De Quit Tablets

De Quit Tablet is a medicine used to treat alcoholism. The active ingredient of De Quit Tablet is disulfiram. When alcohol is ingested after taking De Quit Tablets, the levels of a substance called acetaldehyde is increased in the body which causes highly distressing physical symptoms like burning sensation, reddening of the skin, increase in body temperature, nausea, vomiting, rashes and itching, throbbing headache, vision disturbances, dizziness, sweating, uneasinessandconfusion, which may stop the individual from further drinking alcohol.

You should take this medicine only if it is recommended by your doctor. Do not take this medicine on your own. You should not take De Quit Tablet if you have consumed alcohol in the past 24 hours.

This medicine is to be used only in adults.

Dosage

Overdose

Symptoms of overdose of De Quit Tablet include nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhoea, sleepinessandweakness. If you think you have taken too much of this medicine, contact your doctor immediately or visit the nearest hospital.

Missed a Dose

You should never miss your dose of medicines. However, if you missed any dose of the medicine, take it as soon as you remember. If it's time for your next dose, then skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to compensate for the missed one.

Mode of Action

How Does It Work?

• De Quit Tablet stops the function of a certain chemical in the body that is required for the complete breakdown of alcohol. When the function of this chemical is stopped, an incomplete breakdown of alcohol into a substance called acetaldehyde takes place.
• The increased levels of this acetaldehyde in the body cause unpleasant physical symptoms. Thus, if an individual taking De Quit Tablets drinks alcohol, he/she will experience highly unpleasant physical symptoms.

Directions for Use

• Take this medicine as a whole with sufficient water.
• Always take this medicine exactly as prescribed by your doctor.
• Do not consume more than the prescribed dose.
• Do not discontinue the medicine on your own without consulting your doctor.

Precautions and Warnings

Pregnancy

Can I take De Quit Tablets during pregnancy?

The use of De Quit Tablets during the first three months of pregnancy is to be avoided. Even though the cases of birth defects in children of mothers who used De Quit Tablets during pregnancy are rare, it is suggested that De Quit Tablets should not be used during pregnancy to avoid any risks to the developing baby.

Breast Feeding

Can I take De Quit Tablets while breastfeeding?

There is limited information available regarding the excretion of De Quit Tablet in human breastmilk. Hence, to avoid any possibility of interaction of the medicine with the suckling infant, do not use this medicine during breastfeeding.

Driving

Can I drive if I have consumed De Quit Tablets?

De Quit Tablet may cause drowsiness and sleepiness. If you experience these symptoms after taking De Quit Tablet which may affect your ability to drive safely, it is suggested that you do not drive.

Alcohol

Can I consume alcohol with De Quit Tablets?

The ingestion of alcohol after taking De Quit Tablet will lead to an interaction between the medicine and alcohol. This can cause highly distressing physical symptoms like burning sensation, reddening of the skin, increase in body temperature, nausea, vomiting, rashes and itching, throbbing headache, vision disturbances, dizziness, sweating, uneasiness and confusion which can be potentially dangerous. Thus, it is recommended that individuals who are taking De Quit Tablet should avoid the ingestion of alcohol.

Other General Warnings

Talk to your doctor if

• You have any kind of kidney, liver, or lung disease.
• You have thyroid problems or you are diabetic
• You have or have a history of epilepsy or brain damage.
• You have galactose intolerance, total lactase deficiency or glucose-galactase malabsorption.
• You develop signs and symptoms of liver injury (yellowing of the skin and eyes, weakness, stomach pain and swelling, swelling in legs and ankles, itchy skin, dark coloured urine, pale stool colour, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and easy bruising).

Contraindications

• If you are allergic to disulfiram or any other ingredient of De Quit Tablets.
• If you have chronic heart failure or coronary artery disease (a condition where major blood vessels supplying blood to the heart are narrowed).
• If you have ever had a cerebrovascular accident (stroke, where blood flow to a part of your brain is stopped either due to blockage or damage of a blood vessel).
• If you have increased blood pressure.
• If you have a severe personality disorder.
• If you have any kind of mental illness.
• If you have consumed alcohol in the past 24 hours.

Side effects

• Rashes
• Metallic taste
• Weakness
• Nervousness
• Stomach upset

Interactions

Interactions with other medicines

• Some medicines can affect the way De Quit Tablet worksor De Quit Tablet itself can reduce the effectiveness of other medicines taken at the same time.
• Tell your doctor about all medicines, supplementsor herbals you are currently taking or might take to avoid any possible interaction.
• De Quit Tablet may increase the intensity of the unpleasant physical symptoms when taken along with amitriptyline or chlorpromazine.
• De Quit Tablet may increase the sedative effect of benzodiazepines (chlordiazepoxide, diazepam).
• The dose adjustment may be required for phenytoin, theophyllineandwarfarin when these medicines are taken along with De Quit Tablets.
• Care should be taken when pimozide, isoniazid, metronidazole, paraldehydeandrifampicin are taken along with De Quit Tablets.

Storage and disposal

• Store in a cool and dry place below 25°C. away from direct sunlight.
• Keep it out of reach of children and pets.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I drink non-alcoholic or alcohol-free beverages after taking De Quit Tablets?

Care should be taken when you consume non-alcoholic or alcohol-free beverages after taking De Quit Tablets. Consuming these non-alcoholic and alcohol-free beverages in sufficient quantities may provoke a reaction between the beverage and medicine, leading to highly distressing physical symptoms which may also be potentially dangerous. Thus, it is suggested that you do not drink non-alcoholic or alcohol-free beverages after taking this tablet.

What is a disulfiram reaction?

Consuming alcohol after taking De Quit Tablets can lead to the interaction between the medicine and alcohol. This is known as a disulfiram reaction. This reaction causes highly unpleasant physical symptoms like burning sensation, reddening of the skin, increase in body temperature, nausea, vomiting, rashes and itching, throbbing headache, vision disturbances, dizziness, sweating, uneasiness and confusion which can also be potentially dangerous.

What other precautions should I take when consuming De Quit Tablets?

There are certain foods, liquid medicines, remedies, tonics, toiletries, perfumes and aerosol sprays that may contain sufficient alcohol quantity to elicit a disulfiram reaction. Thus, it is best to avoid foods and products that contain alcohol. You should always consult your doctor if you are not sure about whether a certain food or product can be used along with De Quit Tablet.

When and for how long should I take De Quit Tablets?

The doctor will suggest you the best time of the day to take De Quit Tablet depending on your condition, other medications that you take, food and lifestyle habits. De Quit Tablet should be taken at the same dose and same frequency exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Your doctor will advise you on how long you should continue to take this medicine. Do not stop taking this medicine without consulting your doctor.