Campral

Alcohol Abstinence, Alcoholism, alcohol detoxification completed + 1 more

Treatment

6 FDA approvals

8 Active Studies for Campral

What is Campral

Acamprosate

The Generic name of this drug

Treatment Summary

Alcohol use disorder has serious negative effects on people's health, safety, productivity, and finances. Acamprosate, also known as Campral, is a medication used to help people maintain alcohol abstinence. This drug is structurally similar to a neurotransmitter in the brain called GABA. Acamprosate is the first medication specifically made to help people abstain from alcohol after they have gone through alcohol detoxification. It was approved by the FDA in 2004 and is marketed by Forest Laboratories.

Campral

is the brand name

image of different drug pills on a surface

Campral Overview & Background

Brand Name

Generic Name

First FDA Approval

How many FDA approvals?

Campral

Acamprosate

2005

15

Approved as Treatment by the FDA

Acamprosate, also known as Campral, is approved by the FDA for 6 uses like Alcohol Abstinence and Alcohol Dependency .

Alcohol Abstinence

Alcohol Dependency

Helps manage Alcohol Dependency

Alcohol Abstinence

alcohol detoxification completed

Alcoholism

Helps manage Alcohol Dependency

in a psychosocial support program

Effectiveness

How Campral Affects Patients

Acamprosate is a drug that helps to balance out the activity of certain neurons in the brain, which can help reduce alcohol intake and increase the chances of remaining abstinent from alcohol. It is considered to be generally safe and well-tolerated for people with alcohol dependency.

How Campral works in the body

Acamprosate works to help people maintain alcohol abstinence, but the exact mechanism is not known. It's thought that acamprosate helps to restore the balance between excitation and inhibition in the brain. It does this by binding to and blocking GABA B receptors, and indirectly affecting GABA A receptors.

When to interrupt dosage

The suggested measure of Campral is governed by the diagnosed circumstance, like Alcoholism, Alcohol Abstinence and alcohol detoxification achieved. The degree of dosage changes, as per the technique of delivery (e.g. Tablet, delayed release or Tablet, coated - Oral) demonstrated in the table below.

Condition

Dosage

Administration

alcohol detoxification completed

, 333.0 mg

, Oral, Tablet, delayed release, Tablet, delayed release - Oral, Tablet, coated, Tablet, coated - Oral

in a psychosocial support program

, 333.0 mg

, Oral, Tablet, delayed release, Tablet, delayed release - Oral, Tablet, coated, Tablet, coated - Oral

Alcohol Abstinence

, 333.0 mg

, Oral, Tablet, delayed release, Tablet, delayed release - Oral, Tablet, coated, Tablet, coated - Oral

Alcoholism

, 333.0 mg

, Oral, Tablet, delayed release, Tablet, delayed release - Oral, Tablet, coated, Tablet, coated - Oral

Warnings

Campral Contraindications

Condition

Risk Level

Notes

known hypersensitivity to the drug or any of the ingredients

Do Not Combine

Renal Insufficiency, Chronic

Do Not Combine

Common Campral Drug Interactions

Drug Name

Risk Level

Description

Campral Toxicity & Overdose Risk

The toxic dose of acamprosate in male mice has been found to be 1.87g/kg. In cases of overdose, the only symptom reported is diarrhea. To treat an overdose, supportive and symptomatic care is recommended.

image of a doctor in a lab doing drug, clinical research

Campral Novel Uses: Which Conditions Have a Clinical Trial Featuring Campral?

10 active trials are presently being conducted to assess Campral's potential for treating Alcohol Abstinence, successful Alcohol Detoxification and the need for Psychosocial Support Programs.

Condition

Clinical Trials

Trial Phases

Alcohol Abstinence

1 Actively Recruiting

Not Applicable

alcohol detoxification completed

0 Actively Recruiting

in a psychosocial support program

0 Actively Recruiting

Alcoholism

7 Actively Recruiting

Not Applicable, Phase 2, Phase 3

Campral Reviews: What are patients saying about Campral?

5

Patient Review

7/9/2016

Campral for Habit of Drinking Too Much Alcohol

This medicine has been a godsend. I no longer have any craving for alcohol and it's really helped me stay on the wagon.

5

Patient Review

7/16/2014

Campral for Habit of Drinking Too Much Alcohol

I'm a former heavy drinker who's been sober for over a year and a half now, and I attribute much of that success to this treatment. It takes some time to work, but it's worth sticking with if you're looking to quit drinking.

5

Patient Review

4/19/2020

Campral for Habit of Drinking Too Much Alcohol

This treatment has been incredibly helpful for me in staying sober. I was a heavy drinker for 35 years, and decided to go to detox to quit. The withdrawal symptoms were avoided, and I've remained alcohol-free for three months now with no cravings. There are some side effects like bad gas and joint pain, but overall this has been a really positive experience.

