Does acamprosate make you sick if you drink alcohol?

Drugs.com

Official answer

by Drugs.com

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

Acamprosate is a prescription medication that is used after you have detoxed from alcohol to help prevent the cravings and urge to drink alcohol. It does not help treat the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.

It’s not clear exactly how acamprosate works, but it is thought to help by restoring the balance of chemical messengers in your brain that are altered by drinking alcohol.

Acamprosate works differently to drugs such as Antabuse (disulfiram), which are also used to treat alcohol dependence. Antabuse blocks your body from breaking down alcohol, which causes the buildup of a toxic compound that makes you feel sick if you drink alcohol while taking this medication. This unpleasant reaction encourages people taking this medication to avoid alcohol. Acamprosate does not cause this same reaction. It does not affect the way your body processes alcohol and alcohol does not affect the way your body processes acamprosate.

Acamprosate is used to help overcome an addiction to alcohol. Talk to your healthcare provider if this medication does not reduce your craving for alcohol.

Acamprosate is also known by the name Campral, which is a discontinued brand name of the drug. Various generic versions of acamprosate are currently available.

Related medical questions

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Popular Keywords