Campral is the brand name for the drug acamprosate, which is used in the treatment of alcohol dependence to regulate alcohol cravings.
Calcium acetyl homotaurinate is its scientific name, and it’s very similar to gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA, a natural molecule in the brain that modulates nervous system excitability. Regtect is another brand name for acamprosate, also used to treat alcohol use disorders.
Acamprosate was first created in 1982 by Laboratoire Meram in France, and it was approved for usage in 1989 under the brand name Aotal. It was quickly studied and adopted as a treatment for alcoholism across Europe.
Acamprosate was not approved in the United States until 2004; it was then launched as Campral in 2005. Since then, it’s been widely used and studied, and it’s now included in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Treatment Improvement Protocols as one of the medications available to help people stay alcohol-free. Forest Pharmaceuticals is the company that sells it in the United States.
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Although Campral’s specific mechanism of action is unknown, it is assumed that because persistent alcohol misuse disrupts the equilibrium of certain chemicals in the brain, Campral can help restore it. Campral is thought to work by interfering with the GABA and glutamate neurotransmitter systems.
It is hypothesised to block NMDA receptors while activating GABA receptors, restoring the normal balance of inhibition and neuronal excitement that has been disrupted by chronic alcohol addiction.
Campral is not classified as an addictive substance, and the chances of it being abused are incredibly slim, making treating alcoholism with Campral very common.
As part of a comprehensive alcoholism treatment approach, Campral should be used in conjunction with psychological and social therapy. It is indicated for people who want to achieve alcohol abstinence rather than simply reduce their consumption.
Campral’s methods of operation are currently under investigation. However, it appears to aid in the reduction of cravings by lowering the pleasurable response to drinking and reducing cravings. It’s vital to know that Campral doesn’t help with alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
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Campral is usually not started until a person has stopped drinking for roughly five days. It is possible to start it before the withdrawal is complete because it is safe to use with alcohol (or benzodiazepines). Because the medicine is also safe when used in conjunction with opiates, it is recommended for those who are simultaneously receiving treatment for opiate addiction. As a result, Campral is considered a promising treatment option for alcoholism in patients with numerous co-occurring conditions because it is safe to use with many other drugs.
When Campral is used with naltrexone, it appears to provide even more assistance for alcohol recovery. According to a study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry, using these two medicines may be more effective than using Campral alone. Similarly, combining disulfiram and Campral may be more beneficial than doing it separately.
You do not need to stop using Campral as soon as you have achieved alcohol abstinence. As previously stated, the medicine is neither addictive nor harmful. Campral can be stopped immediately without tapering the doses if the person has built up adequate tools and social support to sustain recovery and avoid relapse and if the doctor agrees that eliminating the drug is beneficial.
Campral is a drug that is used to help people treat alcoholism. However, rather than being used as a stand-alone treatment, it is used with rehabilitation programmes to maximise its benefits. Campral is a valuable tool in fighting against alcohol abuse and addiction since it encourages both a reduction in alcohol consumption and total abstinence.
As with other alcohol treatment medications, although Campral can aid in the reduction of alcohol consumption, it will not completely eliminate cravings for alcohol or prevent you from drinking it. It does, however, reduce the positive effects of alcohol, making it less desirable overall.
Chemical signalling in the brain is stabilised by medications like Campral, which lessens cravings, helps control normal behaviour, and protects neurons in the brain from damage caused by acute alcohol withdrawal.
Please tell your doctor all the drugs you’re taking before starting using Campral, as possible adverse effects result from drug interactions with Campral.
When used in conjunction with counselling, Campral aids in the reduction of alcohol use and, in some cases, full sobriety. It has been shown to have favourable effects over the course of 3 to 12 months in terms of raising the number of people who do not drink at all and increasing the number of days without alcohol in users who still drink occasionally.
According to the National Library of Medicine’s MedLine Plus, side effects usually subside after a few weeks of treatment and may include:
Diarrhoea may persist after the drug has been used for a few weeks. Campral has been linked to suicide ideation in certain people. It’s a rare but dangerous side effect. Other significant side effects include a rash or tingling in the limbs, which could indicate an allergy.
It’s very difficult to overdose on Campral. Because it’s not broken down by digestion, it’s considered relatively safe for those with liver problems. This feature sets it apart from other alcoholism therapy drugs like naltrexone or disulfiram. Campral, however, can be risky for people who have kidney difficulties, especially if their kidneys are already seriously damaged. Campral should not be taken in this circumstance.
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Campral should always be used in conjunction with an addiction treatment programme that includes counselling or other therapeutic models. This can be done in a residential rehab facility or as part of outpatient treatment.
Addiction can make a person feel as if they have lost control of their lives – every second is spent either seeking, consuming, or being inebriated by their substance of abuse, and key relationships and treasured activities can be disregarded with disastrous results.
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