Prescription medications can play a crucial role in the treatment of addiction, helping people manage their drug cravings and avoid relapse. For those in recovery from alcohol use disorder (AUD), acamprosate is safe and effective.
Designed to reduce the risk of relapse by addressing the chemical imbalances in the brain created by chronic alcohol abuse, acamprosate helps the brain stabilize neurotransmitter activity, relieving alcohol withdrawal-related discomfort. When taken as part of a comprehensive addiction treatment plan, which includes counseling and mental health therapy, acamprosate supports people in their journey to long-term recovery and wellness.
Acamprosate for alcohol addiction and dependence is a prescription medication that can help people who have stopped drinking avoid relapse, or returning to alcohol use.
Acamprosate is an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor modulator. It has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a pharmacological treatment for alcohol dependence.1
Also known by the brand name Campral®, acamprosate comes as a delayed-release tablet that is taken orally, with or without food. While the dosage will differ for different patients, adults usually take two tables at 666 mg per dose three times daily.2
The exact mechanism of action of acamprosate is still being studied, but it appears to work by promoting the proper balance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters, which can be disrupted in those who have abused alcohol over a long period of time. In this way, the drug allays alcohol cravings and reduces withdrawal-related distress.1
What’s more, it can be administered to patients living with hepatitis or liver disease, two comorbid conditions common among those who have misused or abused alcohol for years.1
Like many medications, acamprosate has side effects. These side effects tend to be mild in most cases. The most common acamprosate side effects are:3
Acamprosate is safe and effective when taken as prescribed. In fact, a systematic review of published medical literature from 1990 to 2002 found that patients who received acamprosate generally reported few adverse effects.5 The most common side effect reported in clinical studies was diarrhea, which was generally mild and occurred primarily only in the first four weeks of treatment.
Acamprosate does not appear to interact with alcohol or other drugs when taken concurrently.
Because acamprosate is excreted through the kidneys, severe renal impairment or kidney disease is the drug’s main contraindication, or condition disallowing someone from taking the drug. 6
Acamprosate will not cause you to have an unpleasant reaction if you drink alcohol during treatment. Acamprosate does not lower the effects of alcohol or affect your blood alcohol level.
Unlike other FDA-approved treatments for alcohol dependence, acamprosate is not metabolized by the liver. Therefore, it is not impacted by one’s use of alcohol. That said, the drug has been shown to be more effective after alcohol use has ceased.4 If you happen to drink while on acamprosate, continue to take the medication and call your doctor.3
Acamprosate treatment is typically prescribed for six months, sometimes longer. However, the length of time of any alcohol dependence treatment is decided by the patient and their doctor.7 People taking acamprosate should do so only under medical supervision for six months, then at reduced but regular intervals if the drug is continued after that time.8
Because acamprosate does not manage alcohol withdrawal symptoms, it is only prescribed after the detox phase is completed. 8 Acamprosate begins working shortly after taking one dose.9
Insurance should partially or fully cover the cost of addiction treatment, including Medications-Assisted Treatment (MAT). As required by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, behavioral health treatments—including addiction treatment, counseling, and therapy—are covered as an essential health benefit.
Before seeking rehab services, you should contact your insurance plan to ask about coverage of a specific addiction treatment service, such as acamprosate for the treatment of alcohol use disorder. The amount of coverage you receive depends on the specifics of your insurance plan.
Fortunately, the admissions team at Empowered Recovery Center can answer any questions you might have about using insurance to pay for rehab. They can even verify your benefits online or over the phone.
Empowered Recovery Center in Atlanta knows that living in recovery is about having the courage to embrace an entirely new way of living. Our alcohol treatment programs in Atlanta are designed to empower you to say “yes” to a richer, more productive future.
We offer a variety of rehab programs tailored to fit your needs, including outpatient (OP) treatment, partial hospitalization programs (PHP), and intensive outpatient (IOP) treatment. We also offer one full year of recovery coaching at no cost to keep you working toward the life you deserve.
The Empowered Recovery Center admissions team can answer any questions you have about programs or how to pay for rehab. If you’d like to learn more about our programs, contact us today and take that first step toward a healthier, happier life.
Empowered Recovery Center is dedicated to providing addiction treatment services to the greater Atlanta area including Acworth, Alpharetta, Canton, Cartersville, Kennesaw, Marietta, Powder Springs, Sandy Springs, and more.
Empowered Recovery Center
3651 Canton Road,
Marietta, GA 30066