Campral for Alcohol Abuse and Addiction
- Medically reviewed by (01/04/2023)
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How Effective is Campral for Alcohol Abuse and Addiction?
Campral is a medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) used to help individuals with alcohol use disorder.
Alcohol is a substance that cannot be cut out entirely in one swift motion because it may cause severe withdrawal effects, such as organ damage. To avoid withdrawal reactions, alcohol use disorder patients should be slowly weaned off this substance. Usually, a provider prescribes benzodiazepines to help.
Your doctor might prescribe Campral after you’ve successfully weaned from alcohol. Campral is a medication that can help you remain alcohol-free for good without causing serious health problems. Once successful, your provider can wean you from Campral so you can lead a substance-free life.
Here you can learn what Campral is, how it works, and how it can help you or a love one begin the recovery journey.
What Is Campral?
Campral is the brand name for acamprosate. This is a medication that stabilizes the brain during alcohol withdrawal.
When someone with alcohol use disorder stops drinking alcohol, the brain immediately goes into withdrawal. Campral can interrupt that function and minimize withdrawal symptoms for the user. It doesn’t relieve the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, but instead reduces cravings by restoring the balance of chemicals in the brain.
Before starting Campral, you must wean from alcohol completely. You can accomplish this with a benzodiazepine medication and under the supervision of a doctor or pharmacist. Once you or your loved one has safely quit alcohol, Campral helps ease the withdrawal effects on the brain. Normally, patients need to take Campral three times a day with food.
Don’t change your Campral dosage without consulting your doctor or pharmacist first. Campral has side effects that can worsen if you exceed your prescribed dosage. To make sure Campral is right for you, check with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help by offering the right medications for withdrawal.
How Does Campral Work?
Campral blocks some neurotransmitters and activates others. The medication aims to reduce cravings and stabilize brain chemicals that are disrupted by alcohol withdrawal. Campral doesn’t reduce or minimize most withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal from alcohol can be unpleasant at times, but overall, it is temporary and usually doesn’t leave lasting effects.
A major side effect of alcohol abuse is liver damage. Campral isn’t metabolized by the liver so it’s safe for users with liver disease. Campral helps users control their cravings and makes it easier for them to avoid relapsing.
Alcohol cravings can be strong. Campral can make abstinence easier for a recovering addict. Campral should not be used while a patient is still consuming alcohol. This can have possible side effects that could be life-threatening. To be safe, users must have completely detoxed from daily alcohol consumption so they can take Campral without adverse reactions.
This medication can treat alcoholism, but it works best when combined with alcohol recovery treatment. Call Zinnia Healing to learn more at (855) 430-9439.
What Are the Side Effects of Campral?
When you begin taking Campral, you may or may not feel one or more of the following side effects: nausea, dizziness, fatigue, vomiting, gas, stomach pains, weight loss, muscle pain, loss of appetite and constipation. Campral may also reduce sexual desire or performance ability.
Side effects should be mild to moderate and should slowly improve with time. If your side effects worsen, consult your doctor or pharmacist immediately. In rare cases, patients on Campral may also develop suicidal thoughts or depression. If this happens to you, consult your doctor immediately to see if there is another medication that may be better for you.
Rarely, users may experience extreme side effects like black stool, vomit that resembles coffee grounds, and even seizures. If you experience any of these severe symptoms, head to your local ER as soon as possible. Your dosage may be too high or the drug itself may not be the right choice for you. To prevent serious illness, seek medical attention immediately if you experience these severe reactions to Campral.
What Are the Side Effects of Alcohol Abuse?
Alcohol can lead to many social and physical side effects. Many of these unpleasant side effects can be lifelong problems. Alcohol abuse can cause health problems including liver damage, kidney damage, heart problems, and other health conditions that can shorten your life. Alcohol abuse can also cause memory and other cognitive issues.
Abusing alcohol can also cause damage to the neurotransmitters in the brain. Damage can be irreversible and cause permanent cognitive disabilities. Alcohol abuse can even be fatal.
Alcohol abuse can damage relationships, make you unpleasant to be around, prevent you from keeping a stable job, and cause those around you to lose trust in you. Alcohol abuse can lead to drunk driving which puts yourself and others on the road at risk. You could lose your license or be arrested if caught driving under the influence. If you are a heavy drinker, you may be deemed unfit to care for your children and could lose custody.
