular Complications Of OverdoseCardiovascular Drug ToxicityCardiovascular Effects Of AlcoholCardiovascular Toxicity In IntoxicationElectrocardiographic ChangesElectrocardiographic Intervals
Recent reports on tetraethylthiuramdisulfide (antabuse®) therapy of alcoholism have stressed the fact that the presence of myocardial failure or coronary disease<sup>1</sup>should make the physician hesitate before instituting this type of therapy; yet only one of these reports<sup>1c</sup>describes any severe cardiac effects that may be encountered. It is generally stated or implied that during a tetraethylthiuramdisulfide-alcohol reaction there is an increased cardiac output and therefore an increase in cardiac work,<sup>1a,b</sup>but that "there is no serious risk of too heavy a load on the heart."<sup>2</sup>It was recognized early that after the initial rise in pulse rate to 120-140 that is associated with a fairly stable blood pressure there might be a considerable fall in blood pressure occurring from 30 to 60 minutes after ingestion of alcohol in a patient receiving tetraethylthiuramdisulfide,<sup>3</sup>although fully developed collapse was never seen. Electrocardiographic changes have been reported,
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