Mechanisms of Disulfiram-induced Cocaine Abstinence: Antabuse and Cocaine Relapse

Disulfiram inhibition of ethanol metabolism. Ethanol is first converted into acetaldehyde by alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH). Acetaldehyde is then transformed into acetate by aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). Disulfiram inhibits ALDH and thereby results in "the disulfiram-ethanol reaction" that promotes abstinence from alcohol. See text for details.