Efficacy of acamprosate in the treatment of alcohol-dependent outpatients.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy and security of acamprosate in the treatment of 75 men, aged 18 to 59 years, with diagnosis of alcohol dependence according to the ICD-10.

METHODS

Double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 24-week long. After a one-week detoxification period, patients were randomly divided in two groups: the first group received acamprosate (six tablets of 333 mg/d for 12 weeks) and the second group received placebo (six tablets for 12 weeks). After the first 12 weeks, patients continued the follow-up for further 12 weeks without medication.

RESULTS

Patients who were receiving acamprosate showed significantly higher continuous abstinence time within the 24 weeks of treatment compared with patients who were assigned to placebo treatment (p=.017). Twenty-five percent of patients who were receiving acamprosate and 20% of the placebo-treated patients dropped out. Few side-effects were reported in both groups.

CONCLUSION

Acamprosate proved to be safe and effective in treating alcohol-dependent patients and to maintain the abstinence during 24 weeks.