Disulfiram is a drug used in the treatment of?

Appeared in: RRB Staff Nurse Kolkata-2015

Explanation

Disulfiram is an aversive therapy agent specifically indicated for the management of chronic alcoholism in patients who want to remain in a state of enforced sobriety.
Its mechanism involves irreversibly inhibiting the enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase, which is crucial for the metabolism of alcohol.
This inhibition leads to a rapid and significant increase in acetaldehyde concentration if alcohol is ingested, causing a highly unpleasant physical reaction (the disulfiram-alcohol reaction).
The fear of experiencing this severe reaction serves as a powerful deterrent to prevent the patient from consuming alcohol.

Option A: Malaria is a parasitic infection caused by Plasmodium protozoa.
Option B: AIDS is a viral disease caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
Option D: Mania is a mood state characterized by elevated energy, mood, and activity, often associated with bipolar disorder.

Visual 1: Flowchart: Illustrating the metabolic pathway of alcohol. One path shows normal breakdown into acetate. The second path shows the effect of Disulfiram, which blocks aldehyde dehydrogenase, leading to a buildup of toxic acetaldehyde and causing the associated symptoms.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Pharmacotherapy for Alcohol Use Disorder helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Patient education is a critical nursing responsibility. The nurse must ensure the patient and their family understand that absolutely no alcohol can be consumed. This includes checking labels on food, drinks, and even non-oral products like mouthwash and perfumes.
Nurses must assess for contraindications before therapy begins, such as severe heart disease, psychosis, or pregnancy, as the disulfiram-alcohol reaction can be life-threatening in these individuals.
Monitoring liver function is essential, as disulfiram can be hepatotoxic. Baseline and periodic liver function tests (LFTs) are required.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core of the question, which is asking for the therapeutic use of a specific drug, 'Disulfiram'.
This is a direct recall question from pharmacology. Access your knowledge base about drugs used in the management of substance use disorders.
Recall that Disulfiram is the classic 'aversion therapy' drug for alcoholism. Its entire purpose is to make drinking alcohol an extremely unpleasant experience.
Systematically evaluate each option. Is Disulfiram an antimalarial? No. An antiretroviral for AIDS? No. A mood stabilizer for mania? No.
Confirm that its use in alcoholism is its primary, FDA-approved indication. Select 'Alcoholism' as the correct answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.