ACAMPROSATE

Information specific to: Acamprosate 333mg gastro-resistant tablets when used in Alcohol Dependence.

Acamprosate calcium (Ak-am-proh-sate kal-see-um) is a medicine which is used in alcohol dependence.
The information in this Medicine Guide for Acamprosate calcium varies according to the condition being treated and the particular preparation used.

Your medicine

Acamprosate calcium is used in the treatment of alcohol dependence. It works by reducing the desire or craving to drink alcohol. It is only given to people who have successfully stopped drinking. Acamprosate calcium helps to reduce the chances of you drinking again. People who are taking Acamprosate calcium will usually have a programme of counselling as part of their treatment. Treatment with Acamprosate calcium usually lasts one year.
Do not share your medicine with other people. It may not be suitable for them and may harm them.
The pharmacy label on your medicine tells you how much medicine you should take. It also tells you how often you should take your medicine. This is the dose that you and your prescriber have agreed you should take. You should not change the dose of your medicine unless you are told to do so by your prescriber.
If you feel that the medicine is making you unwell or you do not think it is working, then talk to your prescriber.

Whether this medicine is suitable for you

Acamprosate calcium is not suitable for everyone and some people should never use it. Other people should only use it with special care. It is important that the person prescribing this medicine knows your full medical history.
Your prescriber may only prescribe this medicine with special care or may not prescribe it at all if you:

• are aged over 65 years
• are allergic or sensitive to or have had a reaction to any of the ingredients in the medicine
• are breast-feeding
• have kidney problems
• have liver problems

Furthermore the prescriber may only prescribe this medicine with special care or may not prescribe it at all for someone who is under the age of 18 years.
As part of the process of assessing suitability to take this medicine a prescriber may also arrange tests:

• to check that this medicine is not having any undesired effects

Over time it is possible that Acamprosate calcium can become unsuitable for some people, or they may become unsuitable for it. If at any time it appears that Acamprosate calcium has become unsuitable, it is important that the prescriber is contacted immediately.

Alcohol

Alcohol can interact with certain medicines.
In the case of Acamprosate calcium:

• this medicine interacts with alcohol. The medicine may be less effective if taken with alcohol

You must not drink any alcohol if you are taking this medicine.

Diet

Medicines can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your prescriber may advise you to avoid certain foods.
In the case of Acamprosate calcium:

• there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when taking Acamprosate calcium

Driving and operating machinery

When taking any medicine you should be aware that it might interfere with your ability to drive or operate machinery safely.
In the case of Acamprosate calcium:

• this medicine will not affect your ability to drive or operate machinery

You should see how this medicine affects you before you judge whether you are safe to drive or operate machinery. If you are in any doubt about whether you should drive or operate machinery, talk to your prescriber.

Family planning and pregnancy

Most medicines, in some way, can affect the development of a baby in the womb. The effect on the baby differs between medicines and also depends on the stage of pregnancy that you have reached when you take the medicine.
In the case of Acamprosate calcium:

• you should only take this medicine during pregnancy if your doctor thinks that you need it

You need to discuss your specific circumstances with your doctor to weigh up the overall risks and benefits of taking this medicine. You and your doctor can make a decision about whether you are going to take this medicine during pregnancy.
If the decision is that you should not have Acamprosate calcium, then you should discuss whether there is an alternative medicine that you could take during pregnancy.

Breast-feeding

Certain medicines can pass into breast milk and may reach your baby through breast-feeding.
In the case of Acamprosate calcium:

• women who are breast-feeding must not take this medicine

Before you have your baby you should discuss breast-feeding with your doctor or midwife. If you wish to breast-feed you should discuss with your prescriber whether there are any other medicines you could take which would also allow you to breast-feed. You should not stop this medicine without taking advice from your doctor.

Taking other medicines

There are no known important interactions between Acamprosate calcium and other medicines. If you experience any unusual symptoms while taking Acamprosate calcium and other medicines you should tell your prescriber.

Complementary preparations and vitamins

Medicines can interact with complementary preparations and vitamins. In general, there is not much information available about interactions between medicines and complementary preparations or vitamins.
If you are planning to take or are already taking any complementary preparations and vitamins you should ask your prescriber whether there are any known interactions with Acamprosate calcium.
Your prescriber can advise whether it is appropriate for you to take combinations that are known to interact. They can also discuss with you the possible effect that the complementary preparations and vitamins may have on your condition.
If you experience any unusual effects while taking this medicine in combination with complementary preparations and vitamins, you should tell your prescriber

Information specific to: Acamprosate 333mg gastro-resistant tablets when used in Alcohol withdrawal.

