"Esperal" tablets

"Esperal" tablets are used for the prevention and treatment of alcoholism. They work on the principle of pharmacological deterrence.

The main active substance is disulfiram, the auxiliary ones include povidone K30, magnesium stearate, sodium carmellose, microcrystalline cellulose, purified water.

"Esperal" tablets have a simple mechanismaction, based on the blockade of acetaldehyde genase involved in the decay of ethanol. As a result, the concentration of acetaldehyde rises in the blood, which causes negative sensations (lowering of arterial pressure, tachycardia, nausea, vomiting, flushing of blood to the face). These effects are observed after drinking. The result of long-term use of the drug is a reflex aversion to the smell and taste of alcohol.

The maximum therapeutic effect is observed twelve hours after ingestion of the tablet inside and continues for two weeks after the end of treatment.

"Esperal" tablets are perfectly absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract, but they are quickly broken down and excreted in the lungs and urine.

Before the course of treatment to the patientit is necessary to undergo a thorough clinical examination, consult a doctor, study all contraindications. The drug is prescribed only by individual schemes. It is used once a day after meals. Gradually the dosage may decrease or in rare cases increase.

A week after the start of the course of treatmentSpecial alcoholic tests are carried out: after taking this drug, the patient needs to consume 20-30 ml of ethanol (vodka). If there is no or weak reaction, the amount of alcohol is increased. This test is carried out two days before the end of treatment. After it, it is also necessary to take the drug in maintenance doses for three years.

Tablets "Esperal" from alcoholism atuse with large doses of ethanol can lead to depression of consciousness with the development of coma, cardiovascular collapse, neurological complications. Symptomatic therapy is used to treat them.

Tablets "Esperal" from alcoholism are also used as a detoxifier for poisoning with nickel.

There are absolute and relativecontraindications to the use of the drug. The first group includes hypersensitivity to components, the period of pregnancy, lactation, the presence of mental illnesses, convulsive syndrome of various origins, epilepsy, diabetes mellitus, severe hepatic insufficiency. Relative contraindications are hypothyroidism, renal failure. Among the special instructions it is necessary to distinguish refusal during the treatment period from taking alcoholic beverages, drugs that contain ethanol.

"Esperal" tablets have many medicinesinteractions. It is not recommended to combine the drug with isoniazid (coordination and behavior is disturbed), metronidazole, ornidazole, secnidazole, tinidazole (confusion, delirious disorders develop), phenytoin (its concentration in the blood plasma increases, which will cause severe intoxication). Caution should be taken with a drug with warfarin (possibly the development of pathological bleeding), theophylline, benzodiazepines (their effect is enhanced).

Reviews about the drug "Esperal" are ambiguous. Despite the high efficiency, many patients complain of the appearance of undesirable side reactions, which sometimes are manifested by the strongest toxicosis. In such cases it is advisable to replace the drug with drugs that have other mechanisms of action and are not so dangerous (Lidevin).