Diethyldithiocarbamate (DEDC) is a substituted dithiocarbamate that is metabolically interconvertible with disulfiram (Antabuse). The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of DEDC on neurological recovery following sciatic nerve crush injury (SNCI) in rats. Adult female Wistar rats were subjected to SNCI with a haemostat under deep anaesthesiThe Ss were orally treated with DEDC at the doses of 250 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg and 750 mg/kg body weight 1 hr before SNCI and then once daily for 60 days. The Ss were observed for sciatic functional index, electrophysiological and histological changes. Vitamin E level was measured to determine antioxidant status of sciatic nerve. Crush injury to the sciatic nerve resulted in a significant impairment of functional response which gradually recovered over a period of 22 days. Treatment of animals with DEDC caused a significant delay in functional recovery which was accompanied by poor histological and electrophysiological outcome. Prooxidant effect of DEDC is quite evident from a significant decrease in vitamin E levels in both injured and uninjured sciatic nerves. Results demonstrate that exposure to DEDC adversely affects recovery from peripheral nerve injury.