Acamprosate for Alcohol Use Disorder and Addiction 

Acamprosate is a medication for addiction treatment (MAT) which may be used for alcohol addiction rehabilitation and long term recovery for alcohol use disorders. Acamprosate is safe and effective when taken as prescribed, and can help one achieve and maintain recovery. Understanding what acamprosate is, how it may factor into a treatment plan, and how it works can all be important during your journey to recovery.  

What Is Acamprosate? 

Acamprosate is one of three medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat alcohol use disorder (AUD); the others are disulfiram and naltrexone.¹ Campral is the brand name of acamprosate that was discontinued, so the medication is now available only as the generic. It is a delayed release oral tablet that is taken three times per day.² 

It is important to note that oftentimes acamprosate and MAT will make up just a single dimension of addiction treatment.3 Comprehensive addiction treatment will often involve a combination of medications like acamprosate, counseling, and behavioral therapy.³

What Is Acamprosate Used For? 

Acamprosate is an addiction treatment medication approved for use for post-withdrawal maintenance of alcohol abstinence.² It may be prescribed for those who are in recovery, have already stopped drinking, and want to avoid drinking alcohol in the future.² 

Providers typically prescribe acamprosate to those who have completed alcohol detoxification and remained abstinent for about 5 days.² Its full effects are experienced 5–8 days after starting the medication.² If a person taking acamprosate relapses to alcohol use, they can continue to take this medication until they get back on track with recovery efforts, since acamprosate and alcohol do not interact. However, acamprosate has been shown to be most effective for people committed to a goal of complete abstinence, rather than just decreased drinking.⁴

Acamprosate may be initiated in or around various alcohol addiction treatment scenarios, including:

• After completion of medical detox and acute alcohol withdrawal management. Medical detox may be needed for someone with physiological alcohol dependence. It is a process of stabilization that is supervised by medical providers who help wean the body off alcohol and manage withdrawal symptoms with medication.⁶
• Inpatient rehab. Inpatient rehab treatment involves living at the facility and receiving care 24/7.⁶ It is suitable for someone with severe alcohol use disorder or who also has co-occurring mental disorders or significant medical conditions.⁶ 

How Does Acamprosate Work? 

Acamprosate is thought to work by changing certain types of brain chemistry.⁴ Though the exact neurochemical mechanism isn’t entirely clear, it seems to restore chemical balance within key neurotransmitter systems—including the inhibitory GABA and excitatory glutamine systems—that have been disrupted through chronic alcohol misuse.^{1, 4} By modulating these alcohol-related changes, acamprosate helps to lessen the impact of troublesome post-acute or protracted withdrawal effects, thereby decreasing the likelihood of continued drinking.⁷

Side Effects of Acamprosate 

Like any medication, acamprosate comes with potential side effects, though these tend to be minor and resolve quickly. 

The common side effects acamprosate include:^{5, 8} 

• Loss of appetite. 
• Nausea. 
• Diarrhea. 

Potentially more serious acamprosate side effects include:^{5, 8} 

• Insomnia. 
• Anxiety. 
• Depressed mood. 

How Long Does Acamprosate Treatment Last? 

According to the Veterans Health Administration, many people take acamprosate for six months or longer.⁵ However, the duration for which providers prescribe it varies, depending on a person’s unique needs. It is important to consult with your provider before discontinuing acamprosate or changing the dose.^{5, 7} 

Benefits of Acamprosate 

While acamprosate does not cure AUD, it helps reduce the risk of relapse and increase abstinence rates.³ Specific benefits of acamprosate include:^{4, 7}

• Helps prevent a return to drinking. 
• Reduced number of drinking days for people in treatment.
• Increased days of abstinence. 
• No significant interactions with other medications. 
• Suitability for those with multiple medical issues. 
• Being safe in combination with benzodiazepines. 
• Being safe in combination with opioids for chronic pain or addiction. 

Given these benefits of acamprosate, it is a first-line pharmacological treatment for AUD, especially severe alcohol addiction.⁶

However, acamprosate for addiction treatment should be a part of a comprehensive rehab program that also includes psychotherapy. While acamprosate treats the physiological aspects of addiction, therapy addresses the psychological and social factors that contribute to alcohol use and helps to strengthen healthy coping strategies.⁶

Acamprosate for AUD in Orange County 

If you or a loved one is looking for an Orange County rehab, Laguna Treatment Hospital may be a fit. In addition to MAT, we offer various levels of addiction treatment and specialty programs. 

Please call us at [ phone] to speak with an admissions navigator who can help explore your rehab payment options, verify your alcohol rehab insurance, and start the admissions process.