What the anti-alcohol injection is and how naltrexone works
The everyday phrase "anti-alcohol injection" stands for extended-release naltrexone, known by the trade name Vivitrol. It is a drug given in a single dose of 380 mg, deep into the gluteal muscle, only by medical staff and only once every 4 weeks. One administration therefore replaces a month of taking tablets every day.
How naltrexone reduces the alcohol craving
Naltrexone is an opioid-receptor antagonist. By blocking these receptors, it dampens the mechanism through which alcohol delivers a sense of reward and relief. In practice this means a weaker alcohol craving and less temptation to go back to drinking after the first glass. The drug therefore acts on the cause of the loss of control, not on the situation after drinking. It is not addictive and does not alter consciousness.
Why the anti-alcohol injection is not the implant
This distinction matters most, because in search engines the "anti-alcohol injection" is often confused with the implant. The Esperal implant contains disulfiram and works by aversion: after alcohol it triggers a violent, dangerous reaction of the body that is meant to deter. Naltrexone works the opposite way and on a different level. After it is given, alcohol causes no unpleasant effects, it simply stops being so tempting. Two different drugs, two different ideas for treatment, two different conversations with the doctor.
Injection, implant or tablets: how they differ
In the pharmacological treatment of alcohol addiction in Opole you will come across three different options. None of them is "better" in the abstract, in isolation from the specific person, which is why the choice rests with the doctor and the patient.
- The anti-alcohol injection (naltrexone depot): a single injection every 4 weeks. It weakens the craving and the rewarding effect of alcohol. It calls for no daily decision about taking a drug, so it keeps working even on a bad day.
- The Esperal implant (disulfiram): an implant placed under the skin in a minor procedure, lasting several months. It rests on the fear of a reaction after drinking. We write more about it on the page for the alcohol implant in Opole.
- Naltrexone in tablets: the same substance as in the injection, but taken every day. It is the cheapest and is registered in Poland, yet it demands self-discipline each day.
When the anti-alcohol injection can be more convenient
The injection lifts from the patient the daily burden of remembering a tablet. This matters above all in the first weeks of abstinence, when motivation wavers. Instead of thirty decisions a month there is one visit. The choice of method is not, however, a matter of convenience, but of the state of health, contraindications and the goal of therapy, which is why we start with a conversation with the doctor, not with a ready prescription.
Qualification and tests before the anti-alcohol injection
The starting point is always a qualifying visit. Naltrexone depot is a prescription drug, not a cosmetic procedure, so the doctor must first get to know your situation and rule out cases in which giving it would be risky.
What the doctor asks about before the anti-alcohol injection
The interview covers the history of drinking and of earlier treatment, the medicines you take (especially painkillers and cough remedies containing opioids), coexisting illnesses, and also your mental state: mood, thoughts of giving up, the risk of relapse. The date of the last contact with alcohol matters, as does whether any withdrawal symptoms are present. If someone is in active withdrawal, we first refer them for preparation for treatment, for example detox in Opole, and only afterwards return to the injection.
Which tests we order before giving naltrexone
The minimal panel is a complete blood count, a liver panel and tests for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV infection. For women of childbearing age we do a pregnancy test, and if there is any doubt about opioids, a urine test. The liver panel is important, because the drug is metabolized in the liver. Only a complete set of results lets the doctor safely confirm that the anti-alcohol injection is indicated in your case.
Safety, contraindications and supervision of the treatment
Naltrexone is a well studied drug, but it calls for informed caution. That is why in our office every administration is run by a doctor, not by a procedure clinic operating in isolation from the diagnosis.
The most important warning: the risk of opioid overdose
While the drug is active, the body does not respond to opioids in the usual way. An attempt to "break through" the blockade with a larger dose of opioids risks stopping your breathing. In addition, toward the end of the cycle and after treatment ends, tolerance to opioids is lowered, so a dose that was well tolerated before can prove fatal. For this reason, for at least 30 days after the last injection you must not take opioid medicines without the doctor's knowledge, and it is worth carrying information about the therapy on you in case of injury or an operation.
When we do not give the injection
The contraindications include: current use of opioids or substitution therapy, an active withdrawal syndrome, acute inflammation of the liver and severe liver failure, pregnancy, and hypersensitivity to the ingredients of the drug. We take particular care when a procedure requiring strong painkillers is planned in the near future. Among the possible adverse effects are nausea, headache, fatigue and reactions at the injection site. At the monthly visits the doctor assesses the injection site, wellbeing and mood, and if needed orders a liver check.
