Alcoholism, or alcohol dependence, is a disease. The consequences of alcohol misuse are serious and in many cases, life threatening. Heavy drinking can increase the risk for certain cancers, especially those of the liver, esophagus, throat, and larynx (voice box). Heavy drinking can also cause liver cirrhosis, immune system problems, brain damage, and harm to the fetus during pregnancy. Chronic alcoholism continues to be a widespread and debilitating disorder that places a tremendous burden on society in terms of healthcare costs, lost wages, and personal suffering.
The drug Campral (acamprosate) is used to help alcohol dependent individuals remain alcohol-free after they have stopped drinking. This is the first drug approved for alcohol abuse in a decade.
General Precautions with Campral
- Campral does not get rid of or weaken alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
- People using Campral should be watched for symptoms of depression or thoughts of suicide.
- Campral may impair judgement, thinking, or motor skills. Do not drive a car or operate dangerous machines until you know how Campral affects you.
Tell your healthcare provider if you:
- Have or had kidney problems
- Are pregnant, are trying to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding
- Start drinking alcohol again
How it Works
While its mechanism of action is not fully understood, Campral is thought to act on the brain pathways related to alcohol abuse. Campral was demonstrated to be safe and effective by multiple placebo-controlled clinical studies involving alcohol-dependent patients who had already been withdrawn from alcohol, (i.e., detoxified). Campral proved superior to placebo in maintaining abstinence (keeping patients off alcohol consumption), as indicated by a greater percentage of acamprosate-treated subjects being assessed as continuously abstinent throughout treatment. Campral is not addicting and was generally well-tolerated in clinical trials. The most common adverse events reported for patients taking Campral included headache, diarrhea, flatulence, and nausea.
Campral might not be effective in patients who are actively drinking at the start of treatment, or in patients who abuse other substances in addition to alcohol. Treatment with Campral should be part of a comprehensive management program that includes psychological and social support. |
