NIMHANS Nursing Officer - 2019
Pharmacology
Easy
Side effects of Disulfiram sulphate is?
Appeared in: NIMHANS Nursing Officer - 2019
Explanation
- Disulfiram is an alcohol-aversive agent that causes a severe, unpleasant reaction when alcohol is consumed.
- It works by inhibiting the enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase, leading to the accumulation of acetaldehyde, a toxic byproduct of alcohol metabolism.
- This accumulation, known as acetaldehyde syndrome, results in a characteristic set of symptoms including flushing, a throbbing headache, nausea, vomiting, palpitations, chest pain, and hypotension.
- The listed symptoms in the correct option are the classic signs of this disulfiram-ethanol reaction.
Why Other Options Were Wrong
- Option B: While drowsiness can be a side effect of disulfiram alone, this cluster of symptoms is not the hallmark of the acute disulfiram-ethanol reaction. A decreased level of consciousness would indicate a very severe reaction or simple alcohol intoxication.
- Option C: Abdominal pain and cramping are symptoms of the disulfiram-ethanol reaction, but this option is incomplete and does not capture the most prominent and characteristic cardiovascular and neurological effects.
- Option D: This describes a psychological state or a symptom of an anxiety disorder, not a direct pharmacological side effect of disulfiram.
Related Visual
Clinical Relevance
- Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Pharmacology: Disulfiram-ethanol reaction and its associated symptoms as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
- Nurses must provide extensive patient education on avoiding all sources of alcohol, including 'hidden' alcohol in foods, sauces, and hygiene products, to prevent a potentially life-threatening reaction.
- Monitoring liver function is a key nursing responsibility, as disulfiram carries a risk of hepatotoxicity.
- A patient taking disulfiram should be advised to wear a medical alert bracelet or carry a card detailing their use of the medication.
How to Approach the Question
- First, identify the keyword in the question: 'Disulfiram sulphate'.
- Recall the primary use of this drug, which is as an aversive therapy for alcohol use disorder.
- Remember its mechanism of action: it blocks the enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase, which is crucial for breaking down alcohol.
- Connect this mechanism to its effect: blocking the enzyme causes a buildup of toxic acetaldehyde when alcohol is consumed.
- Review the options to find the one that lists the known symptoms of acetaldehyde syndrome (the disulfiram-ethanol reaction).
- The most comprehensive list, including flushing, headache, nausea, and cardiovascular effects, will be the correct answer.
Concept Tested & Keywords
- Concept Tested: Pharmacology: Disulfiram-ethanol reaction and its associated symptoms.
- Stem keywords: Disulfiram sulphate, side effects
- Lead-in keywords: BEST, MOST RELEVANT CLUE
- Negative lead-in flag: false
Question ID
QxdUIm6QHjY37j_sG4Vey
Reference Book
E6 Pharmacology Nursing Lilley 11e Part 1 p. 302-304
E6 Kaplan Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry-2022 (pp 1-3768 of 3768) p. 2184-2186
E6 Robert Boland, Marcia L. Verduin - Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Text of Psychiatry-Wolters Kluwer Health (2024) (pp 1-16525 of 16525) p. 10934-10936
Practise the full NIMHANS Nursing Officer - 2019
Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.
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