Esperal Gliwice – Alcohol Implant Gliwice

Alcohol implant (Esperal) is a medical procedure involving implantation of tablets containing disulfiram under the muscle fascia. Disulfiram – the active substance – is an inhibitor of aldehyde dehydrogenase, the enzyme responsible for alcohol metabolism in the body. At Nasz Gabinet Gliwice, we have been performing this procedure since 2015.

How Does Esperal Implant Work?

In a healthy person, ethyl alcohol is metabolized in the liver to acetaldehyde (toxic substance), then to harmless acetic acid. Disulfiram blocks the second stage of this process – acetaldehyde accumulates in the body, causing poisoning symptoms: nausea, vomiting, heart palpitations, blood pressure drop, facial flushing.

Awareness of inevitable reaction acts preventively – the patient knows that any attempt to drink alcohol will end in severe physical discomfort. This is an external barrier giving time to work through addiction causes in psychotherapy.

Key Facts About Implant:

• Duration: 8-12 months (depending on metabolism)
• Repeat procedure: possible after 8 months
• Psychoactive effect: none – medication activates only on contact with alcohol

Disulfiram itself is not toxic. A person maintaining abstinence experiences no side effects related to implant presence.

Alcohol implant is intended for people with diagnosed alcohol addiction who are motivated for treatment and need pharmacological support in maintaining abstinence.

Implant is Particularly Helpful for People Who:

• Have self-control difficulties and need external barrier
• Repeatedly tried to maintain abstinence unsuccessfully
• Want to protect themselves against impulsive alcohol reaching
• Completed detox and maintain minimum 24-hour abstinence
• Are ready for self-work but need time protecting against relapse

Patient Profiles Using Implant:

• High-functioning alcoholic – maintains appearance of normal life despite addiction. Implant protects against loss of job, family, health.
• Post-detox patients – after binge interruption, implant provides protection in first, most difficult months.
• People with environmental pressure – when work or surroundings favor drinking, implant gives excuse and real barrier.
• Parents with alcohol problem – responsibility for children motivates, but additional safeguard needed.

Decision about implant should be conscious and voluntary. External coercion (e.g., from family) without internal motivation reduces treatment effectiveness.

Before procedure at Nasz Gabinet Gliwice, each patient undergoes medical qualification. Doctor conducts detailed medical interview to exclude implantation contraindications.

Absolute Contraindications (Excluding Procedure):

• Hypersensitivity to disulfiram or preparation components
• Severe heart disease – heart failure, coronary disease, previous heart attack
• Severe liver or kidney failure
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding
• Mental disorders – psychosis, schizophrenia, severe depression
• Epilepsy
• Peripheral neuropathy
• Concurrent use of metronidazole or acetaldehyde-containing preparations
• Lack of abstinence (minimum 24 hours)

Relative Contraindications (Requiring Consultation and Stabilization):

• Diabetes – requires compensation before procedure
• Hypothyroidism
• Arterial hypertension
• Taking anticoagulants (warfarin)

At Nasz Gabinet Gliwice, we offer three alcohol implant packages and combined detox packages.

Standard Package – 799 PLN

• Disulfiram in standard concentration
• Non-absorbable sutures (to be removed after 10-14 days)
• Antibiotic prescription
• Free follow-up visit

VIP Package – 1099 PLN (most popular)

• Disulfiram in standard concentration
• Absorbable sutures (no removal required)
• Intramuscular antibiotic
• Prescription for medication reducing alcohol craving
• Prescription for preparation enhancing implant effect
• Free follow-up visit

Exclusive Package – 1900 PLN

• Disulfiram in higher concentration
• Absorbable sutures
• Intramuscular antibiotic
• Prescription for medication reducing alcohol craving
• Prescription for preparation enhancing implant effect
• 2 free medical consultations
• Free follow-up visit

Detox Packages:

• 6h Detox + Standard Implant – 1899 PLN
• 12h Detox + VIP Implant – 2499 PLN

All prices include medical consultation, implantation procedure and follow-up visit. No hidden costs.

