Acamprosate in the treatment of alcohol dependence: clinical and economic considerations

Abstract

Acamprosate has been commercially available in the USA since 2004 to treat alcohol dependence. Its safety and efficacy have been demonstrated in a number of clinical trials worldwide, which overall have shown significant improvements in abstinence compared with placebo. As with all alcoholism pharmacotherapies, acamprosate is used in conjunction with psychosocial interventions. One frequently described mechanism stipulates that acamprosate supports abstinence by normalizing the often protracted dysregulation of NMDA-mediated glutamatergic neurotransmission that follows chronic heavy alcohol use and withdrawal. This article reviews the clinical safety and efficacy of acamprosate, as well as results from recent pharmacoeconomic and human laboratory studies. These data elucidate the economic benefits of acamprosate, as well as its effects on cognition and alcohol-related sleep disturbances.

Keywords::

• acamprosate
• alcohol dependence
• cognitive function
• neuroimaging
• pharmacoeconomic
• polysubstance use

Financial & competing interests disclosure

B Mason serves as a consultant and member of the speakers bureau for Forest Laboratories, Inc. and as a consultant for Merck Sante. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Research assistance was provided by Prescott Medical Communications Group.