Drug Comparison
For educational purposes only — a decision-support tool, not a substitute for clinical judgment.
Side-by-side rubric across 96 psychiatric medications. Every rating traces to a verbatim primary-source quote — click any cell to see it.
How to read this tool ▾
Rating scale
– Favorable / lower than class baseline
± Minimal / equivocal
+ Low / uncommon
++ Moderate / common
+++ High / very common
++++ Very high / class-outlier
Frequency vs severity
F = frequency, S = severity. Each gets its own pill colored on the same traffic-light scale: green → blue → yellow → orange → red. Click any cell for incidence percentages and NNH.
Evidence tier
A Network meta-analysis / RCT / FDA label
B Cohort / registry / pooled label data
C Expert review / textbook / case series
Sourcing
Click any cell to see the verbatim source quote and citation. Missing data shows n/a.
Data depth
++ Graded — frequency + severity, primary-source traces
+ FDA label — §6 frequency only (dashed border). Click for sub-types.
Blank — not yet checked (not “absent”)
–±++++++++++ABCF = frequency · S = severity · Dashed border = FDA label only · Click cell for details
1 drug selected — Disulfiram(click to collapse)
1/4 selected
Disulfiram
Antabuse
Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Inhibitor
FDA-approved indications
- Adjunct in chronic alcohol use disorder — enforced sobriety with psychosocial treatment (adults)
Off-label uses
- Cocaine dependence (investigational)
Half-life60 to 120 hours
Decision GuideWhen to pick each / when to consider an alternative
Disulfiram
Consider when
- Highly motivated, supervised patient — aversion therapy works best with supervised dosing (spouse, clinic); daily pill accountability
- Alcohol deterrent mechanism desired — aldehyde dehydrogenase inhibition creates predictable adverse reaction to alcohol ingestion
- Cognitive-behavioral framework for abstinence — the 'psychological fence' of knowing any alcohol will cause illness reinforces decision-making
- Failed naltrexone and acamprosate — third-line pharmacotherapy option; different mechanism may help non-responders
- +1 more
Consider an alternative when
- Hepatic disease — hepatotoxicity risk including fatal fulminant hepatitis; contraindicated in severe hepatic disease; baseline and periodic LFTs
- Cardiovascular disease — disulfiram-ethanol reaction causes hypotension, tachycardia, potentially MI; cardiac disease increases risk
- Patient reliability questionable — aversion therapy ineffective without consistent dosing; unsupervised patients may simply skip doses
- Exposure to hidden alcohol sources — topical alcohol, mouthwash, cooking wine, medications with alcohol excipients can trigger reaction
- +1 more
| Axis | Disulfiram ALDH-inhibitor |
|---|---|
| CNS | |
Sedation / somnolence | |
| Hepatic | |
Liver enzymes / hepatotoxicity | |
| Dermatologic | |
Rash (including SJS/TEN, pruritus, hypersensitivity) | |
| Sexual | |
Sexual dysfunction | |
| Drug-specific / distinctive axes | |
Disulfiram-ethanol reaction (DER — DEFINING therapeutic/safety axis) only in Disulfiram | |
Peripheral neuropathy / optic neuritis (SERIOUS) only in Disulfiram | |
Psychotic reactions (rare) only in Disulfiram | |