Acamprosate
Acamprosate, the active ingredient in Acamprol 333 mg tablets, is used alongside counselling and social support to keep people who have stopped drinking from going back to alcohol.
Key points
- Acamprosate belongs to a class of medicines called GABA agonist/glutamate antagonist, which restores the balance between brain chemicals that long-term drinking disrupts.
- Acamprosate may increase the risk of self-harm or depression during treatment, even if the person does not return to drinking.
- The tablet is formulated for delayed release, so it dissolves in the intestine rather than the stomach.
How does acamprosate work?
Acamprosate is thought to ease the negative effects of quitting drinking by calming the overactive brain signals that long-term alcohol use creates. In the Addiction Recovery category, acamprosate is one of three medicines specifically for Alcohol Dependence.