Campral Addiction

Campral is a safe and effective way to address alcohol cravings. Learn how the drug suppresses alcohol cravings and when it’s used in addiction treatment.

Campral is the brand name for acamprosate, a drug used to treat alcohol cravings and urges in people with a history of alcohol abuse.

Campral is not an addictive substance, it cannot be abused and it does not cause withdrawal symptoms. However, Campral can be an effective treatment for people with alcohol use disorder (AUD). People with AUD have an unhealthy relationship with alcohol that often leads to abuse. When someone with AUD stops drinking, they can experience serious withdrawal symptoms.

After the initial alcohol withdrawal period, Campral can play a role in treatment by decreasing the urge to drink alcohol. Campral does not treat withdrawal symptoms and should only be started after alcohol withdrawal has stopped.

When taking Campral, drug cravings are not eliminated — only cravings for alcohol are diminished.

What Is Campral?

Campral is a medication that works in the same areas of the brain as alcohol. Alcohol attaches to gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors on the surface of neurons. GABA is passed between neurons and works as a chemical messenger. Normally, when a neuron receives GABA, it slows down its electrical messages to other parts of the brain. Alcohol mimics the effects of GABA.

Over time, alcohol changes how neurons receive signals from GABA, and Campral seems to correct this change. The drug may block the site where alcohol produces effects in the brain, reducing the urge to drink without causing the pleasurable effects of alcohol.

Name Brand, Generic and Street Names for Campral

The generic name for Campral is acamprosate. Campral is the brand name of acamprosate. There are no known street names for the drug. Street names are typically used to solicit illicit substances clandestinely. Because Campral doesn’t produce a high, it’s not profitable for drug dealers to distribute.

What Is Campral Used For?

Campral is used to decrease the urge to drink alcohol. It should only be prescribed after alcohol detox and withdrawal. Campral only works for alcohol cravings and does not work for other drug addictions or addictions to alcohol and other drugs.

Campral Doses

Campral dosing is typically 666 mg, three times daily. Campral can be taken with or without food. Some people may prefer to take it with their three main meals as doing so makes it easier to remember to take the pill three times a day. Campral 333 mg is the tablet size, so each 666 mg dose is composed of two tablets.

Campral Ingredients

Campral tablets contain acamprosate as their active ingredient. Tablets are formulated to be delayed-release, so they should not be broken, cut or chewed. Patients should consume each tablet whole for the most efficient dose of the medication.

Campral Warnings

People with moderately impaired kidney function may need to take a reduced dose of 333 mg three times daily. People with severe kidney impairment cannot take Campral because kidneys are the main pathway for Campral metabolism.

Only start Campral use after alcohol withdrawal symptoms stop. Campral will not help with withdrawal symptoms, only cravings. People who start drinking again while taking Campral usually do not drink as heavily as they once did, and may return to sobriety faster than people who are not taking Campral.

Is Campral Addictive?

Campral is not addictive. Campral is used to treat alcohol cravings and urges. The fact that Campral is not addictive makes it a safe treatment option for helping people who live with alcohol addiction who may have previously lived with prescription drug addiction.

Some people may experience side effects like anxiety from Campral use, but experiencing side effects is uncommon.

Campral Addiction Statistics

Since Campral is not addictive, there are no addiction statistics to track. Campral is not a controlled medication and has no abuse potential.

If you struggle with alcohol addiction and are ready to achieve the healthier future you deserve, contact The Recovery Village today. Call to speak with a representative who can help you take the first step toward sobriety.

Editor – Thomas Christiansen

With over a decade of content experience, Tom produces and edits research articles, news and blog posts produced for Advanced Recovery Systems. Read more

Medically Reviewed By – Dr. Conor Sheehy, PharmD, BCPS, CACP

Dr. Sheehy completed his BS in Molecular Biology at the University of Idaho and went on to complete his Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) at the University of Washington in Seattle. Read more