Vivitrol vs. Campral

Vivitrol (naltrexone) injection and Campral (acamprosate calcium) are used to treat alcohol dependence.

Vivitrol is also used to prevent relapse to opioid dependence.

Vivitrol and Campral belong to different drug classes. Vivitrol is an opioid antagonist and Campral is synthetic compound with a chemical structure similar to that of the endogenous amino acid homotaurine, which is a structural analogue of the amino acid neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid and the amino acid neuromodulator taurine.

Side effects of Vivitrol and Campral that are similar include nausea, headache, dizziness, loss of appetite, muscle or joint aches/pains, weakness, sleep problems (insomnia), tiredness/fatigue, decreased sex drive, impotence, and difficulty having an orgasm.

Side effects of Vivitrol that are different from Campral include anxiety, nervousness, restlessness, irritability, and increased thirst.

Side effects of Campral that are different from Vivitrol include diarrhea, vomiting, gas, stomach pain, drowsiness, vision problems, problems with memory or thinking, constipation, weight changes, back pain, cold or flu-like symptoms, dry mouth, decreased or distorted sense of taste, sweating, skin rash, and numbness or tingly feeling.

Vivitrol may interact with narcotic pain medications.

Campral may interact with other drugs.

You should not receive a Vivitrol injection if you still use opioid medicine, or you could have sudden and severe withdrawal symptoms.

Common side effects of Vivitrol include:

• nausea,
• headache,
• dizziness,
• anxiety,
• nervousness,
• restlessness,
• irritability,
• tiredness,
• loss of appetite,
• increased thirst,
• muscle or joint aches,
• weakness,
• sleep problems (insomnia),
• decreased sex drive,
• impotence, or
• difficulty having an orgasm.

Common side effects of Campral include:

• diarrhea,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• gas,
• stomach pain,
• loss of appetite,
• headache,
• drowsiness,
• dizziness,
• vision problems,
• problems with memory or thinking,
• constipation,
• fatigue,
• weight gain/loss,
• back pain,
• muscle or joint pain,
• weakness,
• cold or flu-like symptoms,
• dry mouth,
• decreased or distorted sense of taste,
• sleep problems (insomnia),
• sweating,
• skin rash,
• numbness or tingly feeling,
• impotence,
• change in or loss of sexual desire, or
• decreased sexual ability.

Suicidal thoughts may occur during treatment with Campral. Tell your doctor if you feel depressed or have any suicidal thoughts or actions while using Campral. Tell your doctor if you have unlikely but serious side effects of Campral including:

• mental/mood changes (including severe depression, thoughts of suicide),
• fainting,
• fast or pounding heartbeat,
• vision or hearing changes, or
• increased thirst.

Vivitrol (naltrexone) for Extended-Release Injectable Suspension is an opioid antagonist used to treat alcohol dependence and prevent relapse to opioid dependence.

Campral (acamprosate calcium) works by restoring the natural balance of chemicals in the brain (neurotransmitters) and is used to help alcohol-dependent patients keep from drinking alcohol. Campral should be used as part of a complete treatment program that includes both counseling and psychological support. Campral is unlikely to be helpful to a person who has not already quit drinking or undergone detoxification. Campral may not be helpful to a person who is also addicted to other substances besides alcohol.

Vivitrol may interact with narcotic pain medications including buprenorphine, butorphanol, codeine, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, levorphanol, meperidine, methadone, morphine, nalbuphine, naloxone, oxycodone, oxymorphone, or propoxyphene. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you take. Do not use narcotic drugs or alcohol while taking Vivitrol. Exercise caution if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert while taking Vivitrol.

There may be other drugs that can interact with Campral. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Campral should be used only when prescribed during pregnancy. Drinking large amounts of alcohol during pregnancy can cause long-lasting problems (often called fetal alcohol syndrome) in your baby, such as birth defects, growth retardation, and learning disabilities. It is not known whether this drug passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

The recommended dosage of Vivitrol is 380 mg taken once a month. Vivitrol must be administered under a doctor's supervision.

The recommended dose of Campral is two 333 mg tablets (each dose should total 666 mg) taken three times daily.