What is "acamprosate"

n. A drug, ''3-acetylaminopropane-1-sulfonic acid'' (or a calcium salt), used to treat alcohol dependence

Acamprosate, sold under the brand name Campral, is a medication used along with counselling in the treatment of alcohol dependence.

Acamprosate is thought to stabilize the chemical balance in the brain that would otherwise be disrupted by alcohol withdrawal. Reports indicate that acamprosate works to best advantage in combination with psychosocial support and can help facilitate reduced consumption as well as full abstinence. Certain serious side effects include allergic reactions, irregular heartbeats, and low or high blood pressure, while less serious side effects include headaches, insomnia, and impotence. Diarrhea is the most common side-effect. Acamprosate should not be taken by people with kidney problems or allergies to the drug.

Until it became a generic in the United States, Campral was manufactured and marketed in the United States by Forest Laboratories, while Merck KGaA markets it outside the US. It is sold as 333 mg white and odorless tablets of acamprosate calcium, which is the equivalent of 300 mg of acamprosate.