Robert McGregor <robert_mcgregor@knickers.yahoo.com.au> wrote in message
news:437ec527_1@news.iprimus.com.au...
>
> "Sardonicus Rex" <dontaskiwonttell@leavemealone.com> wrote in message
> news:-cqdnbiqtPC0L-PeRVn-qQ@gbronline.com...
> >I went to my doctor today for a followup exam. for my gout -- a
> >condition
> > aggravated by alcoholism.
> >
> > I leveled with him for the first time ever and told him I am an
> > alcoholic
> > He's a great doctor and didn't give me any head-shaking or
> > lectures.
> >
> > But he did ask me if I was interested in taking Campral and gave me
> > a
> > month's worth of samples. From what he told me, it works in the
> > amino acid
> > centers in the brain and has demonstrated a clinical effect on the
> > craving
> > for alcohol.
> >
> > I'm pursuing a variety of methods to help me quit drinking,
> > including AA,
> > and based on nearly 20 years of experience with my doctor, believe
> > this
> > avenue is worth pursuing.
> >
> > Have any of you grown tentacles or third eyes from taking said
> > medication
> > for a few weeks/months?
> >
>
>
> Could your doctor introduce you to any alcoholic patient/s that took
> Campral and actually stayed sober for a few weeks/months?
>
> Of the few alcoholics I've known were prescribed that drug, only one
> stopped drinking alcohol, but that was when he died.
>
> Bob

The drug was fairly thoroughly tested during its development in France, and
had shown to be signifigantly superior to placebo in controlling drinking
(short-term) in controlled double-blind peer-reviewed clinical studies. The
drug was first tested in European studies, seven worth a serious read from
1997 to 2001. It was thought to be ineffective WRT to relapse, even then. US
based studies started circa 2001 seem to confirm this.(It was approved for
general prescription in the US, I believe in mid 2004)
But, then again, should you be so hasty in dismissing it as a tool for
treatment? It is deemed effective in a sub-group of patients, and the
manufacturer recommends it as a potential starting point, with the end point
being psychosocial support of the alcoholic patient, AA for example.
Have you read any of the studies on acamprosate?



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