Proper preparation increases procedure safety and patient comfort. Below you'll find requirements list and practical tips.

Pre-Procedure Requirements:

• Minimum 24-hour abstinence – absolute condition. Optimally 48 hours
• Identity document – ID card or passport
• List of taken medications – including supplements
• Information about chronic diseases and allergies

What You DON'T Need:

• Be fasting – you can eat normally before procedure
• Have referral from primary care physician
• Organize return transport (though we recommend someone pick up patient)
• Take leave – most people return to work next day

If You Cannot Maintain 24-Hour Abstinence:

For patients after alcohol binge, we offer combined detox packages. 6-hour or 12-hour alcohol detox under medical supervision allows safe drinking interruption and same-day implantation.

Call: 880 808 880 – we'll help choose appropriate option.

Esperal implantation procedure at Nasz Gabinet Gliwice is an outpatient procedure, lasting about 30 minutes. No hospitalization required – patient returns home same day.

Procedure Stages:

1. Registration and consultation (15 min) – medical interview, abstinence verification, procedure discussion, informed consent signing
2. Operating field preparation – buttock area disinfection (upper-outer part)
3. Local anesthesia – lidocaine administration, only noticeable injection
4. Skin incision – small cut about 1-2 cm after anesthesia action
5. Tablet implantation – disulfiram insertion under skin
6. Wound suturing – 2-3 sutures (in VIP/Exclusive packages absorbable)
7. Dressing and observation – 15-30 minutes rest after procedure
8. Instructions and documentation – patient receives information card with recommendations

After Procedure:

Patient receives follow-up visit date (after 10-14 days) and clinic contact number for questions. Most people return to normal activity next day.

For patients unable to independently maintain 24-hour abstinence before procedure, we offer packages combining detoxification with implant implantation.

6h Detox + Implant Package (1899 PLN):

• 6-hour alcohol detox under doctor and nurse supervision
• Hydrating, electrolyte and detoxification drips
• Medications alleviating withdrawal syndrome symptoms
• Esperal implant implantation after state stabilization
• Follow-up visit included

12h Detox + VIP Implant Package (2499 PLN):

• 12-hour intensive detox under full medical care
• Extended supporting pharmacotherapy
• VIP implant with high disulfiram concentration
• Absorbable sutures + supporting medications
• Follow-up visit + phone consultation

When to Choose Detox Package:

• After several-day alcohol binge
• When abstinence maintenance attempts end in failure
• With withdrawal syndrome symptoms (hand tremors, sweating, anxiety)
• When comprehensive same-day help matters

Proper wound care accelerates healing and minimizes complication risk. Below practical tips for post-implantation period.

Wound Care (First 2 Weeks):

• Keep wound clean and dry for first 3-5 days
• Don't remove dressing for first 24 hours
• Change dressing every 2-3 days or when soaked
• Avoid bathtub, pool, sauna baths until wound heals
• Shower allowed after 48 hours – avoid wound area

Physical Activity:

• First 24 hours: rest, avoid intense exertion
• First 2 weeks: avoid heavy physical work and lifting
• Walks and light activity: allowed from second day
• Full activity (sport, gym): after 2-3 weeks

Symptoms Requiring Clinic Contact:

• Increasing redness or swelling around wound
• Purulent discharge or unpleasant odor
• Fever above 38°C
• Severe pain not responding to paracetamol

In case of doubts call: 880 808 880 – we are available 7 days a week.

During implant action, absolutely avoid ethyl alcohol in any form. Disulfiram reaction can occur even after small amounts – therefore checking composition of all consumed products is crucial.

Besides obvious alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, vodka), reaction can also be triggered by cough syrups, heart and stomach drops, mouthwashes, aftershaves, warming agents, and even some sauces and vinegars. Beware of non-alcoholic beer – may contain up to 0.5% alcohol.

