Effects of acamprosate: A Synthesis of Findings from 13 Studies

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Original Abstract of the Article

Main Research Findings

Acamprosate is a widely used and effective medication for preventing relapse in alcohol-dependent patients. However, the specific mechanism of how it works is not fully understood. 8 , 11

Recent research suggests that acamprosate works by interfering with excitatory glutamate neurotransmission, specifically by acting as an antagonist of the metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 5 (mGluR5). 11

Acamprosate has been shown to improve various aspects of alcohol dependence. For instance, it can reduce the excitatory state of the brain caused by alcohol withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings for alcohol. 13 , 11

Moreover, acamprosate has been shown to improve prefrontal cortex function and alleviate cognitive impairments caused by alcohol dependence. 6 , 3 , 4

Furthermore, acamprosate may reduce alcohol craving by increasing dopamine release triggered by alcohol consumption. 2

Benefits and Risks

Benefit Summary

Acamprosate is a promising treatment option for alcohol dependence, potentially effective in preventing relapse. It may also reduce the brain's excitatory state caused by alcohol withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings. Furthermore, acamprosate may improve prefrontal cortex function and alleviate cognitive impairments. Additionally, acamprosate may reduce alcohol craving by increasing dopamine release triggered by alcohol consumption.

Risk Summary

Possible side effects of acamprosate include diarrhea, nausea, and indigestion. As acamprosate contains calcium, it should be used with caution in individuals with kidney disease. Furthermore, acamprosate should be avoided by pregnant women. 1

Comparison between Studies

Commonalities in Research

Many studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of acamprosate in treating alcohol dependence, particularly its potential to prevent relapse.

Differences in Research

The mechanism of action of acamprosate has been subject to different interpretations in various studies. Some studies suggest that acamprosate works by interfering with glutamate neurotransmission, while others propose that it functions by increasing calcium ion levels. 5

Consistency and Contradictions in Findings

While the exact mechanism of action of acamprosate remains unclear, numerous studies have consistently indicated its effectiveness in treating alcohol dependence. Its benefits are widely acknowledged.

Considerations for Practical Application

Acamprosate is a widely used medication for treating alcohol dependence. However, understanding the potential risks and adhering to medical guidance when taking it are crucial. Particular caution is necessary for individuals with kidney disease, and pregnant women should avoid using acamprosate.

Limitations of Current Research

The exact mechanism of action of acamprosate is still under investigation. Long-term effects require further research. Furthermore, acamprosate may not be effective for all individuals with alcohol dependence.

Future Research Directions

Further research is needed to fully understand the mechanism of action of acamprosate. Continued investigations into its long-term effects and safety are essential. Developing treatment methods to maximize the effectiveness of acamprosate is also crucial.

Conclusion

Acamprosate shows promise as a medication for preventing relapse in alcohol dependence. However, potential side effects exist, making adherence to medical guidance when taking it essential. Future research may lead to a better understanding of acamprosate's mechanism of action and the development of even safer and more effective treatment methods.

Literature analysis of 13 papers
Positive Content
12
Neutral Content
0
Negative Content
1
Article Type
2
0
0
1
13
1.

The effects of acamprosate on maternal and neonatal outcomes in a mouse model of alcohol use disorders.

Author: QuintrellEbony, WyrwollCaitlin, RosenowTim, LarcombeAlexander, KeltyErin

Teratogenic effects

This study investigated the effects of acamprosate on maternal and neonatal health, offspring neurodevelopment, and behavior in a mouse model, exploring its potential to mitigate alcohol-related neurological harm during pregnancy.

Journal ArticleAn article published in an academic or professional journal that reports original research or scholarly analysis.
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tResearch funding provided by government agencies outside the United States.

Language : English

2.

Sodium acamprosate and calcium exert additive effects on nucleus accumbens dopamine in the rat.

Author: AdemarKarin, AdermarkLouise, SöderpalmBo, EricsonMia

Increased dopamine levels

This study investigated the dopamine-elevating properties of acamprosate in the nAc using reversed in vivo microdialysis. Both the calcium moiety and N-acetylhomotaurine components contributed to dopamine elevation in a GlyR-dependent manner, suggesting a potential synergistic effect.

Journal ArticleAn article published in an academic or professional journal that reports original research or scholarly analysis.
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tResearch funding provided by government agencies outside the United States.