5

Patient Review

8/9/2018

Campral for Habit of Drinking Too Much Alcohol

Campral was highly effective for me, and I stayed sober for over a year while taking it as prescribed. However, I foolishly thought that I didn't need it anymore and stopped taking it. Now I'm having to start the whole process over again. If you're considering this treatment, I would advise you to stay on it for at least one or two years for maximum benefit.

5

Patient Review

7/19/2021

Campral for Habit of Drinking Too Much Alcohol

It's been six weeks and I haven't had a single craving. I feel like I was never a hardcore alcoholic, even though I was for the past 15 years. This drug is nothing short of miraculous and it should be available over-the-counter so that all heavy drinkers can get help before they reach rock bottom.

5

Patient Review

6/5/2022

Campral for Habit of Drinking Too Much Alcohol

Acampral was successful in removing any cravings I had for alcohol. It only took a week to work, and now I'm feeling much better after being sober for a month. This is compared to last year when I stopped drinking for three months cold turkey; the cravings were so bad then that it felt like they stuck with me all day long.

4.3

Patient Review

12/18/2020

Campral for Habit of Drinking Too Much Alcohol

I found that Campral was very effective in killing my cravings for alcohol. However, it also killed my sex drive, which is a big problem for me. I'm going to switch back to Naproxen soon.

4

Patient Review

5/20/2017

Campral for Habit of Drinking Too Much Alcohol

I've been struggling with addiction for a long time, and this is the first treatment that has really worked for me. Campral seems to be helping me stay sober with minimal side-effects, and I'm hopeful that it will continue to be effective in the long term.

4

Patient Review

4/11/2016

Campral for Habit of Drinking Too Much Alcohol

Campral has helped a lot, but does anyone else experience joint pain? I have osteoarthritis any way. Now wondering which is from campral if any or just my arthritis . Can anyone tell me what has been the worst side effect?

4

Patient Review

7/9/2014

Campral for Habit of Drinking Too Much Alcohol

3

Patient Review

5/19/2018

Campral for Habit of Drinking Too Much Alcohol

Worked for a week, then the cravings came back stronger than ever.

1.7

Patient Review

2/7/2017

Campral for Habit of Drinking Too Much Alcohol

Campral did not work for me at all, and I can't afford to seek other treatment options.

1

Patient Review

7/22/2014

Campral for Habit of Drinking Too Much Alcohol

Even after completing detox, I found that this treatment didn't stop me from using alcohol.

1

Patient Review

12/12/2016

Campral for Habit of Drinking Too Much Alcohol

I have not found this to be effective in reducing my cravings.
image of drug pills surrounding a glass of water symbolizing drug consumption

Patient Q&A Section about campral

These questions and answers are submitted by anonymous patients, and have not been verified by our internal team.

Is Campral like gabapentin?

"A newer drug, acamprosate (Campral®), which is the only other medication approved by FDA for alcoholism treatment, normalizes dysregulation in brain stress systems following acute withdrawal, similar to gabapentin."

Answered by AI

What does the drug Campral do?

"Acamprosate is taken in order to help people who are struggling with alcoholism to refrain from drinking. The medication works by restoring the natural equilibrium of chemicals in the brain (neurotransmitters). It is important to note that one should only start taking acamprosate after they have already stopped drinking alcohol."

Answered by AI

How does Campral make you feel?

"The main side effects of this medication are diarrhoea, occasional headache, and some nausea. You likely won't feel anything unless you experience one of the listed side effects. Campral will not make you feel high or sedated."

Answered by AI

Is Campral a narcotic?

"Both Campral and Revia can cause fatigue, muscle or joint pain, insomnia, and impotence. Additionally, both drugs can cause decreased sexual desire or decreased sexual ability."

Answered by AI

Clinical Trials for Campral

Image of Alpha Neuron LLC in Tuscaloosa, United States.

Deep TMS for Alcoholism

18 - 86
All Sexes
Tuscaloosa, AL

The study will compare alcohol use in two groups of subjects. One group will be assigned to the Deep TMS treatment and the other group will be assigned to the sham treatment. This is a prospective, 6-month, double blind, randomized, controlled, multi-center trial in outpatients recruited in both academic and private research centers. The study population will consist of subjects diagnosed with moderate to severe AUD. The study is comprised of three phases: 1. Pre-study Screening and Baseline Phase 2. Acute Treatment Phase and 3. Maintenance Treatment and Follow up Phase Subjects of all ethnic and gender categories, ages ranging between 18-86 years will be screened for study eligibility according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Subjects who meet the eligibility criteria and are willing to sign an informed consent form will be enrolled in the study. The subjects' demographic and baseline characteristics, as well as their overall medical condition will be assessed prior to treatment administration. Eligible patients will be randomized with a 1:1 ratio to one of two study groups (treatment or sham) and stratified by site. Randomization will be employed to avoid bias in the assignment of subjects to treatment group. All subjects will undergo the same treatment regimen, regardless of the assigned treatment group. The acute treatment phase will include 15 treatment visits over a period of 3-5 weeks. The Maintenance Treatment \& Follow-up phase will include one treatment visit per week from the end of the Acute Treatment Phase until the 6 month follow-up visit. At each treatment session, prior to stimulation onset, alcohol related cues will be presented to the subject. After the offset of the alcohol cue presentation, active or sham Deep TMS stimulation will be administered. The study design is directed towards a comparison between active treatment and sham, up to 4 months and 6 months follow-up. Efficacy will be assessed using the primary efficacy measure of the percent heavy drinking days during months 2-4, based on the Time Line Follow Back (TLFB) reporting. Additionally, several subject assessment scales will be used during the course of the study to assess alcohol use and alcohol craving. Safety will be assessed, including monitoring the severity, causality and frequency of all adverse events, vital signs, and physical and neurological examination.

