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Acamprosate For Alcoholism Uses and Side Effects

Medical Providers:
Dr. Michael Vines, MD
Alex Spritzer, FNP, CARN-AP, PMHNP
Clinical Providers:
Natalie Foster, LPC-S, MS
Last Updated: February 2, 2026

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is common, but the hardest part often begins after someone stops drinking. The body can stabilize, yet the brain may keep “asking” for alcohol—through cravings, irritability, poor sleep, and that edgy feeling people describe as living in a constant startle response. That’s where medication can matter. Acamprosate treatment is used to support abstinence once drinking has already stopped. It isn’t a quick fix or a sedative. It’s a maintenance tool meant to help recovery feel more possible week after week, not just on day one.

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Acamprosate Explained

What is Acamprosate Used For?

Acamprosate is a prescription medication for people recovering from alcohol dependence. You’ll sometimes see it written as acamprosate calcium, and many clinicians still refer to the brand name Campral out of habit. The goal is straightforward: help people stay alcohol-free by lowering the background “pull” to drink.

Acamprosate Mechanism of Action

How Does Acamprosate Work?

If you’re wondering how does acamprosate work, it helps to think about what alcohol does to the nervous system over time. Alcohol shifts the brain toward chemical imbalance. When alcohol is removed, the brain doesn’t immediately return to normal. Many people feel overactivated and emotionally reactive, even if they’re “doing everything right.”

How Acamprosate Affects The Body

Impact on Glutamate Levels

Alcohol dependence can increase glutamate activity. Acamprosate may dampen that excessive drive, which can reduce the restless, wired feeling that fuels relapse.

Impact on GABA and Taurine Levels

These inhibitory systems act like brakes. Acamprosate may strengthen that braking effect, helping people feel calmer and less reactive.

NMDA Receptor Modulation

By influencing NMDA receptors, acamprosate may weaken the learned “cue → reward” loop that makes triggers so powerful.

Calcium Channels

Because acamprosate calcium relates to calcium signaling, some research suggests it may stabilize neuron communication in another way as well.

Is Acamprosate a controlled substance?

No—is acamprosate a controlled substance is a common question, and the answer is no. It has low misuse risk and doesn’t produce intoxication or euphoria.

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Side Effects of Acamprosate

Most people tolerate acamprosate well. Still, side effects can happen, especially early on. It’s worth naming them plainly because surprises are one of the fastest ways people stop taking a medication that could help.

Common Acamprosate Side Effects

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Diarrhea (the most common)

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Nausea or stomach upset

Trouble sleeping

Fatigue

icon muscle pain

Muscle or joint aches

icon drowsiness or sedation

Dizziness

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Occasional allergic-type reactions

Impact on Mental Health

Rarely, some people report mood changes—depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts. Any serious mental health shift during treatment should be treated as urgent, not something to “push through.”

Taking Acamprosate For Alcoholism

Acamprosate is generally started after a person has stopped drinking. It’s not designed to manage acute withdrawal on its own, and it works best when the rest of the recovery plan is active too.

What To Expect in Acamprosate Treatment

Acamprosate is suitable for individuals at various stages of alcohol dependence. Here’s what to expect through the process:

Consultation and Evaluation

A provider reviews alcohol history, current symptoms, and kidney health.

Education and Informed Consent

You’ll discuss benefits, risks, and what results can realistically look like.

Initiating Dosage

Most people take it three times a day. Consistency matters more than timing perfection.

Regular Monitoring

Follow-ups help catch adverse effects, adjust dosing if needed, and track progress.

Combination Therapy

Some clinicians pair acamprosate and naltrexone in selected cases. Because their mechanisms differ, the combo may help certain patients—but monitoring is important.

Maintenance and Continued Support

This medication is often used long term, especially when relapse risk is high.

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Acamprosate Half-Life

Acamprosate has a half-life around 30 to 33 hours, but that doesn’t mean it works like a once-daily drug. It’s still usually taken multiple times a day to keep a steady level in the body. It is cleared mainly through the kidneys, which is one reason clinicians check kidney function before prescribing.

Other Factors Affecting Acamprosate Half-Life

Only a portion is absorbed, so missing doses can matter.

It doesn’t bind heavily to proteins, so it circulates fairly freely.

It’s not significantly metabolized by the liver; it’s excreted in urine.

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Acamprosate Interactions With Other Drugs

Acamprosate interactions are limited compared with many medications. There are no well-known severe interactions. The most discussed moderate interaction is with naltrexone, since the combination can increase certain side effects (like headache or dizziness) in some people.

What happens if you drink on Acamprosate?

If a person drinks alcohol while taking acamprosate, it usually doesn’t cause an immediate “bad reaction” the way disulfiram can. But it can blunt progress—because the medication’s purpose is to support abstinence and reduce the relapse cycle, not to protect someone from the effects of alcohol.

Finding Acamprosate Treatment Near Me

Medication can help, but it’s rarely the whole answer. Acamprosate is most effective when it’s part of a plan that includes therapy, skills training, recovery support, and medical oversight—especially for people with a long history of heavy drinking.

If you’re looking for acamprosate treatment options and structured recovery support, Scottsdale Detox provides clinically guided care that addresses both the physical and mental health side of alcohol use disorder, with support designed for real-life follow-through.

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