- Addiction treatment expert calls for greater awareness of acamprosate – medication that curbs alcohol cravings in the same way as weight loss drugs reduce food cravings
- Nationwide survey conducted by Censuswide for Priory shows one in six families will be supporting someone with addiction this Christmas but 62% haven’t sought professional support
- Specialist consultant psychiatrist Dr Omair Ahmed advises families to seek help “because will-power alone is rarely enough”
One of the UK’s leading addiction experts has shed light on a little-known ‘wonder-drug’ which curbs alcohol cravings in the same way weight loss drugs reduce food cravings.
Acamprosate works by stabilising chemical signalling in the brain that may be disrupted by alcohol withdrawal.
Dr Omair Ahmed, a Priory consultant psychiatrist who supports patients at Priory Hospital Woodbourne in Birmingham and in the NHS, said there was an urgent need to raise awareness of the drug – and encourage more people to seek professional support.
He said awareness of the treatment “remains low” and that shame and stigma still prevents many people from seeking the help they need, contributing to escalating levels of harmful drinking across the UK.
Acamprosate is very effective at reducing people’s craving for alcohol in the same way weight loss ‘wonder-drugs’ reduce people’s food cravings.
“However, despite what is effectively the ‘Ozempic of alcohol addiction’ being available, awareness of it remains low and, when combined with the challenges of getting people to break the shame and come forward for support, it means many are missing out.”
An estimated 602,000 alcohol-dependent adults live in England today.
Data published earlier this year revealed that 8,200 alcohol-specific deaths occurred in England in 2023, the highest annual total since records began and a 4.6% increase year-on-year and a 63% rise since 2006.
Alcohol was also partially responsible for a further 14,370 deaths.
A new national survey conducted by Censuswide on behalf of Priory revealed that one is six people say someone in their family is currently living with addiction, most of those affected (62%) have never received any professional help.
Dr Ahmed said: “We know one in six people is now supporting a loved one through addiction.
“As a society, we need to improve awareness of the help that is available to people, including proven medical interventions such as this, because will-power alone is rarely enough to cure chronic alcohol use.
“We urgently need to remove the stigma around alcohol addiction so that people feel able to seek the right support. As the Christmas season approaches, alcohol mis-use issues are more likely to come to a head within families.” he said.
Could acamprosate be the difference for people with alcohol addiction?
“The drug works by restoring the balance of certain brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) that are disrupted by long-term alcohol use,” said Dr Ahmed. “When a person initially stops drinking, this chemical imbalance can lead to withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, restlessness and cravings. Acamprosate helps to minimise these.”
How long to acamprosate take to work
For most people, acamprosate begins working within days with the full benefits beginning to appear within a week.
Dr Ahmed said: “Acamprosate starts working as soon as a person begins taking it, with more significant effects appearing after five to eight days. Some people can feel reduced cravings within days, whereas others may need several weeks.
“It is normally prescribed for several months to a year. It is not intended for lifelong use.
“An individual’s progress will always be monitored by a trained clinician, and in some cases, longer periods of treatment can be considered if the risk of relapse is high.”
What are the side effects?
Dr Ahmed advised that acamprosate use can carry some side effects, but that these should be mild: “The most common side effects to look out for include diarrhoea, nausea, headache and fatigue. People with kidney disease may need lower doses and closer monitoring.”
Is it effective for everybody?
Dr Ahmed said: “Like many drugs, acamprosate does not work for some people and it does not completely eliminate cravings for everyone. But it is effective for most people and helps to achieve long-term abstinence. Studies have shown that it can help reduce relapse rates.
“Critically, it should be combined with therapy and counselling and a strong support system. It should be prescribed by an addiction treatment specialist and patients should receive ongoing clinical support while taking the medication.”