Targeted import (import docelowy): the lawful route to Vivitrol in Poland
Vivitrol is not approved for sale in Poland, but that does not mean it is illegal. It is brought in for a specific patient through targeted import (import docelowy), that is, under a procedure set out directly in the regulations. This is an important distinction from "disulfiram injections", which are not legally available on the market as an injectable.
How bringing the drug in for a patient from Opole works
The doctor files the request for the drug electronically. The application needs confirmation by a consultant in the relevant field of medicine, for which the regulations allow 7 days, and then the consent of the Minister of Health. Outside a hospital, a community pharmacy dispenses the drug. The request is valid for 60 days from confirmation, and the targeted-import prescription itself can be filled within 120 days.
How long the wait for an injection from targeted import is
Between qualification and the first administration, some time passes while this procedure is completed, so this is not an injection "on demand". We do, however, watch the ordering calendar so that after the first dose there is no gap before the next. It is also worth knowing that although filing a reimbursement application is procedurally possible, the AOTMiT Transparency Council found the granting of consents for reimbursement of Vivitrol in the alcohol indication unjustified, which is why in practice the patient bears the cost of the drug.
How the administration works and what research says about effectiveness
The day of the administration itself is short, but a safety check comes before it. The doctor makes sure that since the previous visit no new contraindications have appeared: use of opioids, withdrawal symptoms, a planned procedure, pregnancy or worrying symptoms involving the liver.
What the naltrexone injection itself looks like
The drug, kept in the fridge, must first come to room temperature, which takes about 45 minutes. The suspension is prepared only with the diluent from the manufacturer's kit, the needle length is matched to the patient's build, and the drug is given deep into the gluteal muscle, alternating sides each time. After the administration the patient receives a date for the next dose in 4 weeks and instructions in case of a sudden need to treat pain.
Does the anti-alcohol injection work
In Murphy's 2022 meta-analysis (the journal Addiction, 7 randomized trials) naltrexone depot was associated with on average two fewer drinking days a month and a clearer reduction in heavy-drinking days when treatment ran longer than 3 months. The authors note that the data cover treatment up to 6 months, and that the result depends in large part on two big trials. That is why we say honestly: this is real support that raises the odds, not a guarantee of abstinence. Naltrexone works best as part of a program with therapy and support, not instead of them.
Addiction treatment in Opole against the backdrop of the city's help
The anti-alcohol injection is not, in Opole, an option isolated from the rest of the care available. Year by year the city spends more on countering alcoholism: from 539 thousand PLN in 2024 to nearly 791 thousand PLN a year later, an increase of almost half. This shows that the problem of drinking is taken seriously here and that support is genuinely being expanded.
How help is organized in Opole
The city passes a sizeable part of these funds to non-governmental organizations: in 2025 this was sixteen therapeutic, educational and advisory programs, co-financed with a total of more than 527 thousand PLN. The municipal commission for the resolution of alcohol problems met 54 times in the same year, roughly once a week, motivating addicted people to take up treatment. Tellingly, for years the city has directed its largest single grant, 80 thousand PLN, to helping children with FASD, that is, the consequences of drinking during pregnancy. This is a quiet but telling picture of how deeply alcohol can reach into families.
Where we give the anti-alcohol injection in Opole
You will find our office on Torowa 16, open every day from 8:00 to 20:00. Here we handle the whole process: qualification, bringing the drug in and the monthly administrations. The injection combines well with the other forms of help we offer on site, from addiction therapy in Opole to comprehensive alcoholism treatment in Opole. Pharmacotherapy lifts the pressure of the craving, and therapy gives tools for the longer term.
The cost and booking of the anti-alcohol injection in Opole
The price of the injection cannot be given as a single figure, because several elements go into it: the qualifying consultation, the tests, the cost of the drug brought in through targeted import (import docelowy), and the administration itself and the care at the following visits. The largest and least predictable item is the drug, because its price depends on the import. That is why we set the cost individually, after qualification, once it is clear what the treatment plan looks like.
How to book the anti-alcohol injection in Opole
The first step is a consultation, at which the doctor will assess whether naltrexone depot is suitable and safe for you. You can book the visit by phone at 880 808 880 or through the online booking form. The office on Torowa 16 sees patients all week, including at weekends, and the conversation about treatment stays discreet. If after qualification it turns out that a better starting point is another route, for example the alcohol implant in Opole, we will say so honestly.
