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Acamprosate

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Encyclopedia of Psychopharmacology

Synonyms

Calcium acetylhomotaurinate; Campral

Definition

Acamprosate, marketed under the brand name Campral, is an orally administered drug approved in the USA and throughout much of the world for treating alcohol abuse and dependence.

Pharmacological Properties

History

Alcohol-use disorders, which include both alcohol abuse and dependence, make up one of the most prevalent categories of substance use disorders in the USA, affecting almost 18 million Americans. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fourth Edition (DSM-IV; APA 1994) characterizes alcohol dependence as a maladaptive pattern of drinking leading to clinically significant impairment, as manifested by a compulsion to drink, a lack of control over the amount of alcohol consumed and continued drinking, despite a realization of the problems associated with it. Physiological symptoms of tolerance and withdrawal may also be present. One of the most challenging aspects of recovering from alcohol dependence is...

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References

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Mason, B.J., Heyser, C.J. (2010). Acamprosate. In: Stolerman, I.P. (eds) Encyclopedia of Psychopharmacology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-68706-1_163

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