Hope Integrative Medicine · Medication guide
Generic acamprosate tablets: what to expect
A tablet taken three times a day that helps people who have stopped drinking stay alcohol-free.
At a glance
- Form
- Delayed-release tablet swallowed whole
- How often
- Three times a day
- Given by
- You, as prescribed
What it is
Acamprosate helps people stay alcohol-free after they stop drinking. It is not a controlled medication.
The brand Campral is no longer sold; generic tablets are available.
Who it is for
Adults with alcohol use disorder who have stopped drinking, as part of a plan that includes counseling and support.
How it is taken
The usual dose is two 333 mg tablets three times a day.
- Swallow the tablets whole; do not split, chew or crush them.
- Keep taking it even if you drink again, and tell your provider.
How often
Three times a day.
Getting started
Acamprosate begins as soon as possible after alcohol withdrawal is over. It does not treat withdrawal symptoms, so withdrawal is managed first.
- A blood test to check your kidneys before you begin, and again as your provider recommends.
Ready for the first step?
New patients are often able to be scheduled within a week of requesting an appointment.
Your visits
Treatment typically begins with an in-person assessment, followed by weekly in-person or virtual visits before moving to a monthly schedule. Each plan is tailored to the patient and their situation.
If problems come up, visits become more frequent again until things are steady.
- A urine drug test at every visit: a point-of-care test in our West Ashley office or a test at a local lab near you, with confirmatory lab testing when a result needs it.
- Screening for depression and anxiety at every visit.
- Monthly counseling, alongside your medication visits.
- A blood test to check your kidneys before you begin, and again as your provider recommends.
- A review of how you are doing, side effects and your goals.
Safety
- Acamprosate is not used in people with severe kidney disease.
- Tell your provider right away about low mood or thoughts of suicide.
- Stopping heavy daily drinking suddenly can cause seizures or delirium tremens, which can be fatal. Talk to a clinician before stopping, and call 911 for confusion, hallucinations or a seizure.
Common Questions
No. It does not treat withdrawal symptoms. It begins after withdrawal is over and helps you stay alcohol-free.
Keep taking it, and tell your provider. The label says treatment should continue after a return to drinking.
Acamprosate leaves the body through the kidneys, so it is not used when kidney function is severely reduced, and the dose depends on how well your kidneys work.
Yes. Medication works best as part of a complete plan, so monthly counseling runs alongside your medication visits.
Alcohol use disorder treatment, step by step
This article is general information, not medical advice, and does not create a patient–provider relationship. Every situation is different, so see a provider who can evaluate yours and develop a plan of care. Any medication discussed here may not be right for you: the right choice depends on your diagnoses, other health conditions and current medicines, so take medication only as directed by the provider managing your care. If you are ever in doubt about an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.