BHU NO-2019
Pharmacology
Easy
The alcohol sensitizing drug that is used for the treatment of alcoholism is:
Appeared in: BHU NO-2019
Explanation
- Disulfiram is an alcohol-sensitizing agent used as a deterrent for alcohol dependence, a form of aversion therapy.
- It works by irreversibly inhibiting the enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase, which is critical for alcohol metabolism.
- This inhibition leads to a rapid accumulation of acetaldehyde if alcohol is consumed.
- The high level of acetaldehyde produces a highly unpleasant and severe physical reaction known as the Disulfiram-Ethanol Reaction (DER), which reinforces abstinence.
Why Other Options Were Wrong
- Option A: Haloperidol is a typical antipsychotic medication used to manage psychosis and schizophrenia; it does not have alcohol-sensitizing properties.
- Option B: Phenobarbitone is a barbiturate used as a sedative and anticonvulsant. It depresses the central nervous system but does not create a sensitizing reaction to alcohol.
- Option D: Carbamazepine is an anticonvulsant and mood stabilizer that does not cause alcohol sensitization.
Related Visual
Clinical Relevance
- Nursing practice connection: Knowing Pharmacological treatment of alcoholism using aversion therapy helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
- Patient education is a critical nursing responsibility before starting Disulfiram. Nurses must warn patients about hidden sources of alcohol in products like mouthwash, aftershave, certain sauces, and cough syrups to prevent accidental reactions.
- Nurses must obtain informed consent, ensuring the patient fully understands the severe consequences of drinking alcohol while on this medication. This reinforces that therapy is a commitment to total abstinence.
- The effects of Disulfiram can last for up to two weeks after the last dose. Patients must be educated to continue avoiding alcohol for this period to prevent a delayed reaction.
How to Approach the Question
- First, identify the key phrase in the question: 'alcohol sensitizing drug'. This refers to a medication that causes an adverse reaction when alcohol is consumed.
- Next, evaluate each option based on its primary pharmacological class and use.
- Recall or deduce that Haloperidol is an antipsychotic, used for mental health disorders, not alcoholism treatment via sensitization.
- Recognize Phenobarbitone as a barbiturate, which is a sedative and anticonvulsant.
- Identify Carbamazepine as another anticonvulsant, which is often used to manage alcohol withdrawal but does not cause a sensitizing reaction.
- Conclude that Disulfiram is the classic example of an alcohol-sensitizing agent used in aversion therapy for alcoholism, making it the correct answer.
Concept Tested & Keywords
- Concept Tested: Pharmacological treatment of alcoholism using aversion therapy.
- Stem keywords: alcohol sensitizing drug, treatment of alcoholism
- Lead-in keywords: BEST, MOST RELEVANT CLUE
- Negative lead-in flag: false
Question ID
QUOErl22npgBtJoOz-7Mwr
Reference Book
E6 Kaplan Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry-2022 (pp 1-3768 of 3768) p. 2183-2185
E6 Pharmacology KD Tripathi Essentials 9e Part 2 p. 156-158
E6 Robert Boland, Marcia L. Verduin - Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Text of Psychiatry-Wolters Kluwer Health (2024) (pp 1-16525 of 16525) p. 10933-10935
Practise the full BHU NO-2019
Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.
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