Campral
From Drug Rehab Wiki
Campral is the brand name for the generic medication acamprosate, which is used to treat individuals addicted to alcohol. Campral affects chemicals in the brain that are known to become unbalanced in a person with an alcohol addiction. This medication restores the chemical imbalance in the alcohol-dependent individual who has recently quit drinking.
Campral works by helping the person who recently quit drinking alcohol to continue to choose not to drink, remaining abstinent from the substance. Campral is often used in combination with behavior modification and counseling support to help the individual to stop drinking.
This medication is not known to be helpful to the individual who has not yet quit drinking or has undergone detoxification. It is also not known to be helpful to the individual who is also addicted to other substances. Campral treatment should begin as quickly as possible after the individual stops drinking. It will not prevent or treat alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
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Can Campral Be Abused?
Campral and its generic acamprosate calcium are not controlled substances and therefore are not viewed as presenting a risk for abuse or addiction. In trials using Campral, there was no evidence of withdrawal symptoms in patients at therapeutic doses. Data collected outside the United States demonstrated there is no evidence of Campral abuse or dependence.
For those who have an addiction to alcohol and turn to Campral for relief, there is still the chance the individual will subconsciously feel dependent upon the medication. In such a situation, the individual believes they cannot function without the medication or alcohol.
Effects of Campral
As with any medication, Campral is know to produce specific effects when an individual begins treatment. Allergic reactions are not common, but can occur. Signs of an allergic reaction include hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Serious side effects can put an individual at risk and Campral should be immediately stopped. Series effects 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.
Less series effects can also occur and may 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 Campral
While Campral is not known to cause addiction or lead to abuse in an individual, withdrawal symptoms can still occur. Such symptoms have been reported when more Campral is taken than what is medically prescribed.
The withdrawal symptoms that can occur in the cessation of Campral include, but are not limited to:
• Headaches • Jitters • A craving for alcohol
Treatment of Campral Addiction
Addiction to Campral is not common, but the ongoing or high dose use of the medication can cause symptoms of withdrawal. As a result, it is important that those taking large amounts 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 of this drug and must be done under the care of a board-certified physician and a board-certified psychiatrist.
