title: Lack of toxicity from concomitant directly observed disulfiram and isoniazid-containing therapy for active tuberculosis.
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.
authors.affiliation: Denver Public Health Department, Colorado 80204, USA. bburman@dhha.org
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Burman
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Terra
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Breese
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cohn
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Reves
mesh_terms: D000427:Alcohol Deterrents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023801:Directly Observed Therapy; D004221:Disulfiram / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D007538:Isoniazid / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000427:Alcohol Deterrents; D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D004221:Disulfiram; D007538:Isoniazid