Esperal, alcohol insert, sew-in – terms that have aroused a lot of emotions for years. For some, the implementation of a drug that is designed to cause aversion to alcohol is a method of therapy that has nothing to do with a comprehensive approach to alcoholism treatment, and for others it turns out to be a salvation and a method for effectively maintaining abstinence. There are many myths surrounding the Esperal implementation procedure. Patients and their families increasingly feel confused and do not know what an alcohol insertion really is and what is its phenomenon?

Esperal or Disulfiram?

Esperal is the name of the drug, which comes from the French esperer – meaning to hope. France is the first country that undertook the treatment of alcoholism with the use of aversive pharmacological agents and in 1955 it introduced Esperal to the market, the production of which in Poland ended in 2009. Since then, a substitute with the same effect has been introduced – Disulfiram WZF. Both Esperal and Disulfiram WZF have the same active substance, which is disulfiramum.

Despite this, the name Esperal has taken root in people’s minds and still functions as a term for the disulfiram implementation procedure. In the environment of people addicted to alcohol, the term holed up does not mean to hide somewhere but to have Esperal sewn in.

How does Esperal work?

When we consume alcohol, our body metabolizes it to acetaldehyde, which is the toxic substance responsible for the occurrence of hangovers and unpleasant symptoms after alcohol consumption. Under normal circumstances, the body continues to metabolize alcohol and produces the enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase, which converts the harmful acetaldehyde into the less toxic form of acetic acid.

Esperal interferes with the metabolism of alcohol by interfering with the conversion of acetaldehyde to acetic acid. As a result, patients who consume alcohol after having an alcohol insert lead their body to acetaldehyde poisoning and the occurrence of the so-called. disulfiram reaction.

The disulfiram reaction is associated with the accumulation of acetaldehyde, which is more than 5-10 times higher than in the case of normal drinking of alcohol, and is associated with a number of very unpleasant symptoms such as:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Increased fears
• Tachycardia – accelerated heart rate
• Hyperventilation
• Pain in the chest
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness
• Pressure spikes
• Palpitations

In the event of a severe disulfiram reaction, the patient may experience extremely severe complications such as heart attack, seizure, stroke, liver paralysis, cardiovascular collapse, respiratory depression, loss of consciousness and death.

What is the aversive effect of Esperal?

When we consume alcohol we experience a pleasant feeling of relaxation, calming and intoxication. We become more sociable, we put aside our problems. The unpleasant effects of drinking and the hangover are postponed, so we do not worry about them during the intoxication.

In the case of taking Esperal, troublesome symptoms appear almost immediately, as early as 10 minutes after drinking alcohol, and last for several hours. Even the smallest dose of alcohol makes a person with an alcohol tag experience a multiplied hangover and, fearing the occurrence of negative symptoms, does not drink.

In this way, an aversion to alcohol is created and the reverse mechanism begins to work to the one that prompted the alcoholic to reach for high-proof drinks. The fear of experiencing the unpleasant consequences of drinking prevents the person with Esperal from drinking alcohol. The use of Esperal in the treatment of alcoholism is based on the principle of aversive therapy, i.e. the fear of alcohol consumption.

What does the Esperal stitching procedure look like?

The Esperal implantation procedure should take place in a specialist surgical room and may only be performed by a physician. Esperal is a drug in the form of tablets that are applied under the fascia, most often in the buttock. Implementation takes place under local anesthesia and takes about 20-30 minutes. Convalescence after the procedure is not too burdensome for patients. It involves taking an antibiotic and avoiding infection of the postoperative wound. The Esperal insert works for 10-12 months and after that time you should apply for another treatment.

Can you consume light alcohol while stitching with Esperal?

After the Esperal insert is made, it is strictly forbidden to consume any type of alcohol, including wine and beer. Be especially careful when taking medicines that contain alcohol, such as cough syrup, some cold and flu preparations.

It is equally important to avoid foods and drinks that contain alcohol (kombucha, vinegar, some sauces and sweets).

Some disinfectants, perfumes, mouthwash and hairspray can also cause a disulfiram reaction.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of Esperal?

The most important advantage of Esperal is the inability to interrupt the treatment with its participation. Properly performed Esperal implementation procedure makes it impossible to remove it on your own. Therefore, Esperal works all the time 24/7 for 12 months and is much more effective than tablets, the dose of which an addicted person can skip in the event of a strong alcohol craving. Our experience shows that after undergoing a comprehensive detoxification after alcohol, the treatment of alcohol insertion is a good solution to create an aversion to drinking. Aversion and fear of alcohol allows you to effectively start addiction therapy and become aware of the problem of alcoholism.

The disadvantage of Esperal is that it does not treat the source of alcoholism, so it does not change thought patterns, it does not find the causes that contributed to excessive drinking, it does not direct how to deal with problems and it does not really kill the relationship with alcohol, but only silences him for a while. That is why it is so important to start a comprehensive therapy in an addiction treatment center when taking Esperalem, during which the patient learns how to live without alcohol and what benefits are associated with it.

If you have a problem with alcohol and are considering taking treatment, do not hesitate to contact us. At Zeus Rehab our doors are always open and we are waiting to help you overcome the difficult addiction of alcoholism. We promise that after crossing the threshold of our exclusive residence you will feel safe, and we, full of empathy and understanding, will provide you with full discretion and comprehensive help in the fight against addiction.