{"id":1336,"date":"2022-01-18T21:25:00","date_gmt":"2022-01-19T02:25:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.therecoveryvillage.com\/?page_id=1336"},"modified":"2022-10-20T15:55:02","modified_gmt":"2022-10-20T19:55:02","slug":"acamprosate","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.therecoveryvillage.com\/treatment-program\/addiction-medications\/acamprosate\/","title":{"rendered":"Treating Alcoholism With Campral (Acamprosate)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Campral is used to diminish alcohol cravings for those with alcohol use disorder. It is a non-addictive substance and doesn\u2019t carry serious withdrawal symptoms.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Campral is the brand name for acamprosate<\/a>, a drug used to treat alcohol cravings<\/a> and urges in people with a history of alcohol use disorder (AUD).<\/a> Campral is not an addictive substance; it can\u2019t be abused and doesn\u2019t cause withdrawal symptoms<\/a>. However, Campral can be an effective treatment for people with AUD<\/a>. People with AUD have an unhealthy relationship with alcohol that often leads to alcohol misuse. When someone with AUD stops drinking, they can experience serious withdrawal symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the initial alcohol withdrawal<\/a> period, Campral can play a role in treatment by decreasing the urge to drink alcohol. Campral doesn\u2019t treat<\/a> withdrawal symptoms and typically is started after alcohol withdrawal has ended. Campral doesn\u2019t eliminate drug cravings \u2014 only cravings for alcohol are diminished. Campral helps stop the urge to drink before it can cause a setback in a person\u2019s sobriety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Is Campral?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Acamprosate\u2019s mechanism of action, or the process it performs to treat alcohol dependency, is not fully understood. The drug was initially thought to target the GABA receptors in the brain, but more recently, it is believed to work by affecting NMDA receptors<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chronic alcohol use affects how neurotransmitters such as GABA and glutamate and their receptors work in the brain. Various chemical processes involving neurotransmitters change due to the presence of alcohol in the system. When alcohol is no longer present, these neurotransmitters are thrown off balance and must readjust. This readjustment period creates the withdrawal symptoms associated with quitting alcohol<\/a>. Campral is thought to decrease the excess activity of excitatory neurotransmitters caused by alcohol dependence and control the urge to drink after alcohol detox.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

History of Campral<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Since its development, Campral has been a popular method for treating alcohol dependency after acute alcohol withdrawal symptoms<\/a> have ended. It has been used in France and other parts of Europe since 1989<\/a>. Campral wasn\u2019t approved by the Food and Drug Administration until 2004 and became available for use in the U.S. in January 2005. It is only the third medication for the treatment of AUD to be approved in the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Campral For Alcohol Addiction Treatment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Campral is used to decrease the urge to drink alcohol. It is typically prescribed after alcohol detox<\/a> and withdrawal and is usually started five days after a person stops drinking. Campral only works to control alcohol cravings and does not work for other drug addictions or addictions to alcohol and other drugs. Since it doesn\u2019t affect opioids or benzodiazepines<\/a>, it is a safe option for people who need to continue taking these other medications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Campral is only available as a 333 mg tablet. Typical dosing<\/a> is 666 mg (2 tablets) three times daily. Campral can be taken with or without food. The number of times a person needs to take Campral each day can make it difficult for some to remember. Taking Campral with the three main meals is recommended, making it easier to remember to take the pill three times a day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Long Does It Take for Campral to Work?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Campral is typically started about five days after a person stops alcohol use. After one dose of acamprosate, maximum levels are reached in 4.3 to 15.3 hours<\/a>, and full effectiveness occurs five to eight days<\/a> after regular use. Campral must be taken three times a day to maintain a steady level in the body. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Campral will continue to help control the urge to drink when taken regularly, but compliance with three times a day dosing is important for Campral work. For people who can stick with taking Campral three times a day every day, it can be a long-term treatment to curb alcohol cravings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Campral Side Effects<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Campral is a tolerable drug with few side effects<\/a>. The most common side effect reported is diarrhea<\/a>. During clinical trials<\/a>, diarrhea was the most common reason for stopping Campral. Some less common side effects of acamprosate are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n