Acamprosate is used in conjunction with therapy and social support to assist those who have quit consuming high amounts of alcohol (alcoholism) in refraining from doing so in the future. A sustained alcohol intake alters how the brain functions. Acamprosate helps persons with heavy alcohol consumption get their brains back to normal function. When someone stops drinking alcohol, acamprosate does not stop the withdrawal symptoms that may occur. Acamprosate has not been proven to be effective in individuals who have not ceased consuming alcohol, in addition to those who excessively consume or abuse other drugs, including illegal narcotics and prescription prescriptions.

Acamprosate is available as an oral delayed-release tablet that delivers the drug in the intestine. Three times a day, it is typically taken with or without food. Acamprosate should be taken at roughly the same time each day to help you remember to take it. You might find it easier to remember all three doses if you take acamprosate with your breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any instructions on your prescription label that you are unsure about following. Acamprosate should be taken as prescribed. Never take it in larger or less amounts or more frequently than directed by your doctor.

Do not chew, break, or crush the tablets; instead, swallow them whole.

Only while you are taking acamprosate will it assist you avoid consuming alcohol. Even if you don’t believe you will start drinking again, keep taking acamprosate. Without consulting your doctor, do not discontinue taking acamprosate.

If you consume alcohol while taking acamprosate, keep taking the medication and contact your physician. If you consume alcohol while receiving acamprosate treatment, you won’t have any adverse side effects.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details if you believe this drug should be used for something else.

Before taking acamprosate,

• If you have an allergy to sulfites, acamprosate, any other drugs, or any of the ingredients in acamprosate tablets, let your doctor and pharmacist know right once. Get a list of the components from your pharmacist.
• Inform your physician and pharmacist about all prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal products you are taking. Make sure to mention mood elevators (antidepressants). Your physician might need to adjust the dosage of your drugs or keep a close eye on you for side effects.
• Inform your doctor if you use or have ever used street drugs, overdone prescription medications, have ever considered injuring or dying yourself, have ever tried to do so, or have ever used any of these things. Moreover, let your doctor know whether you currently or ever had kidney illness or depression.
• Inform your doctor if you are expecting, intend to get pregnant, or are nursing a baby. Call your doctor if you become pregnant while taking acamprosate.
• Inform your doctor or dentist that you are taking acamprosate if you are having surgery, including dental surgery.
• Acamprosate may impair your thinking, decision-making skills, and coordination, so you should be aware of this. Prior to understanding how this drug affects you, avoid using machinery or driving a car.
• You should be aware that persons who use a lot of alcohol frequently experience depression and occasionally try to harm or kill themselves. Acamprosate does not reduce and can rather enhance the likelihood that you’ll try to hurt yourself. Even if you don’t start drinking again while on acamprosate, you can experience depression. If you or a member of your family notices signs of depression, such as feelings of sadness, anxiety, hopelessness, guilt, or helplessness, loss of interest or pleasure in once-enjoyed activities, exhaustion, difficulty concentrating, making decisions, or remembering, irritability, sleep issues, changes in appetite or weight, restlessness, or considering harming or killing yourself, you should seek medical attention right away. Make sure your family is aware of any potentially critical symptoms so they can contact the doctor immediately if you are unable to get help on your own.

Keep eating normally unless your doctor instructs you otherwise.

If you miss a dosage, take it as soon as you recall. If the next dose is soon due, skip the missed one and carry on with your regular dosing plan. To make up for a missing dose, do not take a second one.

Side effects from acamprosate are possible. If any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away, let your doctor know right once:

• Diarrhea
• Gas
• Uneasy stomach
• Reduced appetite
• Mouth ache
• Dizziness
• Itching
• Weakness
• Nausea
• Anxiety
• Having trouble falling or staying asleep
• Sweating

Some adverse effects may be severe. The following signs are infrequent, but if you see any of them or any of the warning signs listed in the SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS section, call your doctor right away:

• Tingling, burning, or numbness in the arms, legs, feet, or hands
• Rash

Other adverse reactions to acamprosate are possible. If you have any strange side effects while taking this medicine, contact your doctor right away.

You or your doctor can submit a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting programme online or by phone if you have a serious side event (1-800-332-1088).

Keep this medication tightly closed in the original container and out of the reach of children. Keep it away from excessive heat and moisture at room temperature (not in the bathroom).

Unused prescriptions must be disposed of carefully to prevent pets, kids, and other people from ingesting them. You should not, however, dispose of this medication in the toilet. Instead, utilising a medicine take-back programme is the easiest approach to get rid of your medication. To find out about take-back programmes in your area, speak with your pharmacist or the garbage/recycling department in your city. If you do not have access to a take-back programme, see the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medications website at http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p for additional information.

Although many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and are simple for young children to open, it is crucial to keep all medications out of sight and out of reach of children. Always lock safety caps and promptly stash medication up and away from young children where it is out of their sight and reach to prevent poisoning. http://www.upandaway.org

Call the poison control hotline at 1-800-222-1222 in the event of an overdose. Moreover, information can be found online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. Call 911 right once if the person has collapsed, experienced a seizure, is having difficulty breathing, or cannot be roused.

Overdose symptoms could include:

• Diarrhea

Acamprosate overdose symptoms could appear if you use it frequently and in excess. If you notice any of these signs, contact your doctor right away:

• Reduced appetite
• Uneasy stomach
• Constipation
• Severe thirst
• Tiredness
• Muscular tremor
• Restlessness
• Confusion

Keep all of your scheduled appointments with your doctor, therapist, and support group.

No one else should take your medication. Any queries you may have regarding medication refills should be directed to your pharmacist.

You should keep a written record of every medication you take, including any over-the-counter (OTC) items, prescription drugs, and dietary supplements like vitamins and minerals. This list should be brought with you whenever you see a doctor or are admitted to the hospital. You should always have this information with you in case of emergencies.