Heavy drinking has a long list of side effects, such as loss of self-esteem, poor actions and decision-making, and feelings of self-loathing. Depression and anxiety can worsen.
Additionally, heavy drinking in front of young children can also poorly influence them to develop their own alcohol abuse problems later in life. If you suffer from alcohol use disorder, there are medications and programs that can help, such as Campral and proper therapy.
How Do I Know If I’m Suffering from Alcohol Addiction?
Alcohol addiction is often easier for loved ones to spot than it is for users. Those who are abusing alcohol don’t always realize they are incapacitated when drinking. Alcohol abuse has some very clear signs that are apparent to others and might also be apparent to you, even if you’re reluctant to admit it. If you can relate to the statements below, you may be suffering from alcohol addiction:
- You must drink every day
- You feel you cannot function without a certain level of alcohol
- You experience withdrawal symptoms if you don’t drink for one day
- You drive under the influence of alcohol
- Your employer has let you go because of your drinking habits
- You make poor decisions while drinking
- You are mentally and physically dependent on alcohol
- You avoid taking essential medications because they interfere with your alcohol consumption
- Your friends and family have expressed that they think you might have a drinking problem
- You use alcohol to numb painful feelings
Admitting you have a drinking problem is the first step on the road to your recovery. If your drinking habits affect your interpersonal relationships or your ability to maintain a stable job, you need help in resolving your alcohol addiction problem.
What Are the Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal?
Campral can help your brain control its craving for alcohol during withdrawal. But it cannot prevent or treat all other symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. If you’ve been drinking heavily for a long time, withdrawal could be quite uncomfortable. Here are some alcohol withdrawal symptoms you may experience when you try to quit drinking:
- Cold sweats
- Racing pulse
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Uncontrollable shaking
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Confusion
- Fever
These symptoms are very common and typically very mild. In the first 12 to 48 hours, you may also experience seizures or hallucinations. In the first 48 to 72 hours, you may experience delirium or delusions. These more severe withdrawal symptoms are rarer and normally dissipate within a few days.
If your alcohol withdrawal symptoms are worsening or you are at risk of becoming dehydrated, seek immediate medical attention. For very heavy drinkers, withdrawal under the supervision of a physician or rehab clinic is highly recommended. Most of these symptoms will resolve within four to five days of being alcohol-free.
If you’ve experienced anxiety or depression during withdrawal, these mental health problems may linger after your initial detox. A rehab therapy program can help you address those issues and slowly work to resolve them. Call Zinnia Healing to learn more at (855) 430-9439.
How Can I Get Campral?
To be eligible for Campral treatment, you must stop consuming alcohol. You can accomplish this with the help of benzodiazepines under the supervision of a doctor. If you would like to try taking Campral to help you manage the effects of withdrawal on your brain so you can maintain your sobriety, you will need to meet with your doctor. Campral can be a very effective medication for some people.
It helps to control your alcohol cravings. It can help keep you on your path to sobriety while you seek the appropriate rehab treatment care. Campral can only be prescribed by a qualified medical professional. You should not use someone else’s prescription for Campral. A doctor must evaluate your health before giving you the prescription.
Though Campral can be very effective, it isn’t right for everyone. If you suffer from other health problems, Campral may interact with other medications you need. To be safe, always visit your doctor and ask what is right for you. Your doctor can help you find the right treatment, and Zinnia Healing can give you the tools to remain sober.
How Can I Recover from Alcohol Addiction?
Alcohol abuse is a dangerous disease. It can completely control your brain and make it very difficult to stop using. The first step is asking for help from a treatment program like Zinnia Healing. Call us today at (855) 430-9439 to learn more about our treatment programs for alcohol addiction.
You can recover from alcohol addiction with the right medications, the right support system, and an open mind.
How Do I Start My Journey to Recovery?
If you are considering recovery for yourself or for a loved one, the first step is making the call. You will have to detox from alcohol safely, under the supervision of a doctor to be able to take Campral. Taking Campral can be an added benefit to a healthy treatment rehabilitation program to maintain a sober life.
Alcohol addiction can take over your life, ruin relationships and leave you feeling upset, embarrassed and disappointed in yourself. But there is help out there and you don’t have to do it alone. We’re here and we can help. Your journey to recovery can start today.