Esperal Katowice – Alcohol Implant Katowice

Esperal alcohol implant is an implant containing the active substance disulfiram (ATC code: N07BB01), inserted subcutaneously in a medical office. The procedure is used in the treatment of alcohol dependence syndrome (ICD-10: F10.2) as pharmacological support for abstinence. Disulfiram works aversively – after consuming alcohol, the body reacts with severe poisoning symptoms, effectively discouraging alcohol consumption for the entire duration of the implant's action (8-12 months).

Esperal implantation is one of the most effective elements of comprehensive alcoholism treatment, especially for patients needing an external barrier in the first months of abstinence. The procedure is outpatient, takes about 30 minutes and allows return to daily activities the same day.

At Nasz Gabinet clinic at Józefowska 76 Street in Katowice, we have been performing Esperal implantations since 2015 – we accept patients from the entire Silesian agglomeration, including Chorzów, Zabrze, Bytom and Sosnowiec, daily from 8:00 to 20:00, also on weekends.

Disulfiram does not reduce alcohol craving or affect mood – it only works when alcohol appears in the body. The drug irreversibly blocks the ALDH enzyme (aldehyde dehydrogenase), which is responsible for the second stage of alcohol metabolism: converting toxic acetaldehyde into harmless acetic acid.

Under normal conditions, the body quickly neutralizes acetaldehyde. In a person with an implant, this process is blocked – acetaldehyde accumulates in the blood, causing severe poisoning symptoms. The reaction appears within 5-10 minutes of drinking and intensifies proportionally to the amount of alcohol consumed. Even small amounts – a glass of wine or non-alcoholic beer with residual ethanol – can cause unpleasant symptoms.

Typical disulfiram reaction includes

• Intense facial and neck flushing
• Pulsating headache
• Nausea and vomiting
• Accelerated heartbeat (tachycardia)
• Blood pressure drop
• Shortness of breath and chest tightness

Symptoms last from 30 minutes to several hours, resolving spontaneously after alcohol metabolism. With larger doses, the reaction can be life-threatening – in such cases, call an ambulance and inform paramedics about the implant.

Awareness of the inevitability of the reaction creates a psychological barrier against impulsively reaching for alcohol – the patient knows that "one beer" means immediate, serious health consequences.

The alcohol implant works for patients who recognize their alcohol problem and seek pharmacological support in maintaining abstinence. It is not a method for people who want to "drink in moderation" – Esperal requires complete abstinence from alcohol.

We especially recommend the procedure for patients who: have repeatedly attempted to quit drinking without success; need an external barrier preventing impulsive alcohol consumption; want to use the abstinence period for addiction psychotherapy; have a supportive family that will help in difficult moments.

At Nasz Gabinet in Katowice, we often accept patients after alcohol detox – the implant is a natural next step in treatment. Many patients come from across the Silesian voivodeship, as in the Upper Silesian agglomeration, the office at Józefowska is one of the few offering procedures on weekends.

Before each procedure, the doctor conducts a medical history and assesses whether the patient can safely have the implant.

Absolute contraindications:

• Allergy to disulfiram or preparation components
• Severe liver failure (disulfiram is metabolized in the liver)
• Kidney failure
• Severe heart diseases (failure, ischemia, arterial hypertension)
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding
• Psychoses and severe mental disorders
• Concurrent use of metronidazole (drug interaction)

Relative contraindications require individual assessment: diabetes, epilepsy, hypothyroidism, peripheral neuropathy.

Intoxication or alcohol consumed within the last 12 hours is an absolute reason to postpone the procedure – not because of the insertion itself, but due to the risk of disulfiram reaction during or immediately after the procedure.

Preparation for Esperal insertion at Nasz Gabinet Katowice is simple. The only absolute requirement is minimum 12 hours abstinence before the procedure (ChPL requirement) – optimally 24-48 hours. You don't need to fast, you can eat and drink normally (non-alcoholic, of course).

For the visit, bring an identity document and a list of medications taken – the doctor must exclude interactions with disulfiram. You don't need a referral from another specialist. If you have blood test results (morphology, liver tests) from the last 3 months, it's worth bringing them – they will facilitate qualification.

The procedure takes about 30-45 minutes including consultation. After the procedure, you'll return home independently – there's no need for someone to pick you up. Many of our patients from Chorzów, Zabrze or Bytom arrive by public transport and return home without problems.

