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Campral (ACAMPROSATE)
Campral works by modulating the activity of the GABA-A receptor, a key neurotransmitter system involved in regulating alcohol cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
Campral (acamprosate) is a small molecule drug developed by Forest Labs, targeting the GABA-A receptor alpha-1/beta-3/gamma-2 subunits. It is an off-patent medication, approved by the FDA in 2004 for the treatment of alcoholism. Campral has a half-life of 3.2 hours and bioavailability of 11%. The drug is available as a generic medication from multiple manufacturers. Key safety considerations include its potential to interact with other medications and its effect on liver function.
At a glance
| Generic name | ACAMPROSATE |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | Allergan/AbbVie |
| Drug class | acamprosate |
| Target | GABA-A receptor alpha-1/beta-3/gamma-2 |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Neuroscience |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
| First approval | 2004 |
Mechanism of action
The mechanism of action of acamprosate in maintenance of alcohol abstinence is not completely understood. Chronic alcohol exposure is hypothesized to alter the normal balance between neuronal excitation and inhibition. and studies in animals have provided evidence to suggest acamprosate may interact with glutamate and GABA neurotransmitter systems centrally, and has led to the hypothesis that acamprosate restores this balance. In vitro in vivo.
Approved indications
- Alcoholism
Common side effects
- Accidental Injury
- Asthenia
- Pain
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Dizziness
- Dry mouth
- Insomnia
- Paresthesia
- Pruritus
Key clinical trials
- Acamprosate in C9orf72 Hexanucleotide Repeat Expansion Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ACALS) (PHASE1)
- Temporally-Resolved Electrophysiology of Acamprosate Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder (PHASE4)
- Integrated Therapies for Alcohol Use in Alcohol-associated Liver Disease (ITAALD) Trial (PHASE2)
- Combining a Smartphone App With Medications to Manage Heavy Drinking (NA)
- Pharmacogenomics and Pharmacometabolomics of Acamprosate Treatment Outcome (PHASE4)
- Acamprosate and Methazolamide for Essential Tremor (PHASE2)
- Safety of Acamprosate in Treating Alcohol Use Disorder in the Post Liver Transplant Populations (PHASE2)
- Investigation of the Efficacy of Acamprosate and Calcium in Comparison to Placebo as Validation of a Behavioural Test for Alcohol Dependence (PHASE3)
Primary sources
Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| FDA label | Mechanism, indications, dosing, boxed warnings, drug interactions |
| ClinicalTrials.gov | Trial enrolment, design, endpoints, results |
Competitive intelligence
For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:
- Campral CI brief — competitive landscape report
- Campral updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- Allergan/AbbVie portfolio CI