Acamprosate (Campral)

Raw research findings for this medication. Mostly single studies, not curated or confirmed robust.

About Acamprosate

What it is

Acamprosate is a medicine that helps people stay off alcohol after they have stopped drinking. It is thought to calm the overactive glutamate signalling that follows long-term heavy drinking, which reduces craving. It is taken as tablets three times a day as part of a treatment programme. It is sold as Campral.

How genes come into it

Acamprosate is not broken down at all; the kidneys clear it unchanged, so drug-processing genes play no part. Studies have looked at GRIN2B, a gene for part of the NMDA glutamate receptor, and at GLRB and others for who stays abstinent. The findings come from a few studies, and there is no CPIC or DPWG guideline.

What research found

Every published finding on gene variants and Acamprosate. Upload your DNA file to see which of these rows apply to you.

Rated evidence (2 rated variants)

PharmGKB weighs all studies of a variant and rates how strong the evidence is, from 1A (strongest) to 4.

rs77583603: Level 3. Efficacy: Alcohol abuse. 1.

GRIN2B rs2058878: Level 3. Efficacy: Alcohol abuse. 1.

Response (6 findings)

Studies of how well it worked in people carrying a variant.

rs77583603: Allele G is associated with decreased response to acamprosate in people with Alcoholism as compared to allele A.

CHDH, IL17RB rs6801605: Allele A is associated with increased clinical benefit to acamprosate in people with Alcoholism as compared to allele G.

GRIN2B rs2058878: Allele A is associated with increased response to acamprosate in people with Alcoholism as compared to allele T.

GLRB rs17035723: Allele T is not associated with response to acamprosate in people with Alcoholism as compared to allele C.

Study findings and evidence levels: PharmGKB (CC BY-SA 4.0). Guidelines: CPIC and DPWG, as bundled in PharmCAT. Most studies were done mainly in people of European ancestry.

Related Drugs

More drugs from the same category

Alcohol Dependence Drugs (class) (Alcohol Dependence Agents)

Antabuse (Alcohol Dependence Agents)

Abilify (Antipsychotics)

Not a prescribing recommendation. This page is educational information about pharmacogenomic research and clinical guidelines - it is not medical or dosing advice, and not a prediction of how any medication will work for you. Never start, stop, or change a medication or dose based on it; talk to your doctor or pharmacist, who can order clinical-grade testing if appropriate.

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Content updated September 2026.

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