IT EXERTS ITS ACTION BY INHIBITING ALDEHYDE DEHYDROGENASE ENZYMES. DISULFIRAM THUS INCREASE THE CONCENTRATION OF ACETALDEHYDE IN BODY WHEN ETHANOL IS INGESTED BY INDIVIDUAL PRETREATED WITH DISULFIRAM. THE SYMNPTOMS AND SIGNS ARE FLUSHING, PULSATING HEADACHE, NAUSEA, VOMITING, THRIST MARKED UNEASINESS, VERTIGO, WEAKNESS, CONFUSION, HYPOTENSION AND CIRCULATORY COLLAPSE. ACCUMULATION OF ACETALDEHYDE IN THE BLOOD PRODUCES A COMPLEX OF HIGHLY UNPLEASANT SYMPTOMS REFERRED TO HEREINAFTER AS THE DISULFIRAM-ALCOHOL REACTION. THIS REACTION, WHICH IS PROPORTIONAL TO THE DOSAGE OF BOTH DISULFIRAM AND ALCOHOL, WILL PERSIST AS LONG AS ALCOHOL IS BEING METABOLIZED.