The drug "Torpedo" from alcoholism: how does the injection work?

How many years there is alcohol, for so many years, humanity has always drawn to it and simultaneously announces a drunken battle. However illogical it may seem, this is a harsh reality. Alcoholism every year takes millions of lives across the planet. How many people because of him lost their health! But the statistics are cruel: the number of drinkers is not only not decreasing, but growing, becoming younger, acquiring feminine features. And this is despite a lot of fairly effective methods to combat this terrible disease, such as using the drug "Torpedo" from alcoholism, coding by the method of Dovzhenko, innovative methods of laser coding and intracranial translocation.

Each of the methods has its advantages and disadvantages, which you need to know about before deciding on such a serious step - the treatment of alcoholism by coding. In this article we will try to understand what is the coding of alcoholism and how it is carried out using a special drug "Torpedo".

Coding from alcoholism

Coding is one of the most popular and effective methods of combating alcoholism, which harms people as much as not every war brings. But if during the war the destruction is visible to the naked eye, then for alcoholism they remain hidden for the time being, because they concern the inner world of man: his vital organs, his thinking, his soul. A person degrades in the literal sense of the word.

Code from alcohol, it means to instill in a person a strong aversion to this dangerous drink with its consequences. It would be even more correct to say to a group of drinks, because the coding concerns all liquids containing alcohol, including some medicines with ethanol (for example, alcohol tinctures, which are attributed to medicinal products).

The idea to disaccustom a person to drink alcohol by influencing his psyche was born in the middle of the twentieth century. Hypnosis and suggestion in those days were the main tools of such treatment. This is the basis of the method of the doctor A.V. Dovzhenko, from which the history of the concept of "coding" began in the 80s of the last century.

Methods of psychotherapeutic influence to form a strong aversion to alcohol have not lost their relevance to this day. But they also have a significant drawback: this effect produces a result only on condition that the patient lends itself to hypnosis. Otherwise it will be a waste of time and money.

A few years later, new methods of fighting alcoholism - pharmacological methods - appeared on the arena. For them, exposure to hypnosis is no longer relevant, although a certain amount of suggestion still remains. But the use of special medications comes here, which are considered incompatible with alcohol, and therefore cause unpleasant symptoms, in many ways similar to the withdrawal syndrome.

Let's remind, that at an alcoholic abstinence there is a intoxication by alcohol, shown in the form of a nausea, vomiting, headaches and other excruciating symptoms. It is on the emergence of such symptoms with the use of a small amount of alcohol and calculated treatment. After all, who wants to harm himself, worsening his condition. And if you still impress on a person that such a symptomatology is dangerous to life (and there is some truth in that), then what is it not an incentive to stop drinking alcohol, at least in order to stay alive ?!

Coding Torpedo from alcoholism is based on the principles described above. The drug itself (or rather a series of drugs, which we will talk about below) does not pose a danger to humans, since it has virtually no effect in the body. And only when entering into a chemical reaction with an alcohol-containing liquid, the drug turns into a poison, as happens with the introduction of incompatible drugs.

The preparation "Torpedo" is familiar to our compatriots since the times of the Soviet Union, when a medicine of German manufacture was used. It was one of the first pharmacological drugs used to treat alcoholism by coding. In the common people, the name of the drug was somewhat distorted, transforming into a familiar "torpedo". And since this method of getting rid of alcohol dependence became very popular, in conversations between men and women it was possible to hear such an expression as "torpedo from alcoholism" more than once.

The method of coding against alcoholism with the help of medications is often called a chemical blockade. That is, a special drug plus suggestion creates a certain block in the mind of a person when trying to consume alcohol. But the modified name of the drug for coding can be seen as a means to escape from the vicious circle, to break through the wall that separates a person from a healthy and happy sober life. This has its own meaning, so it's not always right to correct a person if he has distorted the name of the medicine, because the main thing is that he decided to break with drunkenness for himself.

The peculiarity of the method of coding is that the patient is preliminarily acquainted with the whole specifics of the method: what preparations, where they are introduced, what consequences and risks there may be. And only after that the patient decides on his own whether it is suitable for him or not. Without the patient's consent, the procedure can not be carried out. This is the main condition of the method of coding from alcoholism.

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Indications for the procedure

Alcoholism is a serious and dangerous disease. Usually everyone understands this, except alcoholics. Alcohol dependence (as well as other types of dependence) can be called a kind of mania, because almost all the thoughts and desires of a person with a great craving for alcohol are reduced to a bottle. It alcoholics find joy, comfort, joy in life, and family, friends, work, career and everything that is dear to an ordinary person goes to the background.

Not all drinkers are considered alcoholics. If a person likes to have a drink and have fun at a holiday or in a friendly company, but is able to abandon this venture, realizing the possible consequences, it is unlikely that it can be attributed to a cohort of alcoholic maniacs. While a person is able to control himself, it makes no sense to resort to such radical measures as treatment of "Torpedo" from alcoholism. In this case, the work of the psychologist and willpower is sufficient, if the patient suddenly decides that he will not drink more.

The alcoholic can not control his mania, so you can not call him a healthy person. But alcoholism is primarily a mental illness requiring an integrated approach to treatment, both psychological and pharmacological. In this regard, "Torpedo" from alcoholism is the final part of the treatment regimen, the beginning of which lies in the counseling of a psychologist.

Treatment of "Torpedo" or other coding methods can be prescribed only if the patient has realized all the futility of his existence and is ready for radical changes in his life.

But that's not all. One desire to end the former life of an alcoholic is still scarce. It is necessary that a person really perceive all that will happen to him after the introduction of the drug into the body, soberly assesses the possible health risks in case of violation of the ban on alcohol. It's not a fine, and not a reprimand at work. Symptomics can be so strong that a person simply does not stand up to these tortures, and in fact remove the drug from the body, he can not independently, especially when the seam from the operation (when sewing the capsule) will overgrow.

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Preparation

When a person has a desire at all costs to get rid of the addiction, he begins to look for information on effective methods to combat alcoholism. But this is ideal. Usually the search for methods of treatment and information, where to sew a torpedo from alcoholism, are dealt with by the family and friends of the patient, and then they already deliver this information to him.

Despite the fact that the alcoholic's first acquaintance with the attending physician occurs in the narcologist's office, his participation in the therapy of alcoholism is less significant than the work of a psychologist or psychotherapist who prepares the procedure. However, most of the narcologists have sufficient knowledge in the field of psychotherapy, which means they can take full responsibility for preparing the patient for the procedure of drug coding.

Preparation for coding is considered the main stage of this method, because the effectiveness of treatment entirely depends on the patient's psychological mood. To find out how patient the experienced psychologist is ready for cardinal changes in his life. If a person came to a meeting in a state of intoxication, there is no discussion of the possibilities of his treatment, since such an attitude indicates the patient's intentions are not serious.

Even if the patient agrees with urgent requests of relatives to seek help from a specialist, this does not mean that he is ready to give up alcohol forever. Perhaps it was a momentary weakness, and the person succumbed to persuasion, but in fact refers to the very idea of coding is not serious or on the contrary wants to prove all the inefficiency of the method, showing that it can not be understood.

The treatment of such patients poses a certain danger, because there is a high probability that after a little time a person will risk taking up the old one, while the use of alcoholic drinks during therapy with a torpedo can greatly shake the health of a person and even lead to death as a result of severe intoxication . First aid may not be in time.

A psychologist in communication with an alcoholic is trying to find out the degree of the patient's readiness not so much to the procedure of administering the drug as to the subsequent treatment that will already take place outside the medical facility without the participation of a doctor. If the conclusion of a specialist is positive, you can conduct an anamnesis, prescribe laboratory tests and conduct specific studies to identify possible contraindications to the procedure.

A very important point is the discussion with the patient of the possibilities of medicine in terms of treatment of alcoholism by coding. If, according to the indications, a chemical blockade is chosen, it is necessary to give the patient an opportunity to choose from the drugs offered to him the most, in his opinion, suitable. Thus, a trusting relationship between the doctor and the patient is established.

The doctor gives the person all the necessary information about the drugs, their side effects and effectiveness, while explaining the essence of the procedure in parallel. It is possible that the patient already has some information about coding, and not always positive. The doctor's task is to dispel the existing myths about medical treatment and its danger to humans, to help get rid of doubts about the effectiveness of the chosen method. But at the same time, it is necessary to acquaint the person with possible consequences of violation of the requirements of coding therapy, to ensure that the person clearly understands them and confirms their consent to treatment in writing.

The question of where the torpedo will be sewn is discussed in advance. Some doctors prefer the front abdominal wall. This is related to the characteristics of the drug itself. The medicine is gradually released from the capsule, enters the bloodstream and quickly reaches the liver, where it exerts its therapeutic effect, reducing the need for alcohol. However, the patient has the right to choose the location of the capsule so that the traces of the operation do not cause him discomfort.

The patient's consent is very important in the sense that there are certain requirements for coding. The voluntary desire to change one's life for the better is considered only one of them. Another requirement is a refusal to drink alcohol for several days before the procedure. Usually this period is within 5-7 days, but sometimes you have to abstain for a couple of weeks.

