Campral vs. Topamax

• Are Topamax and Campral the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Campral?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Topamax?
• What Is Campral?
• What Is Topamax?
• What Drugs Interact with Campral?
• What Drugs Interact with Topamax?
• How Should Campral Be Taken?
• How Should Topamax Be Taken?

Campral (acamprosate calcium) and Topamax (topiramate) are used to help alcohol-dependent patients keep from drinking alcohol.

Campral is 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.

Topamax is used off-label to treat alcoholism. It is primarily used to prevent epileptic seizures and migraine headaches.

Campral and Topamax belong to different drug classes. Campral is a detoxification agent and Topamax is an anticonvulsant.

Side effects of Campral and Topamax that are similar include diarrhea, loss of appetite, drowsiness, dizziness, vision problems or changes in vision, problems with memory or thinking, fatigue/tiredness, weight changes, cold or flu-like symptoms, and changes in taste/unpleasant taste.

Side effects of Campral that are different from Topamax include nausea, vomiting, gas, stomach pain, headache, constipation, back pain, muscle or joint pain, weakness, dry mouth, sleep problems (insomnia), sweating, skin rash, numbness or tingly feeling, impotence, change in or loss of sexual desire, or decreased sexual ability.

Side effects of Topamax that are different from Campral include nervousness, numbness or tingly feeling in the hands or feet, coordination problems, speech/language problems, sensory distortion, confusion, and trouble concentrating or paying attention.

Campral may interact with other drugs.

Topamax may also interact with alcohol, other drugs that make you drowsy (narcotics, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, or medicines for anxiety or depression), birth control pills, divalproex, or valproic acid.

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.

Common side effects of Topamax include:

• drowsiness,
• dry mouth,
• dizziness,
• blurred vision,
• constipation,
• weight gain,
• trouble urinating,
• headache,
• increased hunger, and
• changes in taste.

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.

Topamax (topiramate) is an anticonvulsant prescribed for preventing epileptic seizures and migraine headaches. Topamax is available as a generic drug.

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.

Topamax may interact with narcotic drugs or alcohol, or prescription or over-the-counter medicines to treat a cold, cough, diarrhea, or pain. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.

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

Topamax usual adult dose is 200mg twice a day. Drug interactions include acetazolamide (Diamox), methazolamide (Neptazane), dichlorphenamide (Daranide), carbamazepine (Tegretol) and phenytoin (Dilantin) and oral contraceptives. There are no adequate studies of Topamax in pregnant women and it is not known if Topamax is secreted in human breast milk. Use during pregnancy is not recommended unless the potential benefit outweighs the potential unknown risk to the fetus. Topamax passes into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.