[Disulfiram-induced peripheral neuropathies (author's transl)].

A 28-year-old woman experienced a confusional attack with hallucinations associated with moderate motor deficiency of the lower limbs during treatment with disulfiram 1 g/day. Later on, a temporary increase in disulfiram dosage to 1.75 g/day was followed by quadriplegia and paralysis of the facial and glosso-pharyngeal nerves. Paralysis regressed rapidly in the cranial and upper limb areas, but very slowly in the lower limbs. Disulfiram-induced peripheral neuropathies are not uncommon. They may take various forms, such as optic neuritis, polyneuritis of the limbs and, exceptionally, severe multiple paralysis with psychic disorders, as in the case reported here.