Acamprosate
About Acamprosate
Acamprosate is an oral prescription medicine used to help adults who have stopped drinking alcohol maintain their abstinence. It is designed to support your ongoing recovery after you have successfully completed alcohol withdrawal. It is not used to treat active alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
To get the best results, you must take Acamprosate consistently every day, exactly as directed by your healthcare provider, even if you do not feel like drinking. This medicine can be taken with or without food, though taking it with meals may help establish a regular routine. Combining this treatment with counselling, support groups, and healthy lifestyle changes significantly increases your chances of staying sober.
While taking this medicine, you may experience mild side effects like diarrhoea, gas, or nausea. However, you must contact your doctor immediately if you experience serious side effects, such as deep sadness, extreme mood changes, or thoughts of hurting yourself.
Before starting this medicine, talk to your doctor if you have any history of kidney problems, depression, or suicidal thoughts. Do not take this medicine if you have severe kidney disease, as your body will not be able to clear it safely.
While Acamprosate does not have severe drug interactions, drinking alcohol while taking it defeats the clinical purpose of the medicine, so you must avoid alcohol during your treatment. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or are an elderly individual, consult your doctor before starting this medicine to ensure it is safe for you.
Uses of Acamprosate
Medicinal Benefits
By helping restore chemical balance in the brain after alcohol dependence, Acamprosate provides several benefits that support long-term recovery, including:
- Supports Long-Term Sobriety: Helps maintain abstinence from alcohol as part of a structured recovery plan.
- Helps Stabilise Brain Chemistry: Assists in restoring the balance of neurotransmitters that may be disrupted by prolonged alcohol use.
- Reduces Alcohol Cravings: Helps decrease the persistent urges and thoughts associated with alcohol dependence.
- Eases Psychological Discomfort During Recovery: May reduce the emotional and mental distress that can occur after stopping alcohol consumption.
- Supports Counselling and Behavioural Therapy: Works alongside counselling, support groups, and lifestyle changes to improve recovery outcomes.
- Promotes Consistent Recovery Progress: Helps individuals focus on rebuilding healthy habits and maintaining long-term abstinence without the constant distraction of alcohol-related cravings.
Directions for Use
- Acamprosate can be taken with or without food as advised by your doctor.
- It is usually taken three times a day or as directed by the doctor.
- Swallow Acamprosate as a whole with a glass of water.
- Do not chew, crush or break it.
Storage
Side Effects of Acamprosate
Common Side Effects (Usually mild)
- Diarrhoea
- Gas or stomach pain
- Nausea or vomiting
- Itching or skin rash
- Weakness or dizziness
Serious Side Effects (Call a doctor right away)
- Severe depression or extreme changes in mood
- Suicidal thoughts or attempts to hurt yourself
- Severe allergic reactions, such as swelling of the face, lips, or throat, or difficulty breathing
Medicines Containing this Salt
View AllDrug Warnings
- Inspect the Medication Before Use: Check your prescription label and ensure the tablets are intact and not damaged before taking them.
- Begin Treatment Only After Detoxification: Do not start taking Acamprosate if you are still actively drinking alcohol or going through acute withdrawal; you must undergo detoxification first.
- Monitor Mood and Behaviour Changes: If you experience any new or worsening depression, anxiety, or unusual changes in behaviour, contact your doctor immediately.
- Track Your Daily Doses: Keep a calendar or use a pillbox to track your daily doses, as this medication is typically taken multiple times a day.
- Inform Healthcare Providers About Your Treatment: Inform all your healthcare providers that you are taking Acamprosate, especially before starting any new prescription or over-the-counter medicines.
Drug Interactions
No clinically significant drug interactions are known with Acamprosate when used as directed.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionAvoid drinking alcohol while taking Acamprosate. If you have a drink of alcohol, inform your doctor
Pregnancy
cautionThis Acamprosate should be used during pregnancy only when clearly needed. Discuss the benefits and risks with your doctor.
