Is Acamprosate Effective When Person Continues Alcohol Consumption?

Posted on Thu, 8 Oct 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Thu, 8 Oct 2015 Answered on

Wed, 28 Oct 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : is acamprosate effective when person is still drinking ?

Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (43 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Acamprosate acts best when individuals stop alcohol completely.

Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking from HCM for your health related doubts

Acamprosate is a drug that is used in alcohol dependence disorder to reduce the craving of alcohol and thus prevent relapse to alcohol. The drug is a safe drug but acts best after individuals stop taking alcohol.

Concurrent use of alcohol while on Acamprosate results in treatment failures. Various studies show that Acamprosate is ineffective if individuals continue to take alcohol.

Thanks. Please don't hesitate to ask again for more doubts.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar