title: Relapse prevention by acamprosate. Results from a placebo-controlled study on alcohol dependence.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The effectiveness of acamprosate (calcium bisacetylhomotaurinate) as a treatment to maintain abstinence in alcohol-dependent patients was assessed for 1 year.
  
  
  METHODS
  After short-term detoxification, 272 patients participated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Patients received routine counseling and either the study medication or placebo for 48 weeks; they were followed up for another 48 weeks without medication. Statistical analysis was performed according to the intention-to-treat principle.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients who were receiving acamprosate showed a significantly higher continuous abstinence rate within the first 60 days of treatment compared with patients who were assigned to placebo treatment (67% vs 50%) until completion of the treatment period (43% vs 21%, log rank P = .005), and they had a significantly longer mean abstinence duration of 224 vs 163 days, or 62% vs 45% days abstinent (P < .001); however, there was no difference in psychiatric symptoms. Of the patients who were receiving acamprosate, 41% had dropped out, whereas 60% of the placebo-treated patients dropped out of the study. Few side effects (mainly diarrhea and headache) were recorded. At the end of a further 48 weeks without receiving study medication, 39% and 17% of the acamprosate- and placebo-treated patients, respectively, had remained abstinent (P = .003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acamprosate proved to be a safe and effective aid in treating alcohol-dependent patients and in maintaining the abstinence of patients during 2 years.
authors.affiliation: Psychiatric Clinic, Rheinisch Westfalische Technische Hochschule, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sass
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Soyka
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mann
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zieglgänsberger
mesh_terms: D000077443:Acamprosate; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000517:prevention & control; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010352:Patient Dropouts; D010919:Placebos; D012008:Recurrence; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013654:Taurine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013695:Temperance; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos; D013654:Taurine; D000077443:Acamprosate