The Influence of Disulfiram and Calcium Carbimide on the Serum Diphenylhydantoin

Abstract

TWO DRUGS are used as aids in the treatment of chronic alcoholism in Denmark, namely disulfiram (Antabuse) and calcium carbimide (Dipsan). An increase in the diphenylhydantoin content of the serum¹was found in patients given this drug in combination with disulfiram. The administration of the usual therapeutic dose of disulfiram (400 mg daily) for nine days was followed by an increase in diphenylhydantoin content in the serum by 100% to 400%. The aim of this study was to determine if the rise in serum diphenylhydantoin caused by disulfiram is the result of inhibition of the conversion of diphenylhydantoin to 5-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-5-phenylhydantoin (HPPH) in the liver. Furthermore, we wished to determine whether the administration of calcium carbimide causes an increase in the diphenylhydantoin content of the serum in patients with epilepsy who require therapy for chronic alcoholism. Material and Methods Six male patients who had been treated with diphenylhydantoin for