The procedure begins with a doctor's consultation. We discuss addiction history, check contraindications and answer patient questions. The doctor explains exactly how the implant works and what consequences consuming alcohol after implantation entails.

The insertion itself takes 15-20 minutes. The patient lies on the couch, the doctor disinfects and locally anesthetizes the upper buttock area. After the anesthesia takes effect, a small incision is made and disulfiram tablets are placed under the muscle fascia. The wound is closed with sutures – absorbable or traditional, depending on the package.

After the procedure, the patient remains in the office for 10-15 minutes for observation. They receive recommendations regarding wound care and the doctor's contact number.

For the first 2-3 days, avoid intense physical exertion – lifting heavy objects, gym exercises, running. Walking and normal activity are allowed immediately.

Wound care:

• Keep the wound clean and dry
• For the first days, don't wet it directly in the shower
• Avoid bathing in a bathtub, pool and sauna for 2 weeks

If you have non-absorbable sutures, come for their removal after 10-14 days – the follow-up visit is included in the price of each package. Absorbable sutures (VIP and Exclusive packages) absorb themselves within 2-3 weeks.

Contact the office if you notice:

• Increasing swelling or redness around the wound
• Purulent discharge
• Fever above 38°C
• Severe pain not relieved by paracetamol

Such situations are rare but require medical assessment.

According to the manufacturer's leaflet, the implantation procedure can be repeated after 8 months. In clinical practice, the implant works from 8 to 12 months – the exact time depends on the patient's metabolism, body mass and physical activity. People with faster metabolism and lower body mass may experience a shorter duration of action.

Disulfiram is released from the implant gradually, maintaining a constant blood concentration throughout the action period. There is no way to independently check if the implant "still works" – the only test would be drinking alcohol, which we strongly advise against.

After the action period expires, another implantation can be performed. Many of our patients in Katowice repeat the procedure every year as part of a long-term sobriety maintenance strategy. There is no limit to the number of implants – the decision belongs to the patient and doctor.

At Nasz Gabinet Katowice, we offer six Esperal alcohol implant packages, tailored to different needs and budgets. We perform all procedures at Józefowska 76 Street, daily from 8:00 to 20:00.

Basic Implant Katowice – 799 PLN

Economic package with disulfiram in minimum concentration. Suitable for patients with shorter addiction history or as a first step in therapy. Wound closed with non-absorbable sutures – we remove them after 10-14 days during a free follow-up visit.

Standard Implant Katowice – 799 PLN

Extended package with disulfiram in medium concentration – recommended for most patients. In addition to the procedure, you receive an intramuscular antibiotic minimizing infection risk. Non-absorbable sutures, follow-up visit included.

VIP Implant Katowice – 1099 PLN

Most popular package among patients from the Silesian agglomeration. Disulfiram in high concentration ensures stronger and potentially longer action. Absorbable sutures – don't require removal visit. Included: intramuscular antibiotic and two prescriptions for supporting medications (reducing alcohol craving and enhancing implant action).

Exclusive Implant Katowice – 1900 PLN

Premium package with disulfiram in maximum concentration. Contains everything from VIP plus two additional medical consultations – you can use them for follow-up visits or discussing further treatment plan. Absorbable sutures, full set of supporting medications.

6h Detox + Implant Katowice – 1899 PLN

Comprehensive solution for patients after an alcohol binge who cannot independently maintain abstinence. The procedure begins with 6-hour detox under medical supervision: hydrating IV drips, blood pressure stabilization, withdrawal symptom relief. After condition stabilization, we perform standard concentration implantation. Antibiotic and follow-up visit included.

12h Detox + VIP Implant Katowice – 2499 PLN

Most comprehensive package for patients requiring full detoxification before implantation. Includes 12-hour alcohol detox with 24-hour medical supervision, followed by Esperal insertion in VIP package. Included: absorbable sutures, intramuscular antibiotic, prescriptions for abstinence-supporting medications. Ideal for patients after multi-day alcohol binges.

Our office in Katowice serves patients from the entire Upper Silesian Industrial Region and Silesian voivodeship. Thanks to excellent location and dense transport network, it's easy to reach us from any city in the agglomeration.

Nearby cities with good access to Katowice:

• Sosnowiec
• Gliwice
• Zabrze
• Bytom
• Chorzów
• Rybnik
• Tychy
• Jaworzno
• Dąbrowa Górnicza
• Częstochowa

Easy access by public transport (PKP, PKS) and car. Parking available at the office for patients.