For some alcoholics, this is a terrible test, confirming their determination. However, it's not even that. Just from the body you need to get all the alcohol to the procedure to go without complications.

An important requirement of the coding method is that the patient does not have severe pathologies of internal organs (heart, liver, kidneys), as well as mental disorders (psychosis, dementia, etc.).

A special stage in preparation for the procedure is the choice of a medicament that will be used for therapeutic purposes. As we have already said, various drugs of different manufacturers can be hidden under the word "torpedo". The bulk of them is created on the basis of disulfiram - a substance incompatible with alcohol. Full analogues of the first preparation for coding with the name "Torpedo" are the medicines "Algominal" and "Stopital".

Under the brand name "Torpedo" can be produced and preparations "Akvolong" and "Aktokleks", the main active substance of which is also disulfiram. These drugs are administered intravenously or intramuscularly.

Under the name "Torpedo" you can find another drug "Antinol". However, you need to be careful with this medicine, as the manufacturer does not give any information about its active substance and the principle of action.

About the drug "Binastim" we can say that this drug is based on disulfiram for injection. Preparations "Esperal" and "Teturam" (the same active substance) have release forms in the form of tablets, some intended for oral administration, others - for sewing under the skin. This is already a separate group of drugs acting on the principle of "Torpedo".

The original "Torpedo" is a preparation of disulfiram, which is available in the form of ampoules for intramuscular injection and capsules for sewing under the skin.

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Technique of the torpedoes from alcoholism

If all the conditions for preparing for encoding are met, you can proceed to the procedure itself. Intramuscular injections do not present any complexity, however the medicine in this case is introduced in several visits. The first trial, in the tissue (usually the area from the shoulder to the elbow) is introduced a small amount of the drug, and the doctor observes the reaction. The second dose is already more, but still it is not calculated for a long period. For the third time, a specified dose of the drug is administered, calculated for an action within a certain period.

The capsules are a bit more complicated. Still, sewing a torpedo from alcoholism - it's albeit an uncomplicated, but surgical operation that is performed under local anesthesia. If necessary, before the beginning of the procedure, a test for the tolerability of the anesthetic is carried out.

An incision on the skin is done in places where there is no damage and inflammation. Beforehand, the skin is thoroughly cleaned and cleaned with an antiseptic.

Where are the torpedoes stitched from alcoholism? The doctor coordinates the place of the cut with the patient. This may be the anterior part of the peritoneum, the area under the scapula or the iliac region, the buttock.

The incision is made according to the size of the capsule with a depth of about 4 cm. The sterile capsule is inserted into the opening of the incision without opening it. After the torpedo from alcoholism is introduced, the wound is sutured. In its place is superimposed a special sterile bandage.

Both capsules and ampoules can have different volumes. Depending on this coding is carried out for a period of five to six months to one and a half years. This moment must also be agreed with the patient in advance.

The principle of the action of the torpedo from alcoholism is quite simple. The solution or capsule of disulfiram, introduced into muscle tissue, remains there for some time, without affecting the patient's state of health, without causing discomfort or unpleasant sensations. If a person does not drink during the entire period of the coding, the medicine gradually loses its effectiveness and is eliminated from the body naturally. But it is only necessary to introduce a small amount of ethanol into the patient's body, as disulfiram reacts with it and causes symptoms of severe poisoning or a hangover so unloved by everyone: nausea, vomiting, painful headache, etc.

After the injection or injection of the ampoule is made, a trial test (called alcohol provocation) is carried out, which is carried out under the strict supervision of the attending physician and visually shows the patient what he can face if he drinks a little alcohol. The doctor at the same time explains that the patient was given a small dose of alcohol, which still caused unpleasant symptoms. If you increase the dose, the intensity of unpleasant sensations will increase. With high doses of alcohol, the symptoms become intolerably painful and can cause serious health problems.

After carrying out an alcoholic provocation, you need to remind the patient once again of all the consequences that can be caused by drinking alcohol with a stitched torpedo.

Some doctors resort to intimidation of former alcoholics. They argue that drinking alcohol now with a high probability percentage can lead to the death of the patient. On the one hand, the fear of death is, undoubtedly, a strong stimulus to a sober way of life. But on the other hand, this suggestion can lead to negative and even dangerous mental reactions in overly impressionable patients (depression, neurosis, attempted suicide). The stress itself can subsequently become one of the causes of the development of cardiovascular pathologies and serious disorders of the psyche.

