Nickel + Disulfiram
Disulfiram brand name: Antabuse.
Nickel has a moderate interaction with Disulfiram. Disulfiram can reduce the absorption and clinical effects of nickel.
Read the full interaction reportNickel and Disulfiram
Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.
DISULFIRAM (Antabuse)
Disulfiram can chelate nickel, preventing its absorption. This interaction has been used therapeutically to reduce eczema in people with severe nickel hypersensitivity.
Interaction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports..
Here's an interesting one. This interaction actually runs the opposite way from what most people expect. Disulfiram (Antabuse) doesn't get weakened by nickel; instead, it grabs onto nickel and stops your body from absorbing it. Disulfiram acts like a chelator, binding the nickel so it largely passes through rather than getting into your system.
So if you were taking a nickel supplement hoping to absorb it, the disulfiram would likely cancel most of that out. The flip side is the useful part: doctors have actually used disulfiram on purpose to lower nickel levels in people with severe nickel allergies and eczema. This won't change how your disulfiram works for alcohol, and it won't cause that classic flushing or nausea reaction. Still, since nickel supplements aren't recommended for most people anyway, check with your pharmacist before combining the two.
- Sharma AD. Disulfiram and low nickel diet in the management of hand eczema: a clinical study. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol 2006;72:113-8. PubMed
What These Ratings Mean
Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.
Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.
Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.
Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.
- LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
- ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
- PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
- UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
- AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
- BCase-control study.
- CConsensus.
- DAnecdotal evidence.
These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.
Questions About Nickel or Disulfiram
These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Nickel or Disulfiram, not necessarily both, but if one is close to what you were about to ask it will usually go further than a database entry can:
Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.
See Every Supplement That Interacts With Disulfiram
This page covers Nickel only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Disulfiram page lists 45 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.
The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Bach Flower Remedies (major), Beer (major), Wine (major) and Biofeedback (moderate).
By severity: 4 major · 30 moderate · 11 minor.
Taking Nickel as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions
We hold 685 real supplement products containing Nickel, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Nickel. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Disulfiram too, on top of Nickel — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:
Where Nickel and Disulfiram Sit Against Everything Else
Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.
#279 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days
#292 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days
Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.
About Nickel
What is Nickel?
- General trace-mineral supplementation
- Supporting iron and other nutrient metabolism (theoretical)
- Marketed for bone or hormone support
Nickel is a trace element found in tiny amounts in many foods, and most people get plenty through diet. There is no proven need for nickel supplements, and because nickel is a common cause of allergic reactions and can be toxic in higher amounts, most people should not take it. Talk with your pharmacist or doctor before using any nickel-containing supplement.
About Disulfiram
What Is Disulfiram Used For?
Brand name: Antabuse
Disulfiram is used as part of a treatment program for people with chronic alcoholism who want to stop drinking. It works by making the body react very unpleasantly to alcohol, which helps reinforce the commitment to stay sober.
It is not a cure for alcoholism, and it works best when combined with counseling, motivation, and support. Used alone, without those supports, it is unlikely to make a lasting difference.
Other Drugs & Nickel
Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Nickel — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.
No drugs match “”.
No interaction 2,829 drugs checked — show the list
We also checked Nickel against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.
- Apixaban ›
- Levothyroxine ›
- Amlodipine ›
- Methylphenidate ›
- Warfarin ›
- Sertraline ›
- Testosterone ›
- Losartan Potassium ›
- Metoprolol ›
- Ivermectin ›
- Aspirin ›
- Rivaroxaban ›
- Rosuvastatin ›
- Escitalopram ›
- Acetaminophen ›
- Tadalafil ›
- Clopidogrel ›
- Atorvastatin ›
- Docusate ›
- Valacyclovir ›
- Hydroxyurea ›
- Abemaciclib ›
- Methamphetamine ›
- Ibuprofen ›
- Sumatriptan ›
- Semaglutide ›
- Tirzepatide ›
- Warfarin Sodium ›
- Prednisone ›
- Propranolol ›
- Bupropion ›
- Lisdexamfetamine ›
- Metformin ›
- Amoxicillin ›
- Acyclovir ›
- Lisinopril ›
- Bendamustine ›
- Amitriptyline ›
- Doxycycline ›
- Methotrexate ›
- Fluoxetine ›
- Lamotrigine ›
- Amphetamine ›
- Gabapentin ›
- Pregabalin ›
- Acetaminophen, Codeine ›
- Azithromycin ›
- Dextroamphetamine ›
- Isotretinoin ›
- Clonazepam ›
- Omeprazole ›
- Quetiapine ›
- Methylene Blue ›
- Amlodipine Besylate ›
- Duloxetine ›
- Letrozole ›
- Buspirone ›
- Citalopram ›
- Naproxen ›
- Ciprofloxacin ›
Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,829 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Nickel list.
Sources & How We Checked
Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.
- Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) — Evidence-graded clinical reference for vitamins, herbs and supplements — the basis for our interaction data.
- MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine — NIH consumer drug information, used for the medication overviews.
- NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD) — Official supplement product labels.
Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.
Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.
DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.
© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC
Disulfiram Is Linked to Lower Levels of One Nutrient
Natural Medicines records Disulfiram as a medicine that can lower these. This is not an interaction with Nickel — it is a separate effect of the medicine, and it is a reason some people are advised to supplement rather than to avoid one:
Read the full Disulfiram nutrient depletion report ›
Depletion records come from the licensed Natural Medicines database. Do not start a supplement on the strength of this page — ask your pharmacist or doctor whether it applies to you.
Taking Nickel and Disulfiram Together: Common Questions
Can you take Nickel with Disulfiram?
How serious is the Nickel and Disulfiram interaction?
Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy
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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.