Acamprosate: What It Is, How It Works, and What You Need to Know

When someone stops drinking alcohol, their brain struggles to rebalance. That’s where acamprosate, a prescription medication used to help maintain abstinence after alcohol dependence. Also known as Campral, it doesn’t reduce cravings like some other drugs—it helps stabilize brain chemistry so you’re less likely to relapse. It’s not a cure, and it won’t make you feel better right away. But for people who’ve already quit drinking, it gives their brain time to heal.

Acamprosate works closely with alcohol withdrawal, the physical and mental symptoms that happen when someone stops drinking after long-term use. Unlike benzodiazepines used in early detox, acamprosate kicks in after the acute phase. It’s meant for people who are already sober and want to stay that way. It doesn’t cause drowsiness or dependence, which makes it safer than some alternatives. But it’s not for everyone. If your liver is damaged from years of drinking, your doctor will check your kidney function first—because acamprosate leaves your body through your kidneys, not your liver.

People often mix up acamprosate with naltrexone or disulfiram, two other medications used in addiction treatment. Naltrexone blocks the high from alcohol, disulfiram makes you sick if you drink, but acamprosate does something quieter: it reduces the anxiety, restlessness, and insomnia that show up weeks after quitting. That’s why it’s most effective when taken daily, even if you feel fine. Missing doses can make it less helpful. And it doesn’t work alone. It works best when paired with counseling, support groups, or lifestyle changes—like the kind covered in posts about liver health, how the liver recovers after alcohol damage and what nutrients support healing or medication safety, how to avoid dangerous interactions with other drugs.

You won’t find acamprosate on pharmacy shelves without a prescription. It’s not an over-the-counter fix. But if you’re trying to stay sober, knowing how it fits into your recovery plan matters. Some people take it for months. Others for years. The goal isn’t to feel different—it’s to feel normal without alcohol. And if you’ve been through detox, you know that’s harder than it sounds.

Below, you’ll find real, practical guides on how medications like acamprosate interact with other treatments, what side effects to watch for, and how your overall health—especially your liver and kidneys—affects your recovery. These aren’t theory pieces. They’re written by people who’ve seen what works, what doesn’t, and what gets overlooked.