Calcium Carbimide is an Antidipsotropic

Antidipsotropic medications are designed to produce severe, unpleasant and often violent reactions when taking in combination of alcohol. They are prescribed to people who have chronic alcoholism and it is believed that a person will develop an aversion to alcohol because of the reactions.

Calcium Carbimide is an alcohol sensitizing agent. It is sold under the brand name Temposil, or Abstem in the United States, and is known to interfere with the metabolising of alcohol in the body. Temposil is prescribed to individuals who are undergoing treatment for alcoholism as it can help to make a person stop drinking because of the effects it produces.

Temposil and Alcohol Treatment

Temposil has been found to produce effects that are similar to disulfiram. It is often prescribed in conjuction with other therapies when treating a person who suffers from alcoholism. It is not designed to be used for people who have mild to moderate alcohol abuse issues. Because the drug produces a severe unpleasant reaction when taken with alcohol, it is presumed that this strengthens an individuals overall aversion to alcohol. It is also believed that ingesting of calcium carbimide contributes to long term relapse prevention and improved bodily outcomes which can support the recovery process.

How Calcium Carbimide Works

Calcium carbimide has been found to block the metabolising of alcohol in the liver. It works in a similar way to disulfiram which blocks the process of oxidisation of alcohol at the acetaldehyde stage in the liver. Alcohol is converted by the body acetaldehyde which is a toxic chemical, 30 times more toxic than alcohol itself. When acetaldehyde is present in the body, a person will feel nausea, dizziness, headaches and vomit. Usually, the body can eliminate this chemical fairly quickly, but when taking calcium carbimide this process is effectively blocked.

Effects of Calcium Carbimide

When taking calcium carbimide and consuming alcohol, an individual will have a severe reaction to alcohol. The symptoms include flushing, headaches, heart palpitation, vomiting, nausea, vertigo and drowsiness. These effects can be felt within 15 minutes of taking the medication and continue to be felt 12-24 hours after taking the prescribed dosage.

Precautions with Calcium Carbimide

Individuals who are pregnant or breastfeeding, who have diabetes, heart conditions or liver disease should inform their doctor before beginning to take this medication. Some foods or other medications can also interfere with calcium carbimide. These include cough syrups, liquid medicines, herbal remedies and tonics.

Effective Treatment for Alcoholics

Treatment of alcoholism with calcium carbimide has been found to be very effective, when used in conjunction with other behavioural therapies. The aim of the medication is to bring on forced abstinence which can break the harmful cycle of alcoholism and enable a person to begin the process of recovery. Once this addiction is broken, an individual can re-establish relationships with friends and family that do not rely on alcohol. A person will also see improvements in their health and body, and this can assist in developing a healthier outlook on life.

It should be remembered that the medication alone will not treat alcoholism. The drug is often prescribed with other therapies such as counselling or motivational enhancement therapy that aim to make behavioural changes. A person must have a desire to give up alcohol for any treatment to work.