Talk about those who eat cephalosporins but can't drink.

Disulfiram-like reactions can occur after drinking cephalosporins. This can lead to blushing, rapid heart rate, low blood pressure and other manifestations. In severe cases, it can cause respiratory depression, myocardial infarction, acute heart failure, convulsions and death.

Disulfiram-like reaction can be explained by the normal alcohol metabolism pathway. After alcohol enters the body, it is first converted into acetaldehyde by alcohol dehydrogenase in the liver, then converted into acetic acid by acetaldehyde dehydrogenase, and acetic acid enters the citric acid cycle, and finally converted into water and carbon dioxide.

Two enzymes in the chain play an important role in alcohol metabolism. However, cephalosporins, especially the methylthiotetrazole group (MTT) contained in the molecules of the third generation cephalosporins, can inhibit the activity of acetaldehyde dehydrogenase, make acetaldehyde unable to degrade, and cause acetaldehyde poisoning, which is the so-called disulfiram-like reaction.

Extended information

Cephalosporin is a general term for cephalosporins. Cephalosporins are a kind of antibiotics obtained by semi-synthetic modification of the side chain of natural cephalosporin C cultured from Cephalosporium coronatum.

There are about 3 kinds in common use, which are divided into the first, second, third and fourth generations according to the time of invention and different antibacterial properties. Never use it before or after drinking. It is easy to have shock and syncope, and the elderly may even be life-threatening. Cephalosporins occupy a large share in the antibiotic market, and their related intermediates also show considerable market potential.

Ceftriaxone sodium, cefazolin sodium, cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, cefoperazone and cefuroxime (ester) are the most popular cephalosporins, and the corresponding intermediates include 7-ACA, 7-ADCA, GCLE, aminothiazolic acid, AE- active ester, triazine ring, tetrazolium acetate, methimazole and HO.