Acamprosate

Generic name: Acamprosate Calcium
Brand names: Campral (discontinued)
Dosage form: oral delayed-release tablet
Drug class: Drugs used in alcohol dependence

Usage of Acamprosate

Acamprosate calcium is a prescription medication that helps people who are dependent on alcohol to abstain from drinking it. It is used along with psychosocial support and helps to prevent the cravings and urge to drink alcohol that people with alcohol use disorder experience.

Drinking alcohol alters the balance of the chemical messengers or neurotransmitters in your brain. Acamprosate is thought to work by helping to restore the balance of these neurotransmitters. It's thought that it primarily works by decreasing the excessive excitation that accompanies alcohol dependence.

Acamprosate is similar in structure - an analog of - two neurotransmitters called GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) and taurine. And while it's not clear exactly how it works, it's been suggested that acamprosate works by targeting GABA and NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) glutamatergic receptor activity. It's also been suggested that it works by supplying calcium.

In 2004, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a branded version of acamprosate calcium called Campral. Campral has since been discontinued, but generic versions of acamprosate calcium delayed-release tablets are available.

Acamprosate side effects

Common side effects of acamprosate include:

  • accidental injury
  • asthenia
  • pain
  • anorexia
  • diarrhea
  • flatulence
  • nausea
  • anxiety
  • depression
  • dizziness
  • dry mouth
  • insomnia
  • paresthesia
  • pruritus
  • sweating

    • These are not all of the possible side effects of acamprosate.

    Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

    Before taking Acamprosate

    Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Alcohol use during pregnancy can harm your unborn baby. The effects of acamprosate on the fetus are unknown, but it is thought that the drug crosses the placenta. Acamprosate should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.

    Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known whether acamprosate crosses into breastmilk. Caution should be used when prescribing acamprosate for people who are breastfeeding because the effects of it on the baby are unknown.

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    How to use Acamprosate

    The recommended dose of acamprosate is 666 mg (two tablets) taken three times a day.

    See full prescribing information for further details about acamprosate dosing.

    Warnings

  • Before starting treatment with acamprosate you must have stopped drinking alcohol.
  • If you relapse and start drinking alcohol, continue to take acamprosate and see your healthcare provider as soon as possible. In the event of a relapse, treatment with acamprosate should be continued.
  • Do not stop taking acamprosate, even when you feel better. Talk with your healthcare provider about how long you should take acamprosate for.
  • Missing doses of acamprosate may increase your chances of relapsing.
  • If you have kidney problems you may need lower doses and need blood tests while using acamprosate. If you have severe kidney problems acamprosate may not be right for you.
  • People with substance use disorders are at a higher risk for depression and suicidal thoughts. If you experience any thoughts of self-harm, call 911 or go to your closest emergency room.
  • Acamprosate should be used in combination with counseling and other support.

    • What other drugs will affect Acamprosate

    Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

    Popular FAQ

    Acamprosate is pronounced a-KAM'-proe-sate.

    Acamprosate and naltrexone are two different medications that are used in the treatment of alcohol use disorder. They work in different ways to help people who are dependent on alcohol to abstain from drinking it. Naltrexone is also used for the treatment of opioid use disorder. Acamprosate was thought to be slightly more effective at helping people with alcohol use disorder remain off alcohol, while naltrexone was thought to be slightly more effective at helping reduce heavy drinking and cravings, according to the results of a meta-analysis which used data from 64 trials. Results from two small studies, however, indicate that naltrexone is more effective than acamprosate in a number of areas. Continue reading

    Acamprosate does not make you feel sick if you drink alcohol, unlike some other medications used in the treatment of alcohol use disorder (alcoholism). Continue reading

    Acamprosate usually takes several days to a week to start working fully. About five days after you start taking this medication, you’ll reach a point where the amount of acamprosate in your system will remain at a consistent level if you continue to take it as prescribed. Continue reading

    Weight gain is frequently reported as a side effect of acamprosate by people taking it to control alcohol cravings associated with alcohol use disorder. Continue reading

    It’s not clear exactly how acamprosate works to help prevent the cravings and urge to drink alcohol that people with alcohol use disorder experience. Acamprosate is thought to work by helping to restore the balance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters (chemical messengers) in the brain, which are altered by drinking alcohol. Research suggests it primarily works by decreasing the excessive excitation that accompanies alcohol dependence. Continue reading

    Acamprosate is pronounced a-KAM'-proe-sate.

    Acamprosate and naltrexone are two different medications that are used in the treatment of alcohol use disorder. They work in different ways to help people who are dependent on alcohol to abstain from drinking it. Naltrexone is also used for the treatment of opioid use disorder. Acamprosate was thought to be slightly more effective at helping people with alcohol use disorder remain off alcohol, while naltrexone was thought to be slightly more effective at helping reduce heavy drinking and cravings, according to the results of a meta-analysis which used data from 64 trials. Results from two small studies, however, indicate that naltrexone is more effective than acamprosate in a number of areas. Continue reading

    Acamprosate does not make you feel sick if you drink alcohol, unlike some other medications used in the treatment of alcohol use disorder (alcoholism). Continue reading

    Acamprosate usually takes several days to a week to start working fully. About five days after you start taking this medication, you’ll reach a point where the amount of acamprosate in your system will remain at a consistent level if you continue to take it as prescribed. Continue reading

    Weight gain is frequently reported as a side effect of acamprosate by people taking it to control alcohol cravings associated with alcohol use disorder. Continue reading

    It’s not clear exactly how acamprosate works to help prevent the cravings and urge to drink alcohol that people with alcohol use disorder experience. Acamprosate is thought to work by helping to restore the balance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters (chemical messengers) in the brain, which are altered by drinking alcohol. Research suggests it primarily works by decreasing the excessive excitation that accompanies alcohol dependence. Continue reading

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