Do not press on the patient, arguing that if he drinks alcohol, he will invariably die. Emphasis should be made on the painful symptoms of a hangover, which no sober-minded person wants to survive, and the possible negative consequences for health if a person does not help in time. The possibility of a fatal outcome can be mentioned in passing, and this will be enough for a person to estimate the full scale of the consequences arising from the violation of the ban on the use of alcohol-containing substances.

Contraindications to the procedure

Perhaps disulfiram itself does not pose a threat to the human body, but in combination with ethanol becomes a poison for it. Under normal conditions, a small amount of alcohol does not cause unpleasant symptoms, because ethanol is metabolized in the liver to safe metabolites. When interacting with disulfiram, the enzymatic system of ethanol metabolism is disrupted, which leads to increased production of acetaldehyde, which is a toxic derivative of alcohol metabolism. Hence the symptoms of intoxication.

It should be understood that any poisoning can significantly undermine human health, but if it already has some diseases, toxic substances will further aggravate the patient's condition, and in some cases may cause death. Not without reason before the procedure the doctor studies the patient's anamnesis and, if necessary, prescribes a special examination.

Injections or suturing of a torpedo from alcoholism are not carried out if the following health abnormalities are diagnosed in a person:

• acute form of infectious and inflammatory pathologies (tuberculosis, acute respiratory viral infection, influenza, etc.)
• the presence of malignant processes in the body,
• various severe diseases of the cardiovascular system:

• replacement of heart muscle cells with scar tissue (sclerosis of the myocardium, which in medicine is called cardiosclerosis),
• cholesterol blockade of cerebral vessels (atherosclerosis),
• myocardial infarction, including pre- and post-infarction states,
• protrusion of the wall of the main cardiac artery, called an aortic aneurysm,
• heart failure in the stage of decompensation, CHF
• Hypertension (in cases of moderate and severe hypertension),

• severe liver damage,
• acute and chronic kidney disease with a violation of their functioning,
• neuropsychological pathology.

Drugs based on disulfiram are not suitable for encoding pregnant women and nursing mothers, as well as patients with intolerance to this component or other constituents of drugs.

When choosing a drug, it should also be remembered that disulfiram is not prescribed for diabetes mellitus, gastrointestinal and pulmonary pathologies with a high risk of bleeding, severe hearing and vision damage, bronchial asthma, convulsive syndrome, polyneuritis, and CNS infectious lesions.

If you do not take into account all these moments, drug coding from alcoholism can have unfortunate consequences.

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Consequences after the procedure

Torpedo from alcoholism is a rather popular method of getting rid of drunkenness, even though its use implies a certain danger to the patient's health. In principle, the method of administering or sewing a drug is based on the fact that, for fear of the onset of unpleasant complications as a result of the interaction of disulfiram with ethanol, patients will not drink alcohol during the treatment period. Over time, craving for alcohol is becoming less and sober way of life is perceived by man as a norm.

Complications can be expected if the patient does not survive and return to the bottle. The result of the chemical reaction of alcohol and the active substance "Torpedo" or another drug with a similar effect will be the appearance of the following symptoms:

• hyperemia of the skin,
• nausea with bouts of vomiting,
• the appearance of so-called tides, accompanied by irregular blood pressure,
• convulsive seizures,
• edematous syndrome,
• hallucinations,
• episodes of suffocation,
• in some cases, heart attacks are likely, etc.

Many symptoms can be called not only unpleasant, but also dangerous, especially if the patient has previously had problems with the heart, digestive and respiratory system, liver, kidneys, central nervous system. Avoid these complications can only be through a full examination on the eve of the procedure and not turning to alcohol at least for the period of coding.

Complications can also occur if the probability of a reaction of intolerance to disulfiram or other components of the torpedo was not initially established. And also with poor-quality wound treatment and non-compliance with skin hygiene after the capsule is sewn (inflammatory reactions are possible at the site of the incision with the formation of pus).

The consequences of a different plan are psychological problems. Even if the patient agreed to all the conditions of the procedure during the period of therapy (from six months to 5 years), nervous breakdowns are possible, because a person constantly has to struggle with his desire to drink. The absence of such an opportunity can cause irritation and depression. Nervous tension can negatively affect the sexual function of a man (or woman), which will further exacerbate the situation. This is despite the fact that a person knew about the possible consequences and took note of the information.

In this regard, much attention is devoted to the work of a psychologist and the support of relatives. Coding can be carried out only with the patient's consent, otherwise negative consequences can not be avoided. This is the use of alcohol during treatment with all the symptoms resulting from it, and conflicts in the family, and accidents related to body disorders (heart attacks, injuries due to disruption of the CNS, etc.).

