Where can i buy Acamprosate in South Africa

Shannon,

how long have u line in SA. Do u have a dr there?

Alcoholism is one of the most prevalent substance dependence disorders in the world. Advances in research in the neurobiological mechanisms underlying alcohol dependence have identified specific neurotransmitter targets for the development of pharmacological treatments. Acamprosate, marketed under the brand name Campral, is an orally administered drug available by prescription in the U.S. and throughout much of the world for treating alcohol dependence. Its safety and efficacy have been demonstrated in numerous clinical trials worldwide. Here we provide an overview of acamprosate in the context of the neurobiological underpinnings of alcohol dependence. We propose that unlike previously available pharmacotherapies, acamprosate represents a prototype of a neuromodulatory approach in the treatment of alcohol dependence. A neuromodulatory approach seeks to restore the disrupted changes in neurobiology resulting from chronic alcohol intake. It is our opinion that a neuromodulatory approach will provide a heuristic framework for developing more effective pharmacotherapies for alcohol dependence.

Hello Shannon, Acamprosate is available by prescription only, I just checked by Googling and it IS available on prescription in South Africa so I think the only way you can get it is by seeing a doctor. It is not available for you just buy over the counter, anywhere. There is no substitute for Acamprosate (Campral) which is used to reduce craving. There is another drug called Naltrexone (Revia) which works differently by reducing the 'high' in the brain that people experience when drinking alcohol which they claim, eventually, leads to a reduction in the craving.

Acamprosate IS licenced for use in South Africa. Quoting from the US Library of Medicine website: 'Acamprosate has been available by prescription since 1989 in France and more recently in most European and Latin American coutries as well as Australia, South Africa, and Hong Kong.'

I would advise you to call some local alchol treatment clinics and ask for advice on whether they have seen it used with any of their clients, they ought to know. If it's anything like the UK, General Practitioners have a terrible knowledge of alcohol problems.

Here is that Guardian article link. Links have to be approved by the moderators here so it may be delayed after my last message:

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2010/may/09/alcoholism-health-doctor-addiction-drug