Effects of acamprosate on psychomotor performance and driving ability in abstinent alcoholics

The possible effects of acute and long-term treatment of the antidipsotropi c agent acamprosate on psychomotor performance and driving ability were stu died in a prospective open clinical trial involving 5 alcoholic patients wi thout any clinical evidence for cognitive impairement. Acamprosate 1995 mg/ day was given for 6 months for relapse prevention with all patients being a bstinent throughout the study. No side effects were reported during treatme nt. Psychomotor performance and driving ability were assessed using the ART 90, a standardized and computerized neuropsychological test battery. A num ber of relevant subtests measuring peripheral vision, split attention, sens omotoric function, reaction time, stress resistance and the capacity to int egrate information was used at study entry, 6 weeks and 6 months after onse t of treatment. While in two subtests a moderate improvement in psychomotor performance was found, in most subtests no differences compared to baselin e could be shown. The results of this pilot study do not indicate any impai rment of psychomotor performance by acamprosate.