Sulfiram (

INN Inns are generally establishments or buildings where travelers can seek lodging, and usually, food and drink. Inns are typically located in the country or along a highway. Before the advent of motorized transportation, they also provided accomm ...

) or monosulfiram, trade name Tetmosol, is an

ectoparasiticide An ectoparasiticide is an antiparasitic drug used in the treatment of ectoparasitic infestations. These drugs are used to kill the parasites that live on the body surface. Permethrin, sulfur, lindane, dicophane, benzyl benzoate, ivermectin and ...

used in the treatment and prevention of

scabies Scabies (; also sometimes known as the seven-year itch) is a contagious human skin infestation by the tiny (0.2–0.45 mm) mite ''Sarcoptes scabiei'', variety ''hominis''. The word is from . The most common symptoms are severe itchiness a ...

. It is usually sold as a solution or medicated

soap Soap is a salt (chemistry), salt of a fatty acid (sometimes other carboxylic acids) used for cleaning and lubricating products as well as other applications. In a domestic setting, soaps, specifically "toilet soaps", are surfactants usually u ...

, sometimes in combination with

benzyl benzoate Benzyl benzoate is an organic compound which is used as a medication and insect repellent. As a medication it is used to treat scabies and lice. For scabies either permethrin or malathion is typically preferred. It is applied to the skin as a l ...

. Sulfiram is now rarely used, but, , is still available in Brazil, India, and South Africa (as monotherapy).

Adverse effects

Dizziness, headache, fatigue and

erythema Erythema (, ) is redness of the skin or mucous membranes, caused by hyperemia (increased blood flow) in superficial capillaries. It occurs with any skin injury, infection, or inflammation. Examples of erythema not associated with pathology inc ...

tous

rash A rash is a change of the skin that affects its color, appearance, or texture. A rash may be localized in one part of the body, or affect all the skin. Rashes may cause the skin to change color, itch, become warm, bumpy, chapped, dry, cracke ...

may occur. A single case of

toxic epidermal necrolysis Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), also known as Lyell's syndrome, is a type of severe skin reaction. Together with Stevens–Johnson syndrome (SJS) it forms a spectrum of disease, with TEN being more severe. Early symptoms include fever and f ...

was reported in 1968. Sulfiram is structurally related to

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 Enzyme inhibition, inhibiting the enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase (specifically ALD ...

(Antabuse), and readily converts to disulfiram when exposed to light. Like disulfiram, it can produce an unpleasant reaction when consumed with alcohol.

References

External links

Tetmosol* soap
– South African Electronic Package Insert Acetaldehyde dehydrogenase inhibitors Dithiocarbamates {{Antiinfective-drug-stub