Acamprosate

The newest medication approved for the treatment of alcoholism, acamprosate works like naltrexone to reduce the intensity of experienced cravings. One major advantage of acamprosate over naltrexone is that it is not significantly metabolized in the liver, and as such can be effectively used even by patients with serious alcohol induced complications of the liver.

Acamprosate works through a mechanism of action within the glutamate systems of the brain. Chronic alcohol abuse leads to brain changes within the glutamanergic system, and disruptions within this system are one of the reasons why alcohol detoxification is so dangerous and can result in fatal convulsions. Acamprosate helps to stabilize glutamate activity in the brain for the first months after sobriety, allowing the brain to recover naturally and slowly, while reducing some of the discomforts of intermediate withdrawal symptoms.

Acamprosate has been found to reduce cravings to alcohol, and also seems to help people to sleep better during the first months of recovery (which is significant, as insomnia is a major contributor to relapse).

Acamprosate has been clinically proven effective, and some studies have shown that a combination of acamprosate and naltrexone offers the best protection against the cravings that lead to relapse and further abuse.