Abstract
A case who showed marked cyanamide-ethanol reaction is reported. A 49 year-old-man had been taking cyanamide for the treatment of alcohol addiction. On August 5, 1982, he drank about 360 ml of Japanese sake three hours and a half after cyanamide administration. Abrupt onset of severe headache and nausea with shaking chills brought him to our emergency room. He had marked hypotension (50 mmHg systolic), for which nor-adrenaline and dopamine were administered. These vasopressors were required in order to obtain adequate blood pressure for the following four days. Cyanamide has been thought to be fairly safe for the treatment of alcohol addiction. However, as shown in this case, cyanamide may show pronounced hypotension which might be even fatal. Therefore, it should be pointed out that we must be careful in the administration of cyanamide for the alcohol addiction.