Recruiting
Device

Alpha Neuron LLC (+5 Sites)

Brainsway

Image of Wake Forest University Health Sciences in Winston-Salem, United States.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Alcoholism

21 - 65
All Sexes
Winston-Salem, NC

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a complex chronic brain disease characterized by compulsive alcohol use, loss of control over drinking, and negative emotional states. Extensive research has identified the general neural circuitry underlying AUD. There is an exciting opportunity to intervene in AUD using neuromodulation. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) offers a non-invasive method to modulate brain activity, making it a promising tool for investigating, modulating, and potentially treating AUD. However, the precise effects of TMS on neural circuits involved in AUD and the mechanisms underlying these effects must first be understood. Magnetoencephalography (MEG) is a neuroimaging method that provides direct measurement of brain activity within neural circuits with high temporal resolution. Critically, MEG can measure brain activity in a wide range of frequencies that are consistent with those targeted by TMS. The goal of this proposal is therefore to collect preliminary and feasibility data to support a future NIH grant application that would use MEG to investigate TMS effects in individuals with AUD (iAUD).

Recruiting
Has No Placebo

Wake Forest University Health Sciences

Merideth A Addicott, PhD

Image of Washington State University in Spokane, United States.

Virtual Incentive Treatment for Alcoholism

18+
All Sexes
Spokane, WA

The overall objective of this program of research is to utilize phosphatidylethanol (PEth), a blood-based biomarker that can detect alcohol use for up to 28 days to deliver a feasible telehealth-based 26-week CM intervention. This study will test a telehealth PEth-based CM model in a sample of adults with AUD (n=200), recruited via online platforms by randomizing individuals to six months of 1) an online cognitive behavioral therapy for AUD (CBT4CBT) and telehealth PEth-based CM (CM condition) or 2) CBT4CBT and reinforcers for submitting blood samples (no abstinence required) (control condition). Investigators will assess group differences in PEth-defined abstinence and regular excessive drinking (PEth \>= 200 ng/mL), and alcohol-related harms (e.g., smoking, drug use). This study will address important gaps in CM research by assessing outcomes during a 12-month follow-up, which is much longer than most previous CM studies; using a conceptual model to identify predictors of post-treatment abstinence. Investigators will conduct an economic analysis to place the cost of this model in the context of downstream CM-associated cost-offsets and improvements in personal and public health.

Recruiting
Has No Placebo

Washington State University

Nathalie Hill-Kapturczak, PhD

Have you considered Campral clinical trials?

We made a collection of clinical trials featuring Campral, we think they might fit your search criteria.
Go to Trials
Image of National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, 9000 Rockville Pike in Bethesda, United States.

7T MRI for Studying Addiction

18 - 65
All Sexes
Bethesda, MD

Background: \- Scientists know that alcohol use disorders affect brain structure. They want to know more about the effects of alcohol use disorders on a person s behavior. They want to develop tasks that can be done inside a scanner that can help them better understand these effects in later studies. Objective: \- To develop tasks that investigate a person s behavior that can be used in later studies. Eligibility: * Inpatient participants of another study. They must be physically healthy right-handed adults 18-60 years old. * Healthy right-handed volunteers 18-65 years old. Design: * Participants will be screened with medical history and physical exam. They will have an EKG to record heart activity. They will give blood and urine samples and have a psychiatric interview. * Participants will have between one and three visits. * Participants will be asked about their alcohol drinking to see if they have an alcohol use disorder. * Participants will complete one of three simple computerized tasks either inside the magnetic resonance imagining (MRI) scanner or outside of it. * The MRI scanner takes pictures of the brain. The scanner is a metal cylinder. Participants lie on a table that can slide in and out of the cylinder. They will be in the scanner for about 60 minutes. They may have to lie still for up to 20 minutes. The scanner makes loud knocking noises, but they will get earplugs.

Recruiting
Has No Placebo

National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, 9000 Rockville Pike (+1 Sites)

Paule V Joseph, C.R.N.P.