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Care after the procedure

If the torpedo from alcoholism is administered intravenously or intramuscularly, after the procedure, the person can only adhere to the doctor's requirements for alcohol and refer to him in case of discomfort. In some cases, in the first months of treatment, one must resort to the help of a psychologist or psychiatrist to prevent the onset of neuroses and depressions.

When a torpedo is sewn (and many prefer this method), a few days after the procedure will have to pay attention to the place on the body where the medicine was administered. After the operation, the wound is sewn up and a sterile bandage is applied, which later will have to be changed several times until the wound is fully tightened. It is necessary to try not to wet the place of the incision in the first days, giving him the opportunity to heal more likely.

If the skin redness and swelling are noticeable at the site of the skin damage, it should be treated with antiseptic solutions without alcohol or herbal decoctions, hygiene of the skin, as little as possible to touch the wound with hands.

Possible complications of surgery are: irritation and suppuration of the wound (with early removal of seams or rough mechanical action), rejection of the implanted capsule (with insufficient depth of administration), development of an allergic reaction.

Extremely dangerous consequences of alcohol consumption during treatment are acute respiratory failure, collapse, myocardial infarction, cerebral edema, hemorrhagic stroke, and coma.

In principle, after the introduction of the torpedo, the patient continues to live a familiar life. The only restriction is alcohol, which doctors categorically prohibit during treatment. Cope with craving for alcohol at this time helps the consciousness of the danger of drinking alcohol in the presence of torpedoes and support close people who should help the patient safely survive the treatment, especially the first months of therapy, when the desire to drink more.

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The duration of the torpedo

Since even before the initiation of alcoholism treatment by the coding method all the nuances of the therapeutic effect are discussed with the patient, then the time of the drug's exposure is also given the necessary attention. This issue is discussed both with the patient's relatives, and with him.

The term on which the capsule is sewn is not chosen by chance. The health status of the alcoholic, the peculiarities of his CNS and behavior, the individual characteristics of the organism, the strength of desire, the experience of alcoholism, etc., can influence a doctor's choice. Speaking his proposal to the patient and his family, the doctor should justify it, so that people do not have any doubts that this is the best treatment option. If the patient's condition allows, the term of treatment suggested by the doctor can be increased or decreased, as the patient himself wants.

Torpedo from alcoholism is  most often introduced for a period of 6 months to 1.5 years. Much depends on the medicine itself and on the characteristics of the patient's body. The duration of the  drug in some cases can be prolonged up to 5 years.

But even though the treatment time is negotiated and has its limit, the expiration of the medication does not mean freedom from the prohibition on alcohol. Otherwise, why encode at all ?!

It should be noted that the specified duration of treatment is very approximate. It is a mistake to think that the medicine is in the body for the entire duration of the action. In fact, disulfiram and similar chemical substances are removed from the body fairly quickly, especially with intravenous administration. A little more time is needed to remove the contents of the capsule, which in fact is also soluble and can not exist in the body in the unchanged state for a long time. Much depends on the dose and form of disulfiram: the usual form with IV or IM injection is excreted from the body during the first day, the prolonged one can remain in the body for 7-8 months.

For most of the period of treatment, the former alcoholic is not exposed to any danger due to alcohol, but continues to think that it exists. Here, treatment is based on the "placebo" effect, which, incidentally, is not so bad if it activates the body's own forces to fight the disease.

On the question of how to remove the torpedo from alcoholism,  there is no clear answer, because the question itself is not entirely correct. It is possible to remove the capsule surgically only in the first hours after surgery, if unforeseen complications arise. In the future, the medicine from the capsule enters the blood and tissues of the body, which means it can only be removed by the method of blood purification (the same manipulations are also carried out in case of alcohol during treatment, if it caused the appearance of dangerous symptoms). Count on the antidote, alas, is not necessary, because it simply does not exist.

Sometimes patients are offered to decode at the end of treatment or when developing some complications. Such a proposal in most cases can be regarded as fraud to earn extra money, because after the end of the coding period, the medication is already not in the body, and psychologically the patient himself is already in most cases ready to lead a healthy sober lifestyle, all the benefits of which he felt during treatment . It turns out that there is no need for decoding, the decoding can be considered the adoption of a former alcoholic for the rule of a sober lifestyle, which he does not plan to change anymore.

With complications during therapy from alcoholism, the body is cleansed of the active substance of the drug and treated with symptoms, which has nothing to do with decoding.

The torpedo from alcoholism is  not so much a medical procedure as an opportunity to push a person who wants to, but can not part with the addiction to alcohol, to cardinal actions. After all, your own health and the more life is the greatest value for a person. A stronger stimulus simply does not exist, unless, of course, we take into account the health and life of our own child, but the use of such an incentive in therapy would be a violation of all human laws.