Acamprol Tablet
Acamprol Tablet should be taken with food. It is only effective when you have completely stopped drinking alcohol. If you have missed a dose, take it as soon as you remember. Do not skip any doses and finish the full course of treatment. This medication mustn’t be stopped suddenly without talking to your doctor.
Acamprol Tablet
Basic Information
Important information about this medicine
About This Medicine
General information about this product
Acamprol Tablet is a medicine that is used to stop craving in people who have completely stopped drinking alcohol. However, this medicine does not treat alcohol withdrawal symptoms or prevent the harmful effects of alcohol abuse.
Acamprol Tablet should be taken with food. It is only effective when you have completely stopped drinking alcohol. If you have missed a dose, take it as soon as you remember. Do not skip any doses and finish the full course of treatment. This medication mustn’t be stopped suddenly without talking to your doctor.
Some common side effects of using this medication are abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, decreased libido, and itching. This medicine may cause diarrhea, so drink plenty of fluids to keep yourself hydrated while taking this medicine. Inform your doctor if you develop any unusual changes in mood or behavior, new or worsening depression, or suicidal thoughts or behavior.
You should have regular counseling sessions, as it will provide extra help to maintain abstinence from alcohol. Remember it will take time, support, willpower, and determination to readjust the habit of not drinking.
03Uses
Alcohol addiction
04How To Use
Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Swallow it as a whole. Do not chew, crush or break it. Acamprol Tablet is to be taken with food.
05How It Works
Acamprosate is believed to stabilize the chemical balance in the brain by blocking glutaminergic N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors and activating the gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptors.
06What If You Miss A Dose?
If you miss a dose of Acamprol Tablet, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular schedule. Do not double the dose.
07Benefits
In Alcohol addiction
Acamprol Tablet is a medicine used, along with social support and counseling, to help people recover from alcohol addiction and to avoid having the urge to drink alcohol again. Acamprol Tablet starts working from the very first dose and is a very safe and effective way of treating alcohol addiction.
08Side Effects
Most side effects do not require any medical attention and disappear as your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if they persist or if you’re worried about them
Impotence
Flatulence
Itching
Decreased libido
Vomiting
Nausea
Abdominal pain
Diarrhea
09Safety Information
Alcohol:CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR
It is not known whether it is safe to consume alcohol with Acamprol Tablet. Please consult your doctor.
Pregnancy:CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR
Acamprol Tablet may be unsafe to use during pregnancy. Although there are limited studies in humans, animal studies have shown harmful effects on the developing baby. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and any potential risks before prescribing it to you. Please consult your doctor.
Breast feeding:SAFE IF PRESCRIBED
Acamprol Tablet is probably safe to use during breastfeeding. Limited human data suggests that the drug does not represent any significant risk to the baby.
Driving:SAFE
Acamprol Tablet does not usually affect your ability to drive.
Kidney:CAUTION
Acamprol Tablet should be used with caution in patients with kidney disease. Dose adjustment of Acamprol Tablet may be needed. Please consult your doctor.Use of Acamprol Tablet is not recommended in patients with severe kidney disease.
Liver:CAUTION
Acamprol Tablet should be used with caution in patients with severe liver disease. Dose adjustment of Acamprol Tablet may be needed. Please consult your doctor.Limited information is available on the use of Acamprol Tablet in these patients. No dose adjustment is recommended in patients with mild to moderate liver disease.
10Drug Tips
Acamprol Tablet reduces craving for alcohol in people who have stopped drinking.
Take it in combination with a counselling programme to help you maintain abstinence from alcohol.
It is only effective after you have completely stopped drinking alcohol.
This medicine does not relieve alcohol withdrawal symptoms and does not prevent the harmful effects of continued alcohol abuse.
Talk to your doctor if you notice sudden mood changes or develop suicidal thoughts.
It will take time, support, willpower and determination to readjust to not drinking and learn to live without alcohol.
References
Sources and references
Stahl SM, editor. Acamprosate. In: Stahl’s Essential Pschopharmacology: Prescriber’s Guide. 5th ed. New York, New York: Cambridge University Press; 2014. pp. 1-3.
Schuckit MA. Ethanol and Methanol. In: Brunton LL, Chabner BA, Knollmann BC, editors. Goodman & Gilman’s: The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics. 12th ed. New York, New York: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2011. p. 643.
Masters SB. The Alcohols. In: Katzung BG, Masters SB, Trevor AJ, editors. Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. 11th ed. New Delhi, India: Tata McGraw Hill Education Private Limited; 2009. p. 395.
Briggs GG, Freeman RK, editors. A Reference Guide to Fetal and Neonatal Risk: Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health; 2015. pp. 5-6.
Acamprosate. Feltham, Middlesex: Merck; 1995 . view
Drugs.com. Acamprosate. view
Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation . view
