Campral

A medication called Campral (acamprosate calcium) is used to treat alcoholism. It functions by lessening alcohol cravings and assisting with relapse prevention. Behavioral therapy and counseling are two common treatments that are combined with campral.

It's important to discuss the potential risks and benefits of Campral with your doctor if you're considering it as a treatment for alcoholism. You must be certain that this medication is the best fit for you because it can have serious side effects.

Pharmacokinetics

The gastrointestinal tract quickly absorbs campral (acamprosate calcium), which reaches peak concentrations in about two hours. The average half-life of apparent elimination is 48 hours. Less than 5% of the dose of Campral (acamprosate calcium) is recovered in the urine as the metabolite acamprosinic acid. Campral (acamprosate calcium) is primarily excreted unchanged by the kidneys. Acamprosate is not metabolized by cytochrome P450 enzymes and does not bind to plasma proteins.

For patients with alcohol dependence who are abstaining from alcohol at the start of treatment, campral (acamprosate calcium) is recommended for maintaining abstinence.

Two placebo-controlled clinical trials with patients who were alcohol-free at the beginning of treatment have shown the effectiveness of Campral (acamprosate calcium) in sustaining abstinence. In both studies, the percentage of days of abstinence and the self-reported number of drinking days showed that Campral (acamprosate calcium) outperformed the placebo in terms of maintaining alcohol abstinence.

Children and adolescents under the age of 18 have not been studied to determine the safety and effectiveness of Campral (acamprosate calcium).

Women who are pregnant or who are of childbearing potential who are not using an effective form of contraception should not use campral (acamprosate calcium). Pregnant women have not been adequately and carefully studied when using Campral (acamprosate calcium).

There are no adequate and well-controlled studies of Campral (acamprosate calcium) in nursing mothers. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, caution should be exercised when Campral (acamprosate calcium) is administered to a nursing woman.

Side Effects

Campral may have a number of negative effects, including:

• Dizziness
• Headache
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• discomfort in the stomach
• a skin rash
• Loss or gain of weight

Additionally, campral may result in more severe side effects, such as:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Insomnia
• Agitation
• Unsteadiness Hallucinations

It's crucial to tell your doctor as soon as you notice any of these side effects. These negative effects might suggest that Campral isn't the best treatment for you.

Tell your doctor about all other medications you are taking, including over-the-counter medicines and herbal supplements, before beginning Campral. The medications you are taking should be disclosed to your doctor because campral may interact with others.

Additionally, it's crucial to let your doctor know if you suffer from any illnesses, such as liver or kidney disease. For those with specific medical conditions, campral might not be safe.

Dosage and Administration

It is advised to take two 333 mg tablets of Campral (acamprosate calcium) three times per day. Within the first week following the last drink, the first dose should be taken.

You can take Campral (acamprosate calcium) with or without food.

An additional dose of Campral (acamprosate calcium) should be taken if vomiting occurs within 30 minutes of the initial dose. The patient should continue with the next dose scheduled even if they vomit more than 30 minutes after taking a dose.

To improve the chances of maintaining abstinence, patients should be encouraged to take Campral (acamprosate calcium) for at least 3 to 6 months after quitting alcohol.

Campral (acamprosate calcium) is available as an aqueous solution for patients who are unable to consume solid oral dosage forms. The amount of acamprosate monohydrate in one milliliter of the solution is 167 mg, or 150 mg of acamprosate calcium. 20 mL (3 teaspoons) taken three times daily after meals is the recommended dosage.

Overdose

There haven't been any reports of Campral (acamprosate calcium) overdoses. Standard supportive measures should be implemented as needed in the event of an overdose. An overdose of Campral (acamprosate calcium) has no specific antidote.

Storage

The recommended storage range for Campral (acamprosate calcium) tablets is 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F); excursions are allowed between 15° and 30°C (59° and 86°F).

The aqueous solution of campral (calcium acamprosate) should be kept chilled at 2° to 8°C (36° to 46°F). Once combined, the solution can be kept for up to 4 weeks at room temperature or between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius (36 and 46 degrees Fahrenheit).