A placebo-controlled double-blind comparative clinical study of the disulfiram- and calcium carbimide-acetaldehyde mediated ethanol reactions in social drinkers.

Treatment for 2 days with disulfiram (3.5 mg/kg once daily) and calcium carbimide (0.7 mg/kg twice daily) in social drinkers produced, as compared to controls, similar blood ethanol values, 2- to 3-fold increases in blood acetaldehyde, respectively, and increased heart rate, pulse pressure, skin temperature, and flushing following 0.15 g/kg of ethanol taken 12 hr after the last drug administration. Peak blood acetaldehyde concentration was greater for calcium carbimide compared to disulfiram (p less than 0.05) and subjects treated with calcium carbimide experienced greater discomfort compared to disulfiram due to palpitations and shortness of breath, and they reported less intention to drink during the reaction. However, neither drug produced sufficient aversion to curtail further drinking totally. With repeated drinks, there was an overall reduction of blood acetaldehyde concentration for calcium carbimide of 85% and for disulfiram of 35%. These data may provide a biochemical basis for the claims of certain alcoholics that they can drink to "burn off" the effects of these drugs.