What is acamprosate, and how does it work?
Acamprosate is a new, investigative medication for treatment of alcohol dependence approved in several European countries, and it is currently being studied in clinical trials in the United States. It is thought to reduce the urge for alcohol by working directly on certain neurotransmitters in the brain (chemicals that transmit information between nerve cells) whose balance has been disturbed because of regular, heavy drinking. Although acamprosate can be used in the United States only with permission of the FDA, it has been available in Europe since 1989 and has recently been approved for marketing by prescription in more than 12 European countries, including Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. It is estimated that more than 1 million patients have been treated with acamprosate since it became available.
