Acamprosate (Campral): Alcoholism, Maintenance of Abstinence

Order came in for a psychiatry patient, Acamprosate 666mg tid.
Campral is made by Forrest Pharmaceuticals Inc., and it is available as Campral Delayed-Release Tablet 333 mg. Acamprosate is used as an adjunct to comprehensive management programs and psychosocial support to help alcoholics maintain abstinence following ethanol withdrawal. As single therapy, acamprosate offers a better safety profile in comparison to disulfiram or naltrexone. The FDA approved acamprosate on July 29, 2004.
The usual dose for adult patients is 666mg orally three times daily. The drug requires renal dosing. For renally impaired patients, the dose is 333mg tid if CrCl is between 30-50 mL/min; use is not recommended for patients with CrCl less than or equal to 30 mL/min.
Acamprosate has a FDA pregnancy category C rating.