Calcium carbimide, sold as the

citrate Citric acid is an organic compound with the formula . It is a colorless weak organic acid. It occurs naturally in citrus fruits. In biochemistry Biochemistry, or biological chemistry, is the study of chemical processes within and relati ...

salt In common usage, salt is a mineral composed primarily of sodium chloride (NaCl). When used in food, especially in granulated form, it is more formally called table salt. In the form of a natural crystalline mineral, salt is also known as r ...

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

(Antabuse) in that it interferes with the normal metabolism of

alcohol Alcohol may refer to: Common uses * Alcohol (chemistry), a class of compounds * Ethanol, one of several alcohols, commonly known as alcohol in everyday life ** Alcohol (drug), intoxicant found in alcoholic beverages ** Alcoholic beverage, an alco ...

by preventing the breakdown of the metabolic byproduct

acetaldehyde Acetaldehyde (IUPAC systematic name ethanal) is an organic compound, organic chemical compound with the chemical formula, formula , sometimes abbreviated as . It is a colorless liquid or gas, boiling near room temperature. It is one of the most ...

. 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 (August 19, 1934 – May 17, 2024) was an American electrical engineer and manager. An early employee of Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC), from 1960–1966, Bell designed several of their PDP machines and later served as ...

, 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 Cyanamides {{nervous-system-drug-stub

See also

References