Alexander DeLuca, M.D.
Addiction, Pain, & Public Health website  
[Home] [Library]  [Slides]  [Search]  [Medline]  [Links]
Statement of Purpose; Privacy policy; Email Confidentiality Policy; Statements of Ownership & Sponsorship; Advertising policy

Read This Before Emailing Me Regarding Campral Availability in the U.S.!
 
8/21/04 - Original message regarding writing me about acamprosate problems
11/22/04 - Acamprosate availability update
 
See also: 
Pharmacotherapy of Substance Use Disorders Collection:  Acamprosate  //  Disulfiram  //  Naltrexone
 

by Alexander DeLuca, M.D.  Originally posted: 2004-08-21; [www.doctordeluca.com/Library/ReadThisBeforeEmailingMeReAcamp04.htm]. Revised: 2005-12-22

Original message - 8/21/2004:

I am being swamped by terse, demanding, often angry emails from website visitors who heard about the FDA approval of Campral but have experienced difficulty and confusion finding doctors who know much about it and pharmacists who can actually fill a Campral prescription.

People, please be gentle with me; none of this is my fault nor my responsibility. [Please note my: “Statement of Purpose; Privacy policy; Email Confidentiality Policy; Statements of Ownership, & Sponsorship; Advertising policy” which is available at: [www.doctordeluca.com/Library/Personal/StatementPrinciples.htm]]

Therefore, if you Email me asking me to tell you where you can find Campral in the U.S., or find a doctor to prescribe it, or demand I explain why you are having such difficulty with your physician or pharmacist, I will not answer you. Please consider the following as my personal response to all such questions, now and forever.    ..alex...
 

8/21/2004
Dear Ms. XXXX,

No, I do not have any information about the availability or marketing or distribution of acamprosate (Campral) in the U.S. Know that you are in good company -- many people are asking the same question you are.  :-)

Have you considered contacting the company that markets the medication in the U.S., Forest Labs: [www.frx.com/]?

You can also try the American Society of Addiction Medicine at: [www.asam.org/]. They may have late information, and they have a physician locator allowing one to find a certified addiction medicine specialist in one's area; someone like that might be helpful too.

Sorry I can't help more. Thank you so much for your kind words Re: my website. I am very pleased that you are finding it helpful.

Sincerely,

..alex...
Alexander DeLuca, M.D.

adeluca@doctordeluca.com
[http://www.doctordeluca.com/]
Please note my: “Statement of Purpose; Privacy policy; Email Confidentiality Policy; Statements of Ownership, & Sponsorship; Advertising policy” which is available at: [www.doctordeluca.com/Library/Personal/StatementPrinciples.htm]

ADDENDUM - November 22, 2004: Acamprosate availability update

I have  been informed, by an old friend who now works at the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) section of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), that acamprosate (Campral) should be on pharmacy shelves "sometime in January."

I am not sure what is causing the delay, and surely it must be frustrating for those of you whose interest about the medication was peaked by the FDA approval announcement back in August - it seems an odd marketing tactic.

Anyway, that is my best information right now. If I learn anything new about acamprosate availability, I will update this page with the information.    ..alex...

[END]