Acamprosate Addiction Treatment

When trying to overcome an addiction to alcohol, you may have been prescribed a medication called acamprosate. But what is this and will it help in your fight to get your life back on track?

What Is Acamprosate?

Acamprosate is a medication that is often used in conjunction with detox and rehabilitation in the treatment of alcohol addiction. It works by reducing cravings for alcohol and is suitable if you have completed, or are in the process of completing, an alcohol detox. However, it does not prevent alcohol withdrawal symptoms from occurring. Instead, medical professionals prescribe it to help with the continued maintenance of sobriety in recovering alcoholics.

The way some of your brain functions work may have been affected by your use of alcohol. The reason for this is that continued regular abuse can actually alter some of the structures of the brain. In order to restore the balance, you may be prescribed acamprosate, while participating in a programme of rehabilitation.

It is important to be aware that, while it is safe to take acamprosate while still drinking alcohol, this medication is unlikely to be effective unless you have completed or begun the process of alcohol detoxification. In plain English, for this medication to be effective, you should not be drinking alcohol.

Brand Names for Acamprosate

History of Acamprosate

In 1982, acamprosate was developed and consequently tested by French pharmaceutical company Laboratoires Meram. Over the course of the following six years, the company tested the drug for safety and for its effectiveness as a viable treatment for alcohol addiction.

The results of these trials and studies led to the drug being approved for marketing in 1989 under the trade name of Aotal. Acamprosate was being continually studied and used in France and other parts of Europe for almost twenty years before Forest Laboratories were given the right to market it in the US in 2001.

It was not until 2004, that the drug was approved for use by the United States FDA. Although primarily used for the treatment of alcohol addiction, research is underway into the potential use of acamprosate in the treatment of Fragile X syndrome.

What Substance Abuse/Addiction Is Acamprosate Used to Treat?

• Alcohol Addiction

Is Acamprosate Addictive?

It could be the case that you are worried about taking medication when your goal is to live a substance-free life. The fear of swapping one addiction for another could make you reluctant to take a medication such as acamprosate. Nevertheless, you should not be concerned as this medication has thus far proved to be non-addictive.

Chronic exposure to alcohol is said to interfere with the balance between neuronal excitement and inhibition. There are suggestions that acamprosate interacts with the brain’s GABA neurotransmitter and glutamate and that it is this interaction that helps to restore the chemical balance that has been altered by systematic alcohol abuse. As mentioned above though, this is just conjecture at this stage.

How Long Does It Take for Acamprosate to Work?

Acamprosate is usually administered around five days after alcohol has been stopped. However, it can be administered as soon as detox begins. Moreover, it can even be used safely with alcohol, meaning that should you suffer a slip-up after a programme of recovery, you can continue taking acamprosate provided you do not return to regular alcohol abuse.

Acamprosate is typically taken three times a day either with or without food. The exact dosage required will be determined by your doctor or another medical professional. Provided you are taking the medication as prescribed, it will begin to work within a week and should reduce any cravings for alcohol. You should also know that this particular medication only works while you are taking it.

If you forget to take a dose, you should take the missed dose as soon as you remember, provided it is not too near to your next dose. You should not double up on your dosage.

Does Acamprosate Have Any Interactions?

Nevertheless, it is important that you tell your doctor about any medications, vitamins, and supplements that you are taking.

Should Any Precautions Be Taken?

It is important to tell your doctor about any allergies that you have before taking acamprosate. If when taking it you develop symptoms of an allergic reaction, you should seek emergency medical attention. These symptoms could include:

Acamprosate should not be taken if you have severe kidney disease, though. Speak to your doctor if you have impaired kidney function.

You should also let your doctor know if you are pregnant or breastfeeding or if you are planning on becoming pregnant in the near future, during or soon after therapy has ended.

Included in the side effects is a risk of agitation, depression, and suicidal tendencies. When taking the medication, it is important that you tell your doctor if you have a history of mental health problems and/or self-harm. If you notice an increase in depressive symptoms or if you begin having suicidal thoughts while taking acamprosate, you should notify your doctor immediately.

It is important to note your reaction to acamprosate before operating heavy machinery or driving, as it can cause drowsiness and dizziness in some people.

What Are the Side Effects of Acamprosate?

On the whole, though, the side effects of acamprosate tend to be mild and short-lived. The most common of these side effect tend to be diarrhoea; however, there are others:

Although most side effects are mild and go away on their own, if you suffer from severe side effects or if they are not dissipating, you should speak to your doctor.

Facts/Statistics

• Alcohol is one of the most widely abused substances in the UK. In 2015, alcohol was a contributing factor in 1.4% of all deaths in England. This was a ten percent increase on the figure for 2005.
• Acamprosate is one of two main drugs that is prescribed for the treatment of alcohol dependence. The other is Disulfiram.
• In 2016, 135,000 items of acamprosate were dispensed. This number was almost double the number prescribed ten years previously. This compared to 50,000 items of Disulfiram prescribed in 2016.
• The average net ingredient cost (NIC) per item, for acamprosate, was £18 compared to £43 for Disulfiram.