Esperal insertion performed by an experienced doctor is safe. Local complications occur rarely and usually have a mild course: small hematoma or swelling at insertion site (resolves within a few days); redness around the wound (if it intensifies – contact the office); local reaction to sutures (rare).

More serious complications are exceptionally rare and mainly concern non-compliance with recommendations:

1. Wound infection (with neglected hygiene)
2. Implant displacement (with too early physical exertion)
3. Allergic reaction to disulfiram (that's why we ask about allergies before the procedure)

The greatest risk associated with the implant is not the procedure itself, but conscious or accidental alcohol consumption after implantation. Disulfiram reaction with large alcohol doses can be life-threatening. Therefore, we emphasize patient education before the procedure.

The alcohol implant itself doesn't cure addiction – it prevents drinking for 8-12 months. This time is invaluable, but only if the patient uses it to work through the causes of reaching for alcohol.

Effective alcoholism treatment combines three elements:

• Alcohol detox (if needed) – body cleansing and stabilization after a binge
• Esperal implant – pharmacological barrier against impulsive alcohol consumption
• Psychotherapy – working on addiction mechanisms and building new behavior patterns

At Nasz Gabinet Katowice, we offer all these elements. A patient who, after the implant's action ends, hasn't undergone psychological therapy remains at high risk of returning to drinking. The implant gives time and protection – use them wisely.

The alcohol implant is most effective in combination with psychological support. At Nasz Gabinet Katowice, we offer consultations with an addiction therapist who will help work through the causes of reaching for alcohol.

Available forms of support: individual consultations with a psychologist or addiction therapist; cognitive-behavioral therapy focused on identifying drinking triggers; learning strategies for coping with stress and risky situations; support for families of addicted individuals.

Patients combining the implant with regular psychotherapy achieve significantly better results in maintaining long-term abstinence. The implant's action period (8-12 months) is a window of opportunity for deep change – tablets under the skin alone won't suffice if you don't change your way of thinking about alcohol.

In Poland, there is no anti-alcohol injection. The only registered method of pharmacological implantation is Disulfiram WZF in the form of tablets for insertion – this is the only such preparation approved for circulation on the Polish market.

All offers regarding "anti-alcohol injections" or "injections for alcoholism" should be treated as fraud. No such agent has passed clinical trials or received marketing authorization in Poland.

At Nasz Gabinet Katowice, we use only the original, registered Disulfiram WZF preparation. Patients from the Silesian agglomeration can be sure they receive a proven treatment method with documented effectiveness, not unverified substances of unknown origin.

Performing an alcohol implant with home visit to the patient is theoretically possible, however we strongly advise against such practice. The procedure requires sterile office conditions – it involves skin and subcutaneous tissue incision, reaching the muscle, cutting the fascia and implanting a sterile medication.

Disulfiram WZF preparation is properly packaged in sterile conditions to contain no bacteria and enable proper healing. Performing the procedure in home conditions significantly increases the risk of wound infection, improper implant placement and post-operative complications.

Removal of the alcohol implant is possible, though relatively difficult and not recommended. The implant grows into tissue and is placed deep under the muscle fascia in the buttock area, therefore the procedure must be performed by a surgeon.

What's worth knowing before deciding on removal:

• Only implants performed at a given facility are removed – thanks to medical documentation, it's known exactly where the implant was placed
• If needed, an ultrasound examination is performed for precise location
• Part of the disulfiram has already absorbed into the body – implant removal doesn't guarantee immediate cessation of drug action
• The removal procedure is more invasive than implantation

At Nasz Gabinet Katowice, before each procedure we thoroughly discuss the consequences of the decision with the patient. If you're considering implant removal, first schedule a consultation with a doctor or addiction therapist – it often turns out that working through difficulties in therapy is a better solution than giving up pharmacological protection.

Nasz Gabinet at Józefowska 76 Street in Katowice is a specialized addiction treatment clinic with years of experience. We perform several hundred Esperal insertion procedures annually – it's one of the most experienced places in the Upper Silesian agglomeration.

Why patients choose us: we work daily from 8:00 to 20:00, also on Saturdays and Sundays – flexible appointments for working people; we use only original Esperal preparation; we offer six price packages tailored to different budgets; we ensure discretion – the office has no markings suggesting addiction treatment; possibility of performing detox and implant on the same day.

Many of our patients come from Chorzów, Zabrze, Bytom, Sosnowiec and other agglomeration cities. The location at Józefowska ensures good transport connections and parking availability.