Acamprosate calcium (Ak-am-proh-sate kal-see-um) is a medicine which is used in alcohol dependence.
The information in this Medicine Guide for Acamprosate calcium varies according to the condition being treated and the particular preparation used.

Your medicine

Acamprosate calcium is used in the treatment of alcohol dependence. It works by reducing the desire or craving to drink alcohol. It is only given to people who have successfully stopped drinking. Acamprosate calcium helps to reduce the chances of you drinking again. People who are taking Acamprosate calcium will usually have a programme of counselling as part of their treatment. Treatment with Acamprosate calcium usually lasts one year.
Do not share your medicine with other people. It may not be suitable for them and may harm them.
The pharmacy label on your medicine tells you how much medicine you should take. It also tells you how often you should take your medicine. This is the dose that you and your prescriber have agreed you should take. You should not change the dose of your medicine unless you are told to do so by your prescriber.
If you feel that the medicine is making you unwell or you do not think it is working, then talk to your prescriber.

Whether this medicine is suitable for you

Acamprosate calcium is not suitable for everyone and some people should never use it. Other people should only use it with special care. It is important that the person prescribing this medicine knows your full medical history.
Your prescriber may only prescribe this medicine with special care or may not prescribe it at all if you:

• are aged over 65 years
• are allergic or sensitive to or have had a reaction to any of the ingredients in the medicine
• are breast-feeding
• have kidney problems
• have liver problems

Furthermore the prescriber may only prescribe this medicine with special care or may not prescribe it at all for someone who is under the age of 18 years.
As part of the process of assessing suitability to take this medicine a prescriber may also arrange tests:

• to check that this medicine is not having any undesired effects

Over time it is possible that Acamprosate calcium can become unsuitable for some people, or they may become unsuitable for it. If at any time it appears that Acamprosate calcium has become unsuitable, it is important that the prescriber is contacted immediately.

Alcohol

Alcohol can interact with certain medicines.
In the case of Acamprosate calcium:

• this medicine interacts with alcohol. The medicine may be less effective if taken with alcohol

You must not drink any alcohol if you are taking this medicine.

Diet

Medicines can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your prescriber may advise you to avoid certain foods.
In the case of Acamprosate calcium:

• there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when taking Acamprosate calcium

Driving and operating machinery

When taking any medicine you should be aware that it might interfere with your ability to drive or operate machinery safely.
In the case of Acamprosate calcium:

• this medicine will not affect your ability to drive or operate machinery

You should see how this medicine affects you before you judge whether you are safe to drive or operate machinery. If you are in any doubt about whether you should drive or operate machinery, talk to your prescriber.

Family planning and pregnancy

Most medicines, in some way, can affect the development of a baby in the womb. The effect on the baby differs between medicines and also depends on the stage of pregnancy that you have reached when you take the medicine.
In the case of Acamprosate calcium:

• you should only take this medicine during pregnancy if your doctor thinks that you need it

You need to discuss your specific circumstances with your doctor to weigh up the overall risks and benefits of taking this medicine. You and your doctor can make a decision about whether you are going to take this medicine during pregnancy.
If the decision is that you should not have Acamprosate calcium, then you should discuss whether there is an alternative medicine that you could take during pregnancy.

Breast-feeding

Certain medicines can pass into breast milk and may reach your baby through breast-feeding.
In the case of Acamprosate calcium:

• women who are breast-feeding must not take this medicine

Before you have your baby you should discuss breast-feeding with your doctor or midwife. If you wish to breast-feed you should discuss with your prescriber whether there are any other medicines you could take which would also allow you to breast-feed. You should not stop this medicine without taking advice from your doctor.

Taking other medicines

There are no known important interactions between Acamprosate calcium and other medicines. If you experience any unusual symptoms while taking Acamprosate calcium and other medicines you should tell your prescriber.

Complementary preparations and vitamins

Medicines can interact with complementary preparations and vitamins. In general, there is not much information available about interactions between medicines and complementary preparations or vitamins.
If you are planning to take or are already taking any complementary preparations and vitamins you should ask your prescriber whether there are any known interactions with Acamprosate calcium.
Your prescriber can advise whether it is appropriate for you to take combinations that are known to interact. They can also discuss with you the possible effect that the complementary preparations and vitamins may have on your condition.
If you experience any unusual effects while taking this medicine in combination with complementary preparations and vitamins, you should tell your prescriber.