Language : English

3.

The effects of acamprosate on prefrontal cortical function are mimicked by CaCl2 and they are influenced by the history of alcohol exposure.

Author: MeluginPatrick R, WuFei, MunozCrystal, PhensyAarron, PradhanGrishma, LuoYi, NofalAbraham, ManepalliRohan, KroenerSven

Improved flexibility
Reduced craving

Alcohol use disorder is linked to changes in the brain, including problems with executive function and altered glutamate signaling. This study found that acamprosate, a drug used to treat alcohol use disorder, improves these brain functions in mice, but only under certain conditions related to goal-directed behavior.

Journal ArticleAn article published in an academic or professional journal that reports original research or scholarly analysis.
Research Support, N.I.H., ExtramuralResearch funding provided by the NIH to external research institutions and researchers.

Language : English

4.

Calcium chloride mimics the effects of acamprosate on cognitive deficits in chronic alcohol-exposed mice.

Author: PradhanGrishma, MeluginPatrick R, WuFei, FangHannah M, WeberRachel, KroenerSven

Improved executive functions
Reduced craving
Relapse prevention

Acamprosate is a medication that is used to help people stop drinking alcohol. This study looked at whether the effects of acamprosate were due to its calcium content.

Journal ArticleAn article published in an academic or professional journal that reports original research or scholarly analysis.
Research Support, N.I.H., ExtramuralResearch funding provided by the NIH to external research institutions and researchers.

Language : English

5.

Acamprosate produces its anti-relapse effects via calcium.

Author: SpanagelRainer, VengelieneValentina, JandeleitBernd, FischerWolf-Nicolas, GrindstaffKent, ZhangXuexiang, GallopMark A, KrstewElena V, LawrenceAndrew J, KieferFalk

Alcoholism treatment

Acamprosate is a drug used for relapse prevention in alcoholism. This study demonstrates that calcium, rather than N-acetylhomotaurinate, is the active moiety of acamprosate, providing insights into its mechanism of action.

Journal ArticleAn article published in an academic or professional journal that reports original research or scholarly analysis.
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tResearch funding provided by government agencies outside the United States.

Language : English

6.

Effects of acamprosate on attentional set-shifting and cellular function in the prefrontal cortex of chronic alcohol-exposed mice.

Author: HuWei, MorrisBrett, CarrascoAngelique, KroenerSven

abstinence maintenance
craving reduction
relapse reduction

The study explored the effects of acamprosate on an attentional set-shifting task and tested whether these behavioral effects are correlated with modulation of glutamatergic synaptic transmission and intrinsic excitability of mPFC neurons.

Journal ArticleAn article published in an academic or professional journal that reports original research or scholarly analysis.
Research Support, N.I.H., ExtramuralResearch funding provided by the NIH to external research institutions and researchers.

Language : English

7.

Ethanol withdrawal-induced brain metabolites and the pharmacological effects of acamprosate in mice lacking ENT1.

Author: HintonDavid J, LeeMoonnoh R, JacobsonTaylor L, MishraPrasanna K, FryeMark A, MrazekDavid A, MacuraSlobodan I, ChoiDoo-Sup

Ethanol withdrawal

This study investigated the effects of acamprosate, a drug used to treat alcohol dependence, on brain metabolites in mice. Acamprosate was found to normalize changes in brain metabolites associated with alcohol withdrawal in mice lacking the ENT1 gene, a gene involved in the transport of certain substances across cell membranes. The study provides evidence for the molecular mechanisms of acamprosate action in the brain.

Journal ArticleAn article published in an academic or professional journal that reports original research or scholarly analysis.
Research Support, N.I.H., ExtramuralResearch funding provided by the NIH to external research institutions and researchers.
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tResearch funding provided by government agencies outside the United States.

Language : English

8.

The effects of acamprosate on alcohol-cue reactivity and alcohol priming in dependent patients: a randomized controlled trial.

Author: HammarbergAnders, Jayaram-LindströmNitya, BeckOlof, FranckJohan, ReidMalcolm S

Reduced alcohol craving
Reduced alcohol-induced cortisol elevation
None reported

Acamprosate attenuated subjective craving induced by alcohol priming and reduced alcohol-induced elevation in blood-cortisol levels.

