Campral Medication for Alcohol Dependence and Recovery

Alcohol abuse and addiction are among the most prevalent substance use problems in the US. Over 28 million people aged 12 and older had alcohol use disorder (alcohol addiction) in 2022.[1]

Fortunately, addiction treatment has come a long way in recent years, including the development of new medications that can help you overcome alcohol cravings and reach recovery. Among them is Campral, which can be effective when combined with evidence-based therapies.

What Is Campral?

Campral is the brand name for acamprosate, a drug that works by restoring the chemical balance in the brain that may be affected by alcohol use.[2] Campral can help people stay sober once they stop using alcohol when used as part of a comprehensive addiction treatment program. While it doesn’t treat alcohol withdrawal symptoms, it can help with cravings that impede the recovery process.

The active chemical in Campral is calcium acetyl homotaurinate, which works similarly to the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). This neurotransmitter is important for regulating nervous system excitability.

How Was Campral Developed?

Acamprosate was developed in 1982 in France by the pharmaceutical company Laboratoire Meram. It was approved for use in 1989 under the name Aotal, which underwent significant research in Europe as a treatment for alcohol addiction.

The drug, manufactured by Forest Pharmaceuticals, was approved in the US in 2004 and hit the market in 2005 under the brand name Campral. Since then, it’s been used and studied enough to be FDA-approved as a Treatment Improvement Protocol by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).[3] This protocol includes a variety of drugs that can be effective in treating addiction.

Campral Medication Side Effects

Though Campral has many benefits, it also has side effects like other medications. These side effects may include:[4]

• Anxiety
• Depressed mood
• Sleep problems
• Pain
• Weakness
• Dizziness
• Itching or tingling
• Sweating
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Loss of appetite
• Dry mouth

There is a risk of serious side effects, including:[5]

• Severe anxiety or depression
• Mood or behavioral changes
• Suicidal ideation or thoughts of self-harm
• Severe diarrhea
• Kidney problems with symptoms like edema, tiredness, low urination, and shortness of breath
• Signs of an allergic reaction include hives, difficulty breathing, and swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Seek emergency medical attention if you experience any of these serious side effects.

Campral Dosages and Half-Life

Campral is a generally safe drug to take during addiction treatment. For adults with alcohol dependence, the dosage is usually 666 mg taken orally 3 times a day, but lower doses may be effective. It’s often taken with a meal to reduce stomach upset.[6] The tablets are delayed-release and shouldn’t be crushed or broken.

The drug takes 5 to 7 days to build a stable concentration in the body. Each tablet has a half-life of 20 to 33 hours but can vary by individual factors.[7]

How Is Campral Used in Addiction Treatment?

Campral is used in combination with psychological and behavioral treatments as part of a comprehensive alcohol addiction treatment plan. It’s intended for use in people who are committed to recovery and complete sobriety, not people who are looking to curb their alcohol use.

More research is needed to understand Campral’s exact mechanism of action, but it seems to work to reduce cravings by lessening the enjoyable effects of drinking alcohol. Unlike some other alcohol addiction medications, Campral does not relieve the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, just the alcohol cravings.

Typically, Campral is used about 5 days after stopping alcohol use. The drug is safe to take with alcohol, however, so it may be used before withdrawal is complete. It can also be combined with other drugs, such as opioids, so it may help treat addiction to other substances or people struggling with polysubstance abuse or co-occurring disorders.

Campral has few known drug interactions. In some cases, Campral may be combined with naltrexone to provide support for alcohol abstinence. Based on a study into these effects, Campral and naltrexone in a combined treatment protocol can be more effective than Campral alone.[8] Disulfiram may also be combined with Campral, creating a protocol of drugs that are more effective than either on its own.

Campral is not addictive, and it’s generally safe and well-tolerated. People may continue to take Campral into the later stages of their recovery if necessary.

Understanding Alcohol Addiction

Though alcohol is socially acceptable and used in healthy ways by many people, it’s a highly addictive drug that can have devastating effects on the body and mind. In the short term, alcohol use can put you at risk for potentially fatal alcohol poisoning or an alcohol overdose, injuries from car crashes, drownings, or other dangers while under the influence, and sexually transmitted infections that occur from unprotected sex while intoxicated.[9]

In the long term, alcohol damages your body and leaves you at risk for chronic diseases like high blood pressure, heart disease, liver disease, stroke, digestive problems, and certain types of cancer.[10] There can be social problems as well, including job loss, legal troubles, relationship problems with friends and family, long-term memory problems, and worsening anxiety or depression.

An alcohol addiction is characterized by an inability to control your alcohol use despite the problems it causes. The official term is an alcohol use disorder, which has the following criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5):[11]

• Using alcohol in larger amounts or over longer periods than intended
• A persistent desire or unsuccessful attempts to cut down or control alcohol use
• Spending a lot of time in activities necessary to obtain alcohol, use alcohol, or recover from its effects
• Cravings for alcohol
• Failing to fulfill major role obligations at work, home, or school because of alcohol use
• Continued alcohol use despite problems
• Giving up important social, occupational, or recreational activities because of alcohol use
• Recurrent alcohol use in dangerous situations
• Alcohol use continues despite knowledge of the problems caused by it

Treatment for Alcohol Addiction

Alcohol addiction can be difficult to overcome, especially with how prevalent it is in social situations. Comprehensive treatment plans that address the physical, mental, and social aspects of addiction are the best option.

Usually, addiction treatment begins with a medical detox. Alcohol withdrawal can be intense and may have life-threatening complications, such as seizures and delirium tremens (DTs). However, detox provides a medical team to monitor your health, prevent complications, and manage withdrawal symptoms.

After detox, it’s important to transition into an inpatient or outpatient treatment program to address the contributing factors of addiction. Depending on your history and goals, this may include individual therapy, group counseling, peer support, and medications like Campral.

Is Campral Right for You?

Campral is a generally safe and effective drug for treating the alcohol cravings that are common after people with alcohol use disorder stop drinking. Though current uses for Campral, either on its own or with other medications, are promising, it’s not the right choice for everyone. A treatment assessment from a medical professional can determine the severity of your alcohol use and inform the best treatment plan.