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What Causes Shortness Of Breath And Dizziness After Having Antabuse?

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Posted on Mon, 11 May 2015
Question: Hi I started antabuse 200 mg on saturday. I stopped taking it on tuesday as I felt extremely dizzy and short of breath. I have not had any experience of these symptoms before. I have other issues and take a similar drug to cocaine but not as potent. I have searched the web and can't figure out wheather, its the antabuse that is causing the side effects or if it might be that the cocaine substitutes I am taking increase the antabuse or the other way around. Does antabuse block the effect of cocaine( feel good, energy) then am I having withdrawal symptoms?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (46 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
No it does not act for cocaine

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for using Healthcaremagic.

I read your query and understand yoour concerns.

Antabuse no not interact with any receptor at which cocaine acts and so it does not interfere with action of cocaine. Even for alcohol it does not diminish pleasurable effect of alcohol but disrupts metabolism of alcohol which gives unpleasant side effects to the patient.

Antabuse is an inhibitor of enzyme suppressant through which (CYP450) metabolism of many drug occurs.

It is possible that antabuse raising the concentration of other molecule which you are taking for cocaine by inhibiting metabolizing enzyme. By this way it is possible that the concentration of that molecule will increase in body which will cause withdrawal symptoms of cocaine.

Having said this feeling dizzy and short of breath can be side effect of antabuse itself.

I hope this answers your question.
If you have more questions feel free to write back to me.
Thanks and regards


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (4 minutes later)
Ok because I read that it could decrease the feel good effect of cocaine. Could it be then that the cocaine increases the antabuse side effects or that antabuse increase the cocaine side effect?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (9 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
They do not have head to head interaction

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for reverting back to me.


Neither cocaine nor Antabuse affect each other`s metabolism and do not cause any significant interaction. You may get some news from internet contrary to my statement but the above fact is proved by science.

I hope this helps you.
If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you.
If not, you may close the discussion and if possible you may rate the answer for me, so that I get a good feedback.
In future if you wish to contact me directly, you can use the below mentioned link:
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-ashok-kumar/67386
Thanks and regards
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2000

Answered : 3350 Questions

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What Causes Shortness Of Breath And Dizziness After Having Antabuse?

Brief Answer: No it does not act for cocaine Detailed Answer: Hello, Thanks for using Healthcaremagic. I read your query and understand yoour concerns. Antabuse no not interact with any receptor at which cocaine acts and so it does not interfere with action of cocaine. Even for alcohol it does not diminish pleasurable effect of alcohol but disrupts metabolism of alcohol which gives unpleasant side effects to the patient. Antabuse is an inhibitor of enzyme suppressant through which (CYP450) metabolism of many drug occurs. It is possible that antabuse raising the concentration of other molecule which you are taking for cocaine by inhibiting metabolizing enzyme. By this way it is possible that the concentration of that molecule will increase in body which will cause withdrawal symptoms of cocaine. Having said this feeling dizzy and short of breath can be side effect of antabuse itself. I hope this answers your question. If you have more questions feel free to write back to me. Thanks and regards