Acamprosate: What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider?
- Depression
- A history of suicidal behavior
- Kidney disease, such as kidney failure (renal failure)
- Any allergies, including allergies to foods, dyes, or preservatives.
Also, let your healthcare provider know if you are:
- Pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant
- Breastfeeding.
Make sure to tell your healthcare provider about any other medications you are taking, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Specific Precautions and Warnings With Acamprosate
Warnings and precautions to be aware of prior to taking acamprosate include the following:
- Because the kidneys help remove acamprosate from the body, people who have kidney problems may not adequately remove the drug from the body as well as they should. For people with moderate kidney problems, a lower acamprosate dosage is recommended. The drug is not recommended (at any dose) for people who have severe kidney disease.
- In clinical studies, acamprosate appeared to slightly increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or behaviors. At this time, however, it is not clear why this may occur. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you notice any signs of depression or suicidal thoughts or behavior. Ask your friends and loved ones to watch for such signs, as others may be better able to recognize these changes.
- Acamprosate is considered a pregnancy Category C medication. This means that it may not be safe for use during pregnancy, although the full risks are not known (see Campral and Pregnancy).
- It is not known whether acamprosate passes through breast milk. Therefore, if you are breastfeeding or plan to start, discuss this with your healthcare provider prior to taking the drug (see Campral and Breastfeeding).
