There are currently drugs identified as MAT (Medication-assisted treatment) medications that have been shown to dramatically improve recovery rates. I want to start listing some info on these drugs in a digestible way for people in recovery both inside and outside of Sober Livings. Serenity Falls first medication is Campral.
What is Campral?
Campral is a brand name for the drug Acamprosate, which is used to treat alcohol abuse or alcoholism. It is administered in doses of two 333 mg tablets, three times per day. It takes almost 5-7 days for its steady-state concentration in a body-which is a fancy way of saying that it takes 5-7 days for it to be effective, because of the dosing it's important to not miss a dose.
What are the Side Effects?
Yes. Sweating, insomnia, loss of appetite and diarrhoea (after the use of the first week). Suicidal ideation and allergy are serious but rare side effects.
Benefits of Campral
Campral reduces the cravings for alcohol
Campral may reduce the post-acute withdrawal symptoms (PAWS); i.e. sweating, anxiety and sleep disturbances, as well as physical and emotional discomfort. These are some of the most common complaints we hear about in sober living.
Other Info
Campral is not addictive itself and can be stopped immediately without tapering the doses.
Campral is safe to use with alcohol or benzodiazepine and can be used during active alcoholism.
It is not hard on the liver which can be important with chronic alcoholics.