[Abstinence behavior and plasma concentration of disulfiram in alcoholics after esperal implantation]

Abstinence behaviour after disulfiram implantation has been investigated in 21 chronic alcoholics. The blood levels of disulfiram and its metabolites, carbon disulfide (CS2) and reduced disulfiram (diethyldithiocarbamate) were determined and the blood levels of patients with implants were compared with those of patients receiving disulfiram orally. The blood levels in the implanted patients were significantly lower than those of the group taking disulfiram orally. No metabolites were detectable after 3 months, despite the sensitive method employed. Nevertheless, 14 of the 21 chronic alcoholics remained abstinent for 6 months after implantation. This result is probably due in the main to psychotherapeutic guidance.