Alcoholism treatment requires the addicted person to have the will to start therapy. There is no single method that completely cures an alcoholic of addiction. However, the Esperal implant is increasingly being chosen. The disulfiram tablet creates an aversion to alcohol in many people and helps maintain sobriety. However, the drug's reaction can vary depending on the patient's organism. What are the consequences of mixing Esperal with alcohol? Can the implant be "broken through"?
What is an Esperal implant?
Disulfiram WZF, which is the current name for Esperal - is a medication in tablet form. The substance helps overcome alcohol addiction and supports achieving lasting abstinence. The implant exists not only in the form of capsules implanted under the skin, but also in an oral version as Anticol. The implantation is not reimbursed, so Esperal can only be purchased with a prescription. This method of alcoholism treatment is often chosen by addicted people who cannot maintain sobriety on their own. The therapy is voluntary, and the patient must know how the implant works before starting it. It is precisely the reaction of disulfiram to alcohol that is the reason for this substance's popularity. Can Esperal alone cure alcoholism? The implantation will not be effective if the addicted person does not fight the causes of addiction and does not seek substitutes for alcohol consumption. The effect of Esperal tablets is very individual. The implantation itself is a great motivation for change for many, but for some, the procedure is just a solution for a while. A way to temporary sobriety to later return to addiction. The effect depends on the will to fight addiction and the engagement of the alcohol-dependent person.What are the side effects of Esperal implantation and drinking alcohol?
The effect of the implant is difficult to predict because much depends on the individual behavior of the organism. The amount of alcohol also has an influence. When an addicted person decides to drink despite Esperal, they must be aware of the unpleasant consequences of the disulfiram reaction. Can you "break through" Esperal? You can try, but the complications can be very harmful to the patient's health and psyche. The implant blocks the aldehyde dehydrogenase enzyme and disrupts alcohol metabolism in the organism. Using Esperal after alcohol appears in the blood causes symptoms of alcohol poisoning similar to a hangover. However, they are significantly amplified and more intense. The negative effects occur due to the accumulation of acetaldehyde, which is difficult to oxidize to acetic acid.What are the consequences of combining Esperal with alcohol?
- dizziness and headache
- cardiovascular failure
- nausea or vomiting
- facial flushing - see: How to recognize an alcoholic by their face?
- heart rhythm disturbances (tachycardia)
- alcohol poisoning
- shortness of breath and excessive sweating
- fluctuating blood pressure
- fear of death and anxiety states
How to properly implant disulfiram medication in a patient?
The Esperal implantation procedure and its execution depend on the patient's condition. The addicted person must be sober for 24 hours for the implantation to be safe. Medical consultation also helps verify whether the drug's action will cause any side effects in daily life. In the case of people with epilepsy, diabetes, hypothyroidism, respiratory diseases, kidney or liver diseases, and any psychoses (except chronic psychoses caused by alcohol consumption), implantation is not recommended. Similarly in pregnant or breastfeeding women. The procedure is always performed by a surgeon under local anesthesia. The procedure involves subcutaneous implantation of the Esperal medication above the buttock. The wound is small and the scar is hard to notice. The stitches are removed after 10-14 days. After this time, the only thing the patient needs to remember is to avoid alcohol and fight the alcohol disease with the help of addiction therapy. The implant can be implanted several times, but only when the tablets stop working.Pills after alcohol
For patients struggling with alcohol disease, the primary goal is complete abstinence from alcoholic beverages. However, this is not an easy process and requires time. It should be remembered that alcohol consumption can be particularly dangerous with certain drug groups. Every medicinal substance, before it acts, causes certain chemical reactions in the organism. According to the general rule, after being released from its taken form (capsule, suppository, ointment), it is absorbed into the circulatory system and distributed throughout the organism with the blood - and in this form reaches the target place. Medicinal substances also undergo metabolism - just like everything we take into our organism. As a result, metabolites are formed, which are then excreted. It's worth knowing that each medicinal substance is characterized by individual properties - both physical and chemical. These are responsible for the effectiveness and form of action of each drug. Combined with alcohol, these properties can be disrupted, which can lead to dangerous effects.Drugs with alcohol - mutual interactions
Even the smallest dose of alcoholic substances combined with drugs can have irreversible consequences for us. The combination of alcohol and paracetamol, the most popular in Poland, can cause liver damage - which can even lead to death.Which drugs cannot be taken with alcohol?
It's best to generally avoid combining any drugs with alcohol. For certainty, it's best to read the leaflet included in the drug package, which will help dispel all doubts if necessary. Special caution should be exercised by people constantly taking drugs that are intolerant of alcohol. In their case, drinking high-proof beverages is particularly risky and can lead to very negative consequences. People with diabetes should remember that combining antidiabetic drugs and alcohol leads to hypoglycemia. Caution should also be exercised by allergy sufferers and people using sedatives, antidepressants, and antipsychotic drugs. Some drugs may also result in causing a disulfiram reaction. Among such drugs, we can distinguish metronidazole (used for acne and some gynecological infections), nifuroxazide (used as an antidiarrheal drug), and even furaginin (recommended for urinary tract infections).After what time from taking medication can you drink alcohol?
What determines after what time from taking medication you can drink alcohol are the so-called pharmacokinetic properties. They describe after what time the drug concentration in the blood increases, after what time it reaches the maximum value, and then how long the drug itself remains in the organism. The most important seems to be the period after which the drug concentration drops by half - after five such periods, there is almost no drug left in the human organism. This means that if the drug reaches its maximum concentration after 4 hours - we will be able to safely drink alcohol only after two days. Simultaneous intake of drugs and alcohol is an action dangerous to health, and in many cases even to life. It's much better to think about another solution. If we feel that for some reason we cannot give up consuming alcoholic beverages, perhaps the problem lies much deeper than it may seem to us. Alcohol disease is an ailment that affects as many as 700 thousand Poles. In such a case, it's worth seeking help. Esperal implantation can be a solution that helps overcome alcohol addiction. The implant is safe - during Esperal treatment, you should not worry about its impact on other drugs. Moreover, it will allow you to maintain complete sobriety for up to a year. You can also read about this topic here: https://www.medonet.pl/zdrowie/zdrowie-dla-kazdego,czy-mozna-przepic-wszywke-alkoholowa-esperal-,artykul,78287539.html:::cta Need help fighting addiction? Our specialists are ready to help you. Call or schedule an online visit. Call: 880 808 880 | Schedule a visit :::