Clinical TrialA clinical trial is a planned study conducted on humans to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and treatment methods. It aims to explore the possibilities of new treatments and improve the health of patients.
Journal ArticleAn article published in an academic or professional journal that reports original research or scholarly analysis.
Randomized Controlled TrialA clinical trial that randomly assigns participants to treatment and control groups to evaluate the effects of an intervention.
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tResearch funding provided by government agencies outside the United States.

Language : English

9.

Effects of naltrexone and acamprosate on alcohol-induced NGFI-A expression in mouse brain.

Author: LindholmJeanette, Guitart-MasipMarc, HassankhaliHoma, LandgrenSara, NicoleauCamille, Giménez-LlortLydia, TereniusLars, OgrenSven Ove, JohanssonBjörn

Alcohol craving reduction

Naltrexone and acamprosate are two medications used to treat alcohol craving. Naltrexone may work by affecting the central amygdala, a brain region involved in addiction.

Journal ArticleAn article published in an academic or professional journal that reports original research or scholarly analysis.
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tResearch funding provided by government agencies outside the United States.

Language : English

10.

Effects of acamprosate on neuronal receptors and ion channels expressed in Xenopus oocytes.

Author: ReillyMatthew T, LoboIngrid A, McCrackenLindsay M, BorgheseCecilia M, GongDiane, HorishitaTakafumi, HarrisR Adron

Alcoholism treatment

This review examines the potential central nervous system mechanisms of action for acamprosate, a treatment for alcoholism. It investigates the effects of acamprosate on metabotropic receptors, ligand-gated ion channels, and voltage-gated ion channels.

Journal ArticleAn article published in an academic or professional journal that reports original research or scholarly analysis.
Research Support, N.I.H., ExtramuralResearch funding provided by the NIH to external research institutions and researchers.

Language : English

11.

Neuroprotective and abstinence-promoting effects of acamprosate: elucidating the mechanism of action.

Author: De WittePhilippe, LittletonJohn, ParotPhilippe, KoobGeorge

Abstinence-promoting
Attenuated glutamic acid release
Neuroprotective

Acamprosate is a drug used to treat alcohol dependence. Evidence suggests that acamprosate may interact with excitatory glutamatergic neurotransmission, particularly as an antagonist of the metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 5 (mGluR5). This finding provides a unifying hypothesis for the diverse neurochemical effects of acamprosate.

Journal ArticleAn article published in an academic or professional journal that reports original research or scholarly analysis.
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tResearch funding provided by government agencies outside the United States.
ReviewAn article that critically examines existing research on a particular topic and summarizes the current state of knowledge in the field.

Language : English

12.

The effects of acamprosate and neramexane on cue-induced reinstatement of ethanol-seeking behavior in rat.

Author: BachtelerDaniel, EconomidouDaina, DanyszWojciech, CiccocioppoRoberto, SpanagelRainer

Reduced alcohol seeking

This study examined the effects of acamprosate and neramexane, NMDA receptor antagonists, on ethanol-seeking behavior in rats. Acamprosate selectively reduced alcohol-seeking induced by ethanol-paired cues, while neramexane showed a nonselective reduction of lever responding.

Journal ArticleAn article published in an academic or professional journal that reports original research or scholarly analysis.
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tResearch funding provided by government agencies outside the United States.

Language : English

13.

Pharmacodynamic effects of acamprosate on markers of cerebral function in alcohol-dependent subjects administered as pretreatment and during alcohol abstinence.

Author: BoeijingaP H, ParotP, SouffletL, LandronF, DanelT, GendreI, MuzetM, DemazièresA, LuthringerR

Alcohol withdrawal attenuation

This study investigates the effects of acamprosate on post-alcohol withdrawal hyperexcitability in humans. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial demonstrated that acamprosate decreased arousal levels, particularly in the left parietotemporal regions, during alcohol withdrawal. The findings suggest a potential protective effect of acamprosate when administered before alcohol withdrawal.

Clinical TrialA clinical trial is a planned study conducted on humans to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and treatment methods. It aims to explore the possibilities of new treatments and improve the health of patients.
Journal ArticleAn article published in an academic or professional journal that reports original research or scholarly analysis.
Randomized Controlled TrialA clinical trial that randomly assigns participants to treatment and control groups to evaluate the effects of an intervention.

Language : English

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