Lack of psychotomimetic or impairing effects on psychomotor performance of acamprosate

Pharmacopsychiatry. 1998 May;31(3):110-3. doi: 10.1055/s-2007-979309.

Abstract

The possible effects on psychomotor performance, concentration, attention, and mood of acamprosate (calciumacetylhomotaurinate) were assessed using a randomized, double-blind, cross-over, placebo-controlled design involving 12 healthy male volunteers. Acamprosate 2 g daily per os or placebo was administered for seven days and separated by washout intervals of at least 21 days. Objective tests evaluated psychomotor functions (simple reaction time measurement, binary choice reaction test, computerized visual searching task, sustained attention test). Mood was assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory and the Beschwerde-Liste to assess subjective physical impairment. Additionally, a visual 3-D illusion paradigm was applied to measure the psychotomimetic effect. A dose of acamprosate of 2 g/day for seven days was free of any significant effects on mood, concentration, attention, psychomotor performance and did not produce any subjective sedation, excitation or psychotomimetic effects.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Acamprosate
  • Adult
  • Affect / drug effects
  • Alcohol Deterrents / adverse effects*
  • Attention / drug effects
  • Cross-Over Studies
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Humans
  • Illusions / drug effects
  • Intelligence Tests
  • Male
  • Psychomotor Performance / drug effects*
  • Psychoses, Substance-Induced / psychology*
  • Taurine / adverse effects
  • Taurine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Vision, Binocular / drug effects

Substances

  • Alcohol Deterrents
  • Taurine
  • Acamprosate