Calcium carbimide, sold as the

citrate Citric acid is an organic compound with the chemical formula HOC(CO2H)(CH2CO2H)2. It is a colorless weak organic acid. It occurs naturally in citrus fruits. In biochemistry, it is an intermediate in the citric acid cycle, which occurs in t ...

salt Salt is a mineral composed primarily of sodium chloride (NaCl), a chemical compound belonging to the larger class of salts; salt in the form of a natural crystalline mineral is known as rock salt or halite. Salt is present in vast quantitie ...

under the trade name Temposil, is a disulfiram-like medication. Its effects are similar to the medication

disulfiram Disulfiram is a medication used to support the treatment of chronic alcoholism by producing an acute sensitivity to ethanol (drinking alcohol). Disulfiram works by inhibiting the enzyme acetaldehyde dehydrogenase, causing many of the effects of ...

(Antabuse) in that it interferes with the normal metabolism of alcohol by preventing the breakdown of the metabolic byproduct

acetaldehyde Acetaldehyde (IUPAC systematic name ethanal) is an organic chemical compound with the formula CH3 CHO, sometimes abbreviated by chemists as MeCHO (Me = methyl). It is a colorless liquid or gas, boiling near room temperature. It is one of the mos ...

. The result is that when alcohol is consumed by users of calcium carbimide, they experience severe reactions which include symptoms such as sweating, difficulty breathing, rapid heartbeat, rash, nausea and vomiting, and headache. A recent 9-year study found that incorporation of supervised carbimide and the similar medication, disulfiram, into a comprehensive treatment program resulted in an abstinence rate of over 50%. Temposil was developed by Drs. Ken Ferguson and

Gordon Bell Chester Gordon Bell (born August 19, 1934) is an American electrical engineer and manager. An early employee of Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) 1960–1966, Bell designed several of their PDP machines and later became Vice President of Engi ...

, who tested the medication on themselves. It was patented in 1955 by the Alcoholism Research Foundation of Ontario.

References

Alcohol and health Acetaldehyde dehydrogenase inhibitors Citrates {{nervous-system-drug-stub

See also

References