Paracetamol and Ibuprofen remain safe, provided choosing forms without alcohol. Before using medication or cosmetic check composition – alcohol on labels appears as: ethanol, alcohol, alcohol denat., spiritus. In case of doubts ask pharmacist.

Aversion therapy is addiction treatment method based on triggering negative associations with addictive substance. In alcohol implant case, mechanism relies on ethanol metabolism biochemistry in liver.

Normal Alcohol Metabolism:

1. Ethyl alcohol is converted by alcohol dehydrogenase enzyme into acetaldehyde
2. Acetaldehyde (toxic substance) is then broken down by aldehyde dehydrogenase into acetic acid
3. Acetic acid is metabolized into water and carbon dioxide – harmless end products

What Happens with Esperal Implant:

Disulfiram blocks aldehyde dehydrogenase action – enzyme responsible for acetaldehyde breakdown. After consuming even small amount of alcohol, toxic aldehyde accumulates in body, causing disulfiram reaction.

Awareness of inevitable consequences acts preventively – patient knows any drinking attempt will end in severe physical discomfort. This is external motivation giving time to work through deeper addiction causes in psychotherapy.

Alcohol consumption by person with Esperal implant triggers disulfiram reaction – set of unpleasant symptoms appearing within 5-15 minutes of drinking.

Disulfiram Reaction Symptoms:

• Face and neck reddening – first visible sign, appears fastest
• Feeling of heat – heat flashes throughout body
• Severe nausea and vomiting – intense, difficult to control
• Pulsating headache – described as "bursting"
• Heart palpitations – accelerated heart action, "pounding" feeling
• Blood pressure drop – can lead to dizziness
• Shortness of breath – chest tightness feeling
• Fear and anxiety – severe psychological discomfort

Symptom Severity:

Reaction intensity is proportional to consumed alcohol amount. Small dose may cause mild symptoms, but larger alcohol amount can lead to life-threatening condition – heart rhythm disturbances, convulsions, even heart attack.

Therefore alcohol consumption with implant is absolutely contraindicated.

Alcohol implant is important treatment element, but not the only one. At Nasz Gabinet Gliwice, we offer comprehensive approach to alcohol addiction therapy, combining pharmacotherapy with psychological help.

Comprehensive Treatment Elements:

1. Detoxification – safe alcohol binge interruption under medical supervision
2. Esperal implantation – pharmacological barrier protecting against impulsive alcohol reaching
3. Addiction psychotherapy – working through alcohol reaching causes
4. Family support – help for addicted person's loved ones
5. Support groups – experience exchange with other people in recovery

Why Implant Alone Is Not Enough:

Esperal blocks drinking possibility for specific time, but doesn't change thinking patterns or solve emotional problems that often cause addiction. Patient finishing implant action without working through these issues remains "dry alcoholic" – doesn't drink, but has high relapse risk.

Therefore we encourage patients for parallel work with addiction therapist. Such combination gives best long-term effects.

At Nasz Gabinet Gliwice, Esperal implantation procedures are performed by doctors specializing in addiction treatment. Before each procedure, we conduct detailed medical interview and qualification.

Procedure takes place in sterile outpatient conditions, with local anesthesia and sterile instruments. After implantation, patient remains under observation for 15-30 minutes. In case of questions, we are available by phone 7 days a week.

Nasz Gabinet in Gliwice is located conveniently at Toszecka 18, easily accessible for residents of entire Upper Silesian agglomeration.

Contact Details:

• Address: Toszecka 18, 44-100 Gliwice
• Phone: 880 808 880
• Email: kontakt@nasz-gabinet.pl
• Opening hours: daily 8:00-20:00 (also weekends and holidays)

We Accept Patients from All of Silesia:

Access possible by public transport or car – parking at clinic.

Book appointment by phone at 880 808 880 or through online registration. Clinic at Toszecka 18 in Gliwice is open daily 8:00-20:00, also on weekends.

Implant packages from 799 PLN, with possibility of same-day detox combination. Follow-up visit included in price.