Acamprosate
From Drug Rehab Wiki
Acamprosate is a generic medication used to treat individuals addicted to alcohol. This medication affects chemicals in the brain that are known to become unbalanced in the individual with an alcohol addiction. This medication works by restoring the chemical imbalance in the alcohol-dependent individual who has recently quit drinking as it helps the person to continue to choose not to drink, remaining abstinent from the substance.
Acamprosate is not known to be helpful to the individual who has not yet stopped alcoholic drinking or has undergone detoxification. It is also not helpful to the individual who is also addicted to other substances. Acamprosate treatment should begin as quickly as possible after the individual stops drinking, but it will not prevent or treat symptoms associated with alcohol withdrawal.
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Abuses of Acamprosate
Acamprosate is not a controlled substance and therefore is not viewed as presenting a risk for abuse or addiction. In Acamprosate trials, there was no evidence of withdrawal symptoms in patients at therapeutic doses, although higher doses presented other problems. Data collected outside the United States demonstrated there is no evidence of Acamprosate abuse or dependence.
For those who have an addiction to alcohol and turn to Acamprosate for relief, there is still the chance the individual will subconsciously be dependent upon the medication, especially given the fact it is taken immediately after alcohol is stopped. In such a situation, the individual tends to believe they cannot function without the medication or alcohol.
Effects of Acamprosate
Acamprosate is known to produce specific effects when an individual begins treatment. Allergic reactions can occur and include signs such as; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Serious effects can also impact an individual and include mood or behavior changes; thoughts about hurting yourself; severe anxiety or depression; feeling like you might pass out; fast or pounding heartbeats; swelling, weight gain, feeling short of breath; confusion, increased thirst; or urinating less than usual or not at all.
Effects on the less serious side are still worthy of attention and can include: nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, loss of appetite; constipation, diarrhea; headache, dizziness, drowsiness; vision problems; problems with memory or thinking; weakness, cold or flu-like symptoms; back pain, joint or muscle pain; dry mouth, decreased or distorted sense of taste; sleep problems (insomnia); impotence, loss of interest in sex; sweating, mild skin rash; or numbness or tingly feeling.
Withdrawal of Acamprosate
Acamprosate is not known to cause addiction or lead to abuse in an individual, although it can still happen. If the medication is abruptly stopped, withdrawal symptoms can still occur. Such symptoms have been reported when more Acamprosate is taken than what is medically prescribed.
The withdrawal symptoms that can occur in the cessation of Acamprosate include, but are not limited to:
• Headaches • Jitters • A craving for alcohol
Treatment of Acamprosate Addiction
Abuse of Acamprosate can easily occur if the drug is taken too long or in too high of doses. The withdrawal process can be life-threatening if it drives the individual back to intense alcohol intake. It should be monitored and therefore, it is important that those abusing Acamprosate seek the help they need to stop taking the drug and to learn how to function normally without it.
Detoxification is required to cleanse the body and must be done under the care of a board-certified physician and a board-certified psychiatrist. Many quality treatment centers suggest comfortable detox using withdrawal medications specific to Acamprosate abuse. A quality treatment center will do a full physical on a person to determine the right medications for comfortable detox.