Breast Feeding
cautionIt is unknown if this Acamprosate passes into breast milk. Inform your doctor before breast-feeding.
Driving
cautionAcamprosate causes dizziness as a side effect. Therefore, drive with caution.
Liver
safe if prescribedPatients with liver damage can safely take the Acamprosate because Acamprosate is not metabolized in the liver.
Kidney
unsafeAcamprosate is not recommended in patients with a history of kidney diseases because serious side effects could occur.
Children
unsafeThe safety and efficacy of Acamprosate have not been recognized in the children.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Stay Well-Hydrated: Stay well-hydrated, especially if you experience diarrhoea as a side effect. Drinking plenty of water and clear broths can prevent dehydration.
- Avoid Alcohol Completely: Avoid alcohol completely. Keep your living space free of alcohol and avoid social environments where drinking is the main focus.
- Participate in a Structured Recovery Programme: Engage in a structured recovery program. Combining Acamprosate with behavioural counselling, support groups (such as Alcoholics Anonymous), and therapy significantly improves long-term sobriety rates.
- Maintain a Healthy, Balanced Diet: Eat balanced, regular meals to support your overall physical recovery and help maintain a routine for taking your medication.
Special Advise
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Psychosis: It is a condition that affects the way your brain processes information. It causes you to lose touch with reality. You might see, hear, or believe things that are not real. Psychosis is a symptom, not an illness. A mental or physical illness, substance abuse, or extreme stress or trauma can cause it.
Alcohol addiction: It is a chronic disease characterized by uncontrolled drinking of alcohol. In this the person not being able to stop drinking when he/she has started and wants to drink more alcohol to feel the same result. In alcohol addiction the person not being able to stop drinking when he/she has started and wants to drink more alcohol to feel the same result.
FAQs
Acamprosate is used to treat alcohol addiction.
Never take more than the prescribed dose. Immediately go to the emergency department of your nearest hospital. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened. Take the container with you even if this is empty.
Do not stop Acamprosate without your doctor's advice. Sudden discontinuation may worsen the condition.
If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember (with a snack). If it is close to the time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your normal time. Do not take 2 doses at the same time or extra doses.
Yes, Acamprosate cause dizziness as a side effect. In this condition do not drive and do not work anything that requires concentration.
Yes, Acamprosate is effective if taken as advised by the doctor without missing the doses of the treatment. It is only effective after completely stopping the intake of alcohol.
Acamprosate doesn’t get you high. It is mostly used to treat alcohol dependence. It may cause drowsiness, but not for everyone as it isn’t a sedative. Weight gain is not a side effect of Acamprosate, but it differs for everyone based on their health conditions. Please, consult the doctor if the side effects worsen or persist for longer durations.
No, you should not start taking Acamprosate while you are actively drinking. It is designed to be started after you have successfully completed alcohol withdrawal and stopped drinking. Talk to your doctor about the best time to start.
No, Acamprosate does not treat active alcohol withdrawal symptoms. It is used to help maintain abstinence after the withdrawal phase has passed. Talk to your doctor if you need help with withdrawal symptoms.
Drinking alcohol while taking Acamprosate defeats the clinical purpose of the medication. If you do slip up and drink, do not stop taking your medication, but contact your doctor or counsellor immediately.
Diarrhoea is a common side effect of Acamprosate, especially when starting treatment. Ensure you stay well-hydrated by drinking plenty of water. If the diarrhoea is severe or persists, talk to your doctor.
Do not take Acamprosate if you have severe kidney disease. If you have mild or moderate kidney issues, your doctor may need to adjust your dose or monitor you closely. Talk to your doctor before starting.
The duration of treatment is individualised and depends on your recovery progress. Many people take it for several months, but you should continue taking it for as long as your healthcare provider recommends. Talk to your doctor for specific advice.
The safety of Acamprosate during pregnancy has not been fully established. It should only be used if the potential benefits outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
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