Acamprosate

Acamprosate
Clinical data
Pronunciation	/əˈkæmproʊseɪt/
Trade names	Campral, Campral EC
Other names	N-Acetyl homotaurine, Ca2+ bis-acetyl-homotaurinate, acamprosate calcium (JAN JP), acamprosate calcium (USAN US)
AHFS/Drugs.com	Monograph
License data	US DailyMed: Acamprosate;
Pregnancy; category	AU: B2;
Routes of; administration	By mouth
ATC code	N07BB03 (WHO) ;
Legal status
Legal status	AU: S4 (Prescription only); UK: POM (Prescription only); US: ℞-only;
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability	11%
Protein binding	Negligible
Metabolism	Nil
Elimination half-life	20–33 hours
Excretion	Kidney
Identifiers
	IUPAC name 3-Acetamidopropane-1-sulfonic acid;
CAS Number	77337-76-9 ;
PubChem CID	155434;
IUPHAR/BPS	7106;
DrugBank	DB00659 ;
ChemSpider	136929 ;
UNII	N4K14YGM3J;
KEGG	D07058 ;
ChEBI	CHEBI:51042 ;
ChEMBL	ChEMBL1201293 ;
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID3044259 ;
ECHA InfoCard	100.071.495
Chemical and physical data
Formula	C5H11NO4S
Molar mass	181.21 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image;
	SMILES [Ca+2].O=C(NCCCS(=O)(=O)[O-])C.[O-]S(=O)(=O)CCCNC(=O)C;
	InChI InChI=1S/2C5H11NO4S.Ca/c21-5(7)6-3-2-4-11(8,9)10;/h22-4H2,1H3,(H,6,7)(H,8,9,10);/q;;+2/p-2 ; Key:BUVGWDNTAWHSKI-UHFFFAOYSA-L ;
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Acamprosate, sold under the brand name Campral, is a medication which reduces cravings in alcoholism. It is thought to stabilize chemical signaling in the brain that would otherwise be disrupted by alcohol withdrawal. When used alone, acamprosate is not an effective therapy for alcohol use disorder in most individuals, as it only addresses withdrawal symptoms and not psychological dependence. It facilitates a reduction in alcohol consumption as well as full abstinence when used in combination with psychosocial support or other drugs that address the addictive behavior.

Serious side effects include allergic reactions, abnormal heart rhythms, and low or high blood pressure, while less serious side effects include headaches, insomnia, and impotence. Diarrhea is the most common side effect. It is unclear if use is safe during pregnancy.

It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.