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Karamanakos PN, Pappas P, Boumba V, Marselos M. Increased Brain Serotonin Rather Than Increased Blood Acetaldehyde as a Common Denominator Behind Alleged Disulfiram-Like Reactions. Int J Toxicol 2020; 39:248-255. [DOI: 10.1177/1091581820918169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Several pharmaceutical agents are known to produce ethanol intolerance, which is often depicted as disulfiram-like reaction. As in the case with disulfiram, the underlying mechanism is believed to be the accumulation of acetaldehyde in the blood, due to inhibition of the hepatic aldehyde dehydrogenases, albeit this has not been confirmed in all cases by blood acetaldehyde measurements. Herein, cefamandole, cotrimoxazole, griseofulvin, procarbazine, and propranolol, which are reported to produce a disulfiram-like reaction, as well as disulfiram, were administered to Wistar rats and the hepatic activities of ethanol metabolizing enzymes along with the levels of brain monoamines were determined. Blood acetaldehyde was also evaluated after ethanol administration in rats pretreated with the abovementioned pharmaceutical products. Disulfiram, cefamandole, and procarbazine significantly increased blood acetaldehyde levels after ethanol administration, while on the contrary, cotrimoxazole, griseofulvin, and propranolol had no effect on blood acetaldehyde. Interestingly, all substances used, except disulfiram, increased the levels of brain serotonin. According to our findings, cotrimoxazole, griseofulvin, and propranolol do not produce a typical disulfiram-like reaction, because they do not increase blood acetaldehyde when given together with ethanol. On the other hand, all tested agents share the common property to enhance brain serotonin, whereas a respective effect of ethanol is well established. Hence, the ethanol intolerance produced by these agents, whether blood acetaldehyde concentration is elevated or not, could be the result of a “toxic serotonin syndrome,” as in the case of the concomitant use of serotonin-active medications that provoke clinical manifestations similar to those of a disulfiram reaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petros N. Karamanakos
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Periklis Pappas
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Vasiliki Boumba
- Laboratory of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Marios Marselos
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
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Movahed MR, Kasravi B, Bryan CS. Prophylactic use of vancomycin in adult cardiology and cardiac surgery. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol Ther 2004; 9:13-20. [PMID: 15094964 DOI: 10.1177/107424840400900i103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The recent appearance of Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis strains that have reduced susceptibility to vancomycin, and the spread of vancomycin-resistant enterococci, raise the specter of endovascular infections that will be difficult or impossible to cure with available drugs. We review issues concerning the prophylactic use of vancomycin in adult cardiology and cardiac surgery with special attention to dosing and indications. There is no indication for the routine use of prophylactic vancomycin in pacemaker implantations, cardiac catheterization, and transesophageal echocardiography. In institutions with a high incidence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus and S. epidermidis, vancomycin may be used for antibiotic prophylaxis in place of cephalosporins for pacemaker or defibrillator implantation. The strongest evidence in support of the prophylactic use of vancomycin is during cardiac surgeries, particularly valvular surgeries in institutions with a high prevalence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus and S. epidermidis. When vancomycin is used prior to open heart surgery, the dose should be 15 mg/kg rather than the standard 1 g dose that is often recommended in the literature and used by 85% of institutional pharmacists who responded to our survey. Cardiologists and cardiac surgeons should assume leadership roles in promoting its responsible use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad-Reza Movahed
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of California-Irvine Medical Center, Building 53, Route 81, Room 100, 101 The City Drive South, Orange, CA 92